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The Krishna Temple is located in
Hampi, to the north of
the image of Narasimha. It has
an inscription of Krishnadeva Raya, dated AD 1513 recording that an image
of Bala-Krishna, which he had brought from a temple in Udayagire, was
enshrined in a mandapa in this temple. This large and ornate east-facing
temple-complex is built in typical Vijayanagara style. A large open
'prakara' with high walls contains the Svami and Amman sancta and many
subshrines.
The main sanctum-group contains the usual typical arrangement of an open
'maha-mandapa', a 'ardha-mandapa' and a covered 'prakara' running round
the 'garbha-griha' and 'antarala'. One of the pillars in the
'ardha-mandapa' is noteworthy, as all the ten incarnations of Vishnu
including the rare form of Kalki are carved on it. Kalki is depicted as a
seated figure with a horse's head. The 'garbha-griha' and 'antarala' have
an ornate and well-finished exterior with fine bas-reliefs. The sanctum is
a three-storeyed 'vimana' with a circular 'sikhara', much dilapidated. The
Amman shrine is to the northwest of the Svami Sanctum, and both have 'sala
sikharas'.
The Krishna temple is interesting for the numerous sub-shrines it
contains. One of these in the south has many stucco figures of Subhramanya
shrine in a Krishna temple is rather unique. The three gopuras of the
temple-east, south and north are much dilapidated. The large east
'gopuram' has only a part of its superstructure existing. Its west face
contains many fine stucco figures of warriors with shields and spirited
horses and elephants. This probably represents a war-scene connected with
the Orissan campaign of Krishnadeva Raya.