Acoustic analysis of two Hindu temples in Southern India

Abstract

The Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal and the Vijaya Vittala temple in Hampi are excellent examples of Hindu temple architecture from the 8th and 15th centuries, respectively, and both have historical links to musical performance. This paper furthers the emerging field of archeoacoustics, analyzing the impulse responses and decay curves from both temples. Given the importance of frequency-focused elements of Hindu worship, alongside standard acoustic parameters like T30 and C80, a frequency-domain analysis was performed. Results indicate low-frequency amplification akin to other cultural heritage sites, but the resonance quality and width differ, establishing a basis for further research in this area.