Candis Haak (SUNY Oswego)
This paper presents an analysis of the spatial organization for the early medieval (800 to 1325 CE) saivite pilgrimage landscape in the Hemakuta Hill area of Hampi, Bellary District, Karnataka. The Pampa tirtha (pilgrimage), prior to the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire (c.1336), is generallly presented as a relatively homogenous, albeit sacred space. Subsequently, the early medieval period is understudied period at Hampi. The wealth of inscriptions and architectural innovations that flourished in this area during the subsequent imperial era, dominates research and easily overshadowes the earlier history of the site. A such, my research was undertaken to develop a more nuanced understanding of this sacred space through the lens of spatial organization and pilgrim movement and sensorial experience. Two spatial data platforms were used for the investigation: a geographic information system and Google Earth Street View. I have digitized the natural and built landscape features of the area through Esri’s ArcMap to historically situate the extant stone monuments, as recorded by the Vijayanagara Research Project (Michell et al. 2001, volumes 1-3) and as identified through satellite imagery. Devotee movement through the pilgrimage space was then modelled on my time-sensitive maps of architectural and natural features. Pathways of movement across the site that pilgrims would have taken were then subsequently explored in the immersive panoramic imagery captured for the Hampi landscape in Google Street View. The nature of Google’s Street View technology and imagery enables a ground-based assessment of visual and physical accessibility, and sensorial engagement with non-ephemeral pilgrimage landscape features to be assessed. By combining these digital tools, a historicized analysis of the character and qualities of place, born from the organization of the site, are identifiable.