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devoted to Shiva has numerous mandapams and
murals. Some of the shrines in this temple go back to the 12th
century.
The temple boast three towers, the eastern tower rises to a height
of 160 feet and flaunts nine tires. The temple architecture dates
back to the first half of the 15th Century.
The presiding deity here is Virupaksheshwara or Pampapathi. His
companion Pampa, is said to be the daughter of Bhrama. There is an
elaborate shrine to Bhuvaneswari.
Numerous of Shiva's manifestations, and the ten incarnations of
Vishnu are portrayed here, as is the characteristic scene from
Mahabharata depicting Arjuna's shooting the fish device in order to
seek Draupadi's hand in marriage.
In the neighborhood of the Virupaksha temple are numerous
dilapidated mandapams. In front of the temple was once a prehistoric
shopping center lined with mandapams, the ruins of which stand
today.
The chariot festival in the month of February is the leader annual
festival celebrated here. The heavenly marriage between
Virupaksheshwara and Pampa is celebrated in the month of December.
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