Vali and Sugriva

Mahamandapa of Vitthala Temple, Vijayanagara (plan)

The Mahamandapa, although a physically continuous structure, is divided into four "halls" for convenience of description. Its east hall is decorated with sculptures of musicians. The south hall features sculptures of yalis. In the north hall are sculptures and reliefs of Narasimha. The west hall is collapsed.

In spite of appearances here, Vali and Sugriva are not arm-wrestling in any friendly manner; they are fighting. When Vali, king of the monkeys, exiled his brother Sugriva from the kingdom, the faithful Hanuman followed his friend into exile. Ramayana stories are especially appropriate at Vijayanagara, the legendary site of the monkey kingdom.