Art and Architecture: The Vijayanagara Rulers were great patrons of Art and Architecuture. They used the Dravidian style of Architecture and later added some unique features to it and it came to be called ‘Vijayanagara Style’ of architecture. Hampi was a great centre of Ait and Architecture. Percy brown remarks that “Vijayanagara Art as the supremely passionate flowering of the Dravidian Art”.
The main features of Vijayanagara Art and Architecture:
1. The Vijayanagara Rulers built high (Huge) towers called ‘Raya Gopuras’ above the gateways of the temples.
2. The Kalyana Mantapa at the temple stands on a rectangular platform of 5ft height. The roof of the mantapa is supported by stone pillars and it has no walls around it.
3. The temples consist of Garbhagriha, Sukhanasi, Mahamantapa and Ardhamantapa. An additional Garbhagriha (Sanctum) for the female deity.
4. The remarkable feature of the Vijayanagara temples is the intricate carving on the pillers. A number of pillers were carved each in a unique style.
5. The walls of the temples contain sculptures of Folklore, Gods, Goddesses, Elephants, Horses etc.,
The earliest creation of the Vijayanagara Empire is the most beautiful. Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri which clearly marks the transition from Hoysala to Vijayanagara Style. Temples of this period are found chiefly in Tirupathi, Kanchi, Srirangam, Hampi, Lepakshi, Sringeri, Srisailam, Nandi, Madurai, Chidambaram. Tadapatri etc., The monuments of Vijayanagara are scattered throughout South India.
Important temples in Hampi: The best specimens of the Vijayanagara Architecture are found in the city of Hampi. The temples of Virupaksha, Hajara Ramaswamy, Vijaya Vittalaswamy, Krishnaswamy, Achyutaraya, Mahanavami Dibba and the stone Chariot are noteworthy. The walls and pillers of the Ramaswamy temple are decorated with the scenes from Ramayana. The Lotus (Kamala) Mahal is an excellent example of Islamic style of Architecture. The Ganesha and Narasimha images, the elephant stables, the Queen’s Bath, the Watchtower, The Royal Mint and the market place are also in Hampi.
Sculpture: Religion was the main theme for the sculptures of Vijayanagara. Kadalekalu, Sasivekalu Ganesha and Laxmi Narasimha statues at Hampi are notable. Irugappa Dandanayaka at Tiruparuttikunram was the earliest example of this period. The copper Images of Krishnadevaraya and his two Queens,Tirumaladevi and Chinnadevi at Tirumala are in a devotional mode. Astone statue of Krishnadevaraya is found at Chidambaram.
Paintings: Hampi, Anegondi and Lepakshi were centres of Vijayanagara paintings. Virupaksha temple at Hampi has beautiful paintings depicting Girija Kalyana, Madana Vijaya and Tripura Samhara. The Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi has on its ceilings paintings representing stories from Shivapurana and is called the ‘Ajantha of the Saivas’.
Fine Art: Dancing and Music were encouraged during Vijayanagara period. Vadiraja, Vyasathirtha, Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa belonged to this tradition. They composed devotional songs called ‘Keerthans’. Purandaradasa is called the ‘Father of Kamatic Music’. There were a good number of dancing halls at Vijayanagara. Bandham Laxminarayana was a dance master in the court of Krishnadevaraya.
