Lepakshi - IV

The etymology of the name Lepakshi is not certain. According to one theory, it is Lepa Akshi, embalmed eyes , and other theory is connected to Ramayana: When Raavana abducts Sita, the bird Jatayu tries to stop and in the process gets wounded. Later when Rama finds Jatayu lying wounded, he says with compassion 'Le Pakshi', meaning 'Get up bird'. There's an enormous foot imprint in the temple corridor which is known as Seethamma Padam. Some also refer to it as Durga Padam.

Seethamma Padam

Lepakshi is also famous for its motifs popularly known as Lepakshi motifs, used mostly as saree border patterns. One can find these intricate patterns carved on pillars in Latha Mandapam and some of them can be found in the murals too.

Latha Mandapam

During festivals like Shivarathri, the temple hosts many pilgrims within its complex. The pilgrims keep an all-night vigil singing and dancing in praise of lord.

Temple complex

Another gigantic monolithic structure, Lepakshi is famous for, is the Nandi also called as Basavanna.

Basavanna

GandaBerundam - Karnataka emblem, adorning Nandi

Lepakshi - III

Lepakshi temple is famous for its many monolithic structures. Inside the second enclosure, there's a huge Ganapathi shrine. Towards its left is a stone-carving depicting SriKalaHasthi.

Ganapathi Shrine

Stone-carving depicting SriKalaHasthi

On the other side of this structure there's the Nagalingam, a Lingam sitting on a huge monolithic coiled serpent (Naga), facing the kitchen. The popular story connected to this carving goes like this: Once the sculptors, waiting for their mother to prepare lunch, started carving the stone. Mother completed her cooking and was in awe seeing the stone take shape a huge seven-headed serpent. Her admiration seemed to have caused a jinx and resulted in a crack in the sculpture. It was later mended and a Shiva linga was placed to compensate for the damage.

Naga-Lingam

Facing the Nagalingam, one can see the Kalyana Mandapam in the background. It is an unfinished structure depicting the wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.

Entrance to Kalpana Mandapam with sages welcoming the guests

Panchamukha Brahma, Vishnu, Brihaspati, Dattatreya, Vishwamitra and the Ashtadikpalakas standing witness to this wedding are beautifully carved on these pillars.

Kalyana Mandapam

MainaDevi and Himavanta

One of the pillars depicts Sage Vasishta performing the wedding ceremony, while Lord Shiva holds Goddess Parvathi's hand.

Shiva-Parvathi Kalyanam
Image Credit: Wiki

On one of the walls near Kalyana Mandapam one can see two red marks. As per a legend, Virupanna used the State treasury for the construction of the temple. When the King came to know, he announced the punishment that Virupanna be blinded. Hearing this, Virupanna punished himself by plucking his own eyes and throwing them. The marks are said to be result of that. This entire episode was during the construction of Kalyana Mandapam and so the structure was left unfinished.

Lepakshi - II- Murals

The ceilings of Natya, Maha and Mukha Mandapams at the Veerabhadra swamy temple are filled with murals depicting the tales of Ramayana, Mahabharata and other Puranas. These are made with natural pigments. Men/Women portrayed in these paintings seem to make a fashion statement, each one with a unique attire and head-gear/hair-do.

The ceiling of Maha Mandapam has an enormous painting of Veerabhadra, 25x14 ft, (possibly the largest in Asia) with Virupanna and Veeranna standing either side.

Parvathi getting ready for the wedding with the help of her maidens

Lord Shiva with the guests at his wedding venue 

Vatapatrasai Krishna

An archaeology team from Hyderabad were assessing the murals for their damage. Speaking to them, I got a chance to climb the makeshift arrangement and have a look at the murals up-close and also view the Mandapam from a rare perspective.

Lepakshi - I

Lepakshi is a small village in Andhra Pradesh, and is around 120 km from Bangalore. The famous Veerabhadra swamy temple of Lepakshi is built on a small tortoise shaped hill, "Kurmashila". Built in 16th century under the reign of King Achyutaraya of Vijayanagara dynasty by Virupanna and Veeranna, the temple is considered as an architectural marvel.

Veerabhadra Swamy Temple Entrance

The temple is said to have seven prakarams (enclosure walls) , of which only three can be seen now.

Like any ancient temple, this has Mukha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Natya Mandapam, Antarala and Garbhagriha.

The main shrine in the Garbhagriha is of Lord Veerabhadra. Other shrines surrounding Garbhagriha are  that of Raghunatha (Vishnu), Paapavinaseshwara (Shiva) and Bhadrakali. Two other shrines Ramalinga and Hanumalinga are believed to be set up and worshiped by Rama and Hanuman.

Entrance to inner enclosure

Beautiful carvings near the Entrance

The temple is famous for its magnificent sculptures and the murals on the ceiling. The ceiling in front of the sanctum has an enormous painting of Veerabhadra, 25x14 ft, with Virupanna and Veeranna standing either side. There are  pillars bearing sculptures of Vastu Purusha and Padmini, the epitome of man and woman.

Below sculpture depicts the scene where Lord Shiva in disguise of Bhikshatanamurthy seeks alms from Parvathi. While Parvathi, in her bath robe, rushes towards him, Lord Shiva, in order to test her devotion dislodges her robes... Parvathi, unfazed, continues her offerings.

Bhikshatanamurti is usually depicted as associated with his Bhoota-Ghanam and followed by love-smitten women.

Bhikshatanamurthy

The ceiling of the Mandapam has a centifolious lotus (Shatapatra Kamalam), made of twelve pieces of stone.

Shatapatra Kamalam
Photo Credit: Likith

Natya Mandapa has life size sculptures carved on pillars.The stage is set by Dattatreya, Surya, Tumbhura, Riteshwar, Nandishwar, Brahma and Chandra playing various instruments. Lord Shiva posing to initiate the dance while Goddess Parvathi is seen as the spectator; Rambha presenting her performance with the three-legged Bhringishwar guiding her.

Bhringishwar

Rambha

There is another pillar of importance, Aakasha sthambham or the Hanging pillar. This one suspends in the air (well almost). During the British era, a British Architect is said to have attempted to move the pillar to study the marvel and caused a minor shift in other pillars (also, possibly the reason that caused the pillar to touch the ground at one point).

Hanging pillar

Many-in-one sculptures on the pillars

.......  continued