24[172] Templearea


Having decided on granite, the architectural traditions of Tamil country were adopted. There was also a substantial Tamil influence in the temple rituals which resulted in elaborate temple layout to perform many of these rituals. Hence, a typical Vijayanagara temple consists of a Sanctum, a circumambulatory passage, an ante-chamber, an ardha mantapa, a pillared hall with entrance on three sides, a front pillared hall, a kalyana mantapa, shrines for the attendant deities and an enclosed courtyard with entrances adorned by lofty Gopuras. Balakrishna temple is a very good example of a Vijayanagara temple.