continued to be worshipped. Vaishnavism was professed in various forms.
Srivaishnavism of Ramanuja was highly popular. The Dvaita system of
Madhava was also practised. Epics and Puranas were popular among the
masses, especially since they served as a means of education among women.
Cultural Contribution
                             ARCHITECTURE
 The temple building activity of the Vijayanagar rulers produced a new
 style, called the Vijayanagar style. Though often characterised as Dravida
 style, it had its own distinct features. The large number and prominence of
 pillars and piers and the complicated manner in which they were
 sculptured are some of its distinct features. The horse was the most
 common animal to be depicted on the pillars. They have a mandapam or
 open pavilion with a raised platform, generally meant for seating the deity
 on special occasions. These temples also have a kalyana mandapam with
 elaborately carved pillars. In the Vijayanagar temples the central part was
 occupied by the garbhagriha—the sanctum cell where the presiding deity
 was installed. Amman shrine was meant for the consort of the god.
 The following are the most important temples. The most magnificent of
 the temples in this style are in Hampi-Vijayanagar. Vitthalaswamy and the
 Hazara Ramaswamy temples are the best examples. The former reaches a
 high point in florid magnificence. The Tadapatri and Parvati temples at
 Chidambaram, Varadaraja and Ekambaranatha temples at Kanchipuram
 are the other good examples. The raya gopurams, towers in
 commemoration of the visit of emperors in different corners of the empire,
 are also important.
                            HAMPI COMPLEX
 The site of Hampi comprise mainly the remnants of the Capital of
 Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi’s spectacular setting is dominated by river
 Tungabhadra, hill ranges and open plains. Among the surviving remains,