Harihara
Harihara, also written Hari-Hara, is a form in Hinduism that fuses Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). In iconography, Harihara is typically depicted as a single figure with two identities—often shown with one half representing Vishnu (holding attributes such as the conch and discus) and the other half representing Shiva (often with the trident and damaru). The figure symbolizes the unity and coexistence of Vaishnavism and Shaivism and appears in temple sculpture and art across parts of South Asia, with strong associations in Karnataka and surrounding regions.
In religious practice, Harihara has been revered in certain regional traditions as a composite deity that embodies
Historically, Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I founded the Vijayanagara Empire in the mid-14th century,
Today, Harihara’s legacy persists in devotional imagery and temple art, while the ruins of Vijayanagara at Hampi