The Virupaksha Temple, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Hampi, Karnataka, is the principal and continuously functioning sanctuary within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Virupaksha and his consort Pampa. While its core structure dates back to the 7th century CE, the temple was significantly expanded and embellished under the Vijayanagara Empire, reaching its architectural peak in the 16th century with the addition of the spectacular 50-meter-high, nine-tiered eastern Gopuram—adorned with detailed stucco figures—and the ornate Ranga Mandapa, which features 38 majestic, intricately carved pillars commissioned by King Krishnadevaraya. This active religious center, which uniquely survived the destruction of Hampi, continues to host major annual festivals like the Virupaksha Car Festival, and also contains a remarkable scientific feature: a tiny hole acting as a pinhole camera that projects an inverted shadow image of the main tower onto an internal wall, showcasing the advanced knowledge of optics possessed by its ancient builders.The Virupaksha Temple’s profound significance extends beyond its massive scale and beautiful carvings, rooting Hampi in deep Hindu mythology as the sacred place where Goddess Pampa, a local folk deity and an avatar of Parvati, performed severe penance on the nearby Hemakuta Hill to win the attention of the meditating Lord Shiva, known here as Virupaksha (the one with the oblique eye).