Who was the guardian deity of the Vijayanagara Kingdom?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Virupaksha
Virupaksha, also recognised as a form of Shiva, was the guardian deity of the kingdom; tradition says that Pampadevi, the local mother goddess, did penance in the hills to marry him.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 30-05 S2 02-07 S3* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.1 Choosing a capital … 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.…” |