The Krishna Temple was built in 1515 CE by Emperor Krishnadevaraya after his successful campaign against the Gajapati king Prataparudra Deva of Odisha. The temple was both a victory monument and a votive offering: Krishnadevaraya brought an image of Balakrishna from the conquered kingdom and installed it in the new temple. The temple's inscription (dated to 1516 CE) records the emperor's donation of 10,000 gold coins for the temple's maintenance.
The inscription describes the Balakrishna image in poetic terms, calling it 'the jewel of the eastern sea' and 'the embodiment of divine childhood.' After the Vijayanagara defeat at Talikota (1565 CE), Hampi was sacked and the temple was severely damaged. The Balakrishna image was broken and the temple fell into ruins. The temple was excavated and partially restored by the Archaeological Survey of India in the 20th century.
The Krishna Temple remains a widely visited monument in Hampi. The military campaign that led to the temple's construction was one of Krishnadevaraya's greatest achievements. The emperor personally led the expedition to the Gajapati capital of Cuttack, defeating the Odishan army under the command of the Gajapati king's son. The treaty that followed established the Krishna River as the boundary between the two empires.
The Balakrishna image was reportedly found in the Jagannath Temple of Puri and was considered the most sacred object of the conquest. Krishnadevaraya's inscription at the temple explicitly connects his military success to his devotion to Krishna, stating that the god Balakrishna granted him the victory. The inscription also records that the emperor established a matha (monastic institution) adjacent to the temple, to be maintained by the income from 10,000 gold coins deposited with the temple treasury.
The excavated remains of priest quarters, kitchens, and storehouses around the temple indicate that it housed a substantial religious establishment with dozens of priests and support staff.
