What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?
An engineer and antiquarian Colonel Colin Mackenzie brought the ruins of Hampi to light in 1800. He was an employee in East India Company. He prepared the first survey map of this site. His initial informations were based on the memories of priest of the Virupaksha temple and shrine of Pampadevi. From 1856 onwards, photographers started to record the pictures of monuments of this site which helped the scholars to study them. Dozens of inscriptions were collected from here and other temples of Hampi.
Historians collected information from these sources, accounts of foreign travellers and other literature written in Kannada,Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit language so that history of the city could be reconstructed.
These functions complemented the information given by priests of Virupaksha temple.
What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?
Fig. 7.33 is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral motifs? What are the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human figures shown.
What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the Mahanavami dibba?
How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?
