sculpture dancer ranga mantapa vittala temple hampi near hospete karnataka india

navigate by keyword : ranga mantapa vijaya vittala temple well known musical pillars saregama attributed notes rising one hear tap gently set main smaller vitthala complex built 15th century rule devaraya ruler vijayanagara empire hall maha mandapa devi shrine kalyana utsava stone chariot incarnation lord vishnu hampi hospete karnataka india ornate sculpted columns sculpture bas relief dancer

Sculpture of Dancer, Ranga Mantapa at Vittala Temple. Hampi, near Hospete, Karnataka, India

The Ranga Mantapa is part of the ShreeVijaya Vittala Temple and well-known for its 56 musical pillars, also known as SaReGaMa pillars. These have been attributed to the musical notes rising out of them. One can actually hear the musical notes if they tap the pillars gently. There is a set of main pillars and many smaller ones at the mantapa.The Vijaya Vitthala or Vittala Temple complex was built in the 15th century during the rule of Devaraya II, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Temple contains the main hall or Maha Mandapa, Devi Shrine, Kalyana Mantapa, Ranga Mantapa, Utsava Mantapa and the Stone Chariot.Vittala is also said to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As per the legends, the temple was built for Lord Vishnu in his Vittala form, but when he found that the temple was very grand in nature, he returned to live in his modest home in Pandharpur.