Q10
1 markMCQSection A

Which of the following temples at Vijayanagara was meant to be used only by the king and his family ?

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara
Temples of Vijayanagara

Options

(A)Vitthala temple
(B)Chidambaram temple
(C)Hazara Ram temple
(D)Virupaksha temple
Official Answer

The correct option is (C) Hazara Ram temple.


Why:

  • The Hazara Rama temple, located within the royal centre of Vijayanagara, was meant to be used only by the king and his family.
  • Its walls carry sculpted panels narrating the Ramayana, reflecting the rulers' identification with the ideal king Rama.
Hazara Rama templeroyal centreVijayanagaraprivate shrineRamayana panelsking and familyVirupakshaVitthala

Marking Scheme

  • 11 mark for selecting option (C) Hazara Rama temple.
  • 2Key discriminator: private royal shrine (Hazara Rama) versus public temples (Virupaksha, Vitthala).

Hint

Look inside the royal centre — the private shrine whose walls tell the story of Rama.

Quick Oral Answer

The Hazara Rama temple in the royal centre of Vijayanagara was reserved for the king and his family, and its walls are carved with scenes from the Ramayana.

Analysis & Explanation

This question tests the distinction between the public sacred centre and the private royal shrines of Vijayanagara.


Concept:

  • Vijayanagara had a sacred centre with grand public temples and a royal centre with palaces and private structures.
  • The Hazara Rama temple stood in the royal centre and served the royal household exclusively.

Why (C) is correct:

  • NCERT specifically notes the Hazara Rama temple was a private shrine of the king and his family, decorated with Ramayana sculptures.

Why the distractors are wrong:

  • (A) Vitthala temple — a major public temple in the sacred centre, famous for its chariot shrine and musical pillars, open for worship.
  • (B) Chidambaram temple — located in Tamil Nadu, not part of the Vijayanagara royal complex.
  • (D) Virupaksha temple — the principal public temple of the sacred centre, dedicated to the presiding deity of the city.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Confusing the Virupaksha temple (the main public temple) with the private royal Hazara Rama temple.
  2. 2Selecting Vitthala temple because it is famous — but it was a public temple in the sacred centre, not a private royal one.

Interesting Facts

The Hazara Rama temple's inner enclosure walls are covered with continuous relief panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

The name 'Hazara Rama' is popularly linked to the thousand ('hazar') images of Rama sculpted on the temple walls.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the Hazara Rama temple special among Vijayanagara temples?

It was located in the royal centre and used only by the king and his family, unlike the public Virupaksha and Vitthala temples of the sacred centre.

Which was the chief public temple of Vijayanagara?

The Virupaksha temple, dedicated to the guardian deity of the city, was the principal temple of the sacred centre where the public worshipped.