Hampi history

Hampi  is a
village in northern Karnataka state,
India. It is located within the ruins
of Vijayanagara, the former capital
of the Vijayanagara Empire .
Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it
continues to be an important
religious centre, housing the
Virupaksha Temple, as well as
several other monuments belonging
to the old city. The ruins are a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed
as the Group of Monuments at
Hampi.
Etymology
Hampi traditionally known as
Pampa- kshetra, kishkinda-kshetra
or Bhaskara-kshetra is derived from
Pampa, which is the old name of the
Tungabhadra River on whose
southern banks the city is built.
The name "Hampi" is an anglicized
version of the Kannada Hampe
(derived from Pampa). Over the
years, it has also been referred to
as Vijayanagara and
Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha,
the patron deity of the Vijayanagara
rulers).
History
The emperor Ashoka 's minor rock
edicts in Nittur & Udegolan (both in
Bellary district) leads one to
believe that this region was within
the Ashokan kingdom during the 3rd century BC. A Brahmi inscription &a terracotta seal dating to the 2ndcentury AD were also discovered
from the Hampi (Kannada : ಹಂಪೆ Hampe ) is a
village in northern Karnataka state,
India. It is located within the ruins
of Vijayanagara, the former capital
of the Vijayanagara Empire .
Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it
continues to be an important
religious centre, housing the
Virupaksha Temple, as well as
several other monuments belonging
to the old city. The ruins are a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed
as the Group of Monuments at
Hampi. [1]
Etymology
Hampi traditionally known as
Pampa- kshetra, kishkinda-kshetra
or Bhaskara-kshetra is derived from
Pampa, which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River on whose
southern banks the city is built. [2]
The name "Hampi" is an anglicized
version of the Kannada Hampe
(derived from Pampa). Over the
years, it has also been referred to
as Vijayanagara and
Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha,
the patron deity of the Vijayanagara
rulers).
History
The emperor Ashoka 's minor rock
edicts in Nittur & Udegolan (both in
Bellary district) leads one to
believe that this region was within
the Ashokan kingdom during the 3rd century BC. A Brahmi inscription & a terracotta seal dating to the 2nd century AD were also discovered
from the excavation site.[3]
The first historical settlements in
Hampi date back to 1
CE. [citation needed ]
Immediately before the rise of the
Vijaynagar kings, the region was
probably in the hands of chiefs of
Kampili, now a small town, 19 km
east of Hampi.Hampi formed one of the core areas of the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1343 to 1565, when it was finally laid siege to by the Deccan Muslim confederacy . Hampi was chosen because of its strategic location, bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra river on one
side and surrounded by defensible
hills on the other three sides.
The site is significant historically
and architecturally. The topography
abounds with large stones which
have been used to make statues of
Hindu deities. The Archaeological
Survey of India continues to conduct excavations in the area, to discover additional artifacts and temples. site.
The first historical settlements in
Hampi date back Immediately before the rise of the Vijaynagar kings, the region was
probably in the hands of chiefs of
Kampili, now a small town, 19 km
east of Hampi.
Hampi formed one of the core areas
of the capital of the Vijayanagara
Empire from 1343 to 1565, when it
was finally laid siege to by the
Deccan Muslim confederacy .
Hampi was chosen because of its
strategic location, bounded by the
torrential Tungabhadra river on one
side and surrounded by defensible
hills on the other three sides.
The site is significant historically
and architecturally. The topography
abounds with large stones which
have been used to make statues of
Hindu deities. The Archaeological
Survey of India continues to conduct excavations in the area, to discover additional artifacts and temples.