‘Virupaksha’, the guardian deity of the Vijayanagara kingdom was also recognised as a form of ____________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Shiva
Virupaksha was the guardian deity of the Vijayanagara kingdom and was recognised as a form of Shiva. Local tradition says that Pampadevi, the mother goddess of the area, did penance in the hills near the city in order to marry Virupaksha. This marriage is still celebrated every year in the Virupaksha temple.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 11-05 S1 | 19-05 S1* 26-05 S1* | 19-07 S1* | 09-06 S1* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2025-26): “5.1 Choosing a capital … We now move to the rocky northern end of the city on the banks of the Tungabhadra. According to local tradition, these hills sheltered the monkey kingdom of Vali and Sugriva mentioned in the Ramayana. Other traditions suggest that Pampadevi, the local mother goddess, did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom, also recognised as a form of Shiva. To this day this marriage is celebrated annually in the Virupaksha temple. Among these hills are found Jaina temples of the pre-Vijayanagara period as well. In other words, this area was associated with several sacred traditions.…” |