Narasimha Statue

This huge monolith, about 6.7 m high, stands within a walled enclosure, a short distance to the west of the road. It is four-armed seated figure of Narasimha, but all the arms are broken now. A large seven-hooded naga curls above its head. The deity is seated below a Makara-Torana springing from two ornate pilasters. Originally there was a figure of Lakshmi seated on Narasimha’s left thigh

History

An inscription states that Krishnadevaraya made a grant in AD 1528 to the temple of Lakshmi-Narasimha, which he had built; it also says that the deity was fashioned out of a single granite boulder by a Brahmana. The establishment of this monolith in 1529 was the last great act of Krishnadevaraya.

Art

This much-mutilated image, neglected and exposed to sun and rain for about half a millennium, is no doubt one of the greatest achievements of the Vijayanagara kings. It is colossal in size, monolithic in content and magnificent in appearance. In its original form, Lord Narasimha sat on the three-fold coils of serpent-king Ananta, in cross-legged posture; on his left lap was his consort Lakshmi. Of the four arms of Narasimha, two held attributes, one encircled the waist of his consort, while the remaining one assured protection to his devotees. The Ananta raised his hood behind his lord and unfolded it to form a vast parasol on the crowned head of his lion-faced deity.

Narasimha is awe-inspiring with his wide-open mouth and protruding eye-balls, but his mighty limbs and firm torso are live and natural. This image is commonly mistaken for Ugranarasimha, the Lord Terrific. This shows seated lions at the base, half-pilasters with creeper motif, double-curved capitals and makaras on the sides, and a cut-out, foliated frame topped with kirttimukha rising over the seven-hooded naga on top.

Architecture

It is the largest consecrated image found at Hampi, and undoubtedly the most magnificent one too. About 2 3/4 times as tall as Sasivekalu Ganesa and 11/2 times as tall as Kadalekalu Ganesa, this 6.7 mts. high monolith has very few parallels in Indian art. The deity now sits mutilated within a roofless chamber.

This approximately, 6.7 m high sculpture of Narasimha, the largest monolith at the site. The figure of God is in yogic posture. The monolith is contained within a massive square chamber with a doorway on the east. Plain walls rise on a high tripartite basement. Doorway jambs have angled shakas. There is no indication of any roof.