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The Virupaksha temple complex is situated on the southern bank of Tungabhadra River at Hampi, in Hospet taluk, Bellary district in northern Karnataka. This temple was founded in pre-Vijayanagara times and a place of worship under the Vijayanagara rulers and continues to play an active role in the religious life of the people and indeed the whole of South India. This temple complex has been continuously expanded and altered through the centuries and it difficult to give a straightforward chronological history of this temple. This is a living worship temple right from its foundation.The Virupaksha temple consists of a garbhagriha, an antarala, anti-chamber, sabhamandapa or navaranga and mahamandapa.  The whole temple complex is surrounded by a prakara with pillared cloisters, entrances and small shrines in addition to pillared mandapa. The garbhagriha is square and enshrines Siva Linga, which is being worshiped since its foundation and the God Virupaksha was the tutelary deity of the Vijayanagara rulers.The Chapter I and II deal with Introduction and Historical Perspective Vijayanagara dynasty. The Chapter III and IV deals with Religious Background Characteristic Features of Vijayanagara Temples.  The Chapter V and VI deals with Architectural Description of the Temple Complex Salient Features of the Temple Sculptures. The Chapter VII and Chapter VIII deals with Shaiva, Vaishnava and Other Minor Sculptures Temple as Socio-Religious Institution. The Chapter IX is a Conclusion with sum up of all the chapters.  Although, a number of scholars have dealt with Virupaksha temple complex and Hampi temples, I have tried here to compile all the published information in the form of a compendium with due acknowledgements.