The name ‘Hampi’ is derived from the local mother goddess:
(1) Parvatidevi
(2) Pampadevi
(3) Lakshmidevi
(4) Saraswatidevi

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Hampi derived its name from that of the local mother goddess, Pampadevi.

According to local tradition, the rocky hills on the banks of the Tungabhadra river 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 recognized as a form of Shiva.