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Ph.D. Candidate
Despite being well utilized for centuries, many Hindu temples in India have languished over time. They lie vacant and unused across the Indian subcontinent during a time when financial resources for amenities that serve the local community are hard to come by. In Hampi, this strain is felt not only by the local community, but the tourism sector as well due to Hampi’s immense significance as a unique Medieval-city in the Indian subcontinent. Using the Krishna Temple Complex in Hampi’s Sacred Center as a case study, I examined the nature of the Hindu religion and its adherents; the various Vedic rules of construction; the political, socio-religious, and communal forces that determine a religious structure’s future; and the architectural, legal, and historical considerations of the temple complex. While these parameters were not by any means exhaustive, they allowed me to deduce that the sanctity of a Hindu Temple (the main shrine) should be respected; a Hindu Temple does not really lose its sanctity even though it loses its intended use. However, the area around the shrine, including the ancillary structures and pillared halls (mandapas) can and should be put to alternative uses.
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