Legend has it...
Vidyaranya motivating Hakka and Bukka for the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire as per our artist's imagination
It's the vision of the 12th Shankaracharya of the Sringeri Math, Sri Vidyaranya, who once embarked on a journey to locate a place that embodied the ideas of peace and unity and found his search in Hampi.
It was the spiritual guidance and political acumen of the Shankaracharya that proved instrumental in his role to guide all of its founders and laid the foundation for a great empire.
According to the legend, Shankaracharya's travels led him to the banks of the Tungabhadra river. As he sat in meditation, he saw a hare turning against a hound in a sudden downpour and is offered help by a snake, its natural predator in a remarkable display of harmony.
Sthala Purana
Vidyaranya motivating Hakka and Bukka for the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire as per our artist's imagination
Hampi, the majestic capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, is also celebrated in the Puranas as the fabled Kishkindha.
According to the Sthala Purana, this land is none other than Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom of the Ramayana. It was here that Lord Rama met Hanuman and Sugriva, forging the alliance that led to the battle against Ravana.
The hills and rivers of Hampi carry echoes of these legends: Anjanadri hill is revered as Hanuman's birthplace; Rishimukha hill marks Sugriva's meeting with Rama; and Malyavanta hill is remembered as the refuge of Rama during the monsoon. As Aparna Kshatra, Hampi is also regarded as a place that is as divine as the holy city of Kashi, making it not only a UNESCO World Heritage site but also a profound spiritual landscape where mythology, history, and devotion converge.





