A Regal Emblem Amidst the Ruins

Niharika Lakhmani

A Regal Emblem Amidst the Ruins

What once stood tall as the emblem of Hampi’s wealth and cultural richness now stands amidst the Hampi Ruins and attracts a multitude of tourists.

The ancient city of Hampi in ruins; Source: Blogspot

Architectural Finesse of a Bygone Era

Even though these stories bring out the generosity of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire, what’s more intriguing is the empire’s architectural finesse. The five-meter tall, arched frame of the structure is beautifully carved in stone and is supported by two granite pillars. A stone beam runs between these two pillars, fixed with three hoops to hang the balancing scale.

At present, nothing remains of the balancing scale, but the site is still a treat to the eyes. If one observes closely, an image sculpted on the stone pillars can be seen. As believed by the locals, this image is of King Krishna Deva Raya, the third Tuluva monarch, and his three wives.

The King’s Balance might have been deprived of its authentic glory over the turbulent times it has witnessed over centuries, but this doesn’t stop people from visiting the structure to date. One of Hampi’s most impeccable architectural works, the Tula Bhara continues to charm people with its elaborate beauty and impressive history.

The Emblem of Charity

The Tulapurushandana is a rare balance scale, quite different from other royal and historic monuments that one might come across—it is a compelling depiction of the opulence and fortunes of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Used by the royals in the fifteenth century, this intricately carved stone balance was used to weigh the kings on coronation events, eclipses, and Dussehra. The legend has it that the kings were weighed with gold, silver, and a myriad of valuable gems and stones that were later distributed among the priests of the temple.

This practice is still prevalent in upper caste Hindus who believe in donating eatables, weighing exactly as their weight, like plantains to the temples and priests.

As the community geared up for royal commemorations and festivities, the city council insisted the royal kitchen put together the king’s favorite delicacies for him to enjoy. Besides being fed these scrumptious meals, the king was requested to avoid any strenuous activities or physical movements, making him a couch potato for a while.

These activities supposedly increased weight and made up for more treasures for the priests. Besides these activities, Hampi’s Tula Bhara was also put to use for weighting grains and pulses.

The Ruins of Hampi

Since time immemorial, Hampi, the second largest medieval-era city in the world, has been home to monuments and temples that elucidated the imperishable facets of Hindu mythology, owing to which, it was declared the capital city of the sprawling Vijayanagara Empire around 1500.

Bustling with commercial and cultural pursuits, Hampi was fated to go down in Indian history as one of the most prosperous cities of classical times. However, the defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire by the Deccan Sultans introduced its decline, bringing it to ruins.

Even after the empire’s collapse , the ruins of Hampi entail architectural marvels that are nothing short of perfect. Southwest to the majestic Vittala Temple, one such ancient structure is the King’s Balance, also popularly recognized as the Tulapurushandana or the Tula Bhara.