Lepakshi

Lepakshi famous for the Veerabhadra Temple, and the huge Nandi here, symbolizing the majesty and grandeur of the Vijayanagara style of architecture, one of those places you should visit in your lifetime, just for the sheer majesty and grandeur of it's sculptures, that take your breath away, and the architecture here.

It's believed that Jatayu after being injured in the fight with Ravan when he was abducting Sita fell here on a hill called Kurma Saila. When Rama saw the injured Jatayu, he gently asked him to get up saying "Le-Pakshi" meaning "Get up bird", which soon became the place name.

The other story goes that Virupanna, the treasurer of Achyuta Raya, was buillding this temple from the treasury funds. When the king came to know of it, Virupanna plucked out his own eyes and threw them on a wall. And from the words Lopa-Akshi(Without Eyes) came Lepakshi.

The Lepakshi complex was built by Virupanna and Veeranna, who were employed in the Penugonda Samsthanam, the former was the treasurer there during the 15th century. There is a small hillock near Lepakshi called Kurma Saila, where Jatayu is believed to have fallen injured, that has a small Shiva temple, which is believed to have been built by Agastya Maharshi himself.

The massive Nandi here carved out of a single stone is just magnificient, this incidentally is the state symbol of Andhra Pradesh. The other is the 30 ft tall Naga Lingam, with a huge snake hood covering the Shiva Linga. With it's exquisite sculpture, pillars the temple here has to be visited.

The Veerabhadra Swamy temple is the main one in Lepakshi, built around the 15-16th centuries during the Vijayanagara Era, and represents well the skills of the Vishwakarma Brahmins who were involved in the construction.

The temple is located on a tortoise shaped mound, and is believed to be one of the 108 Shaiva Kshetras mentioned in the Skanda Purana. And the massive Nandi here, about 15' tall, 22' wide. The sprawling mandapas, richly carved pillars laid out in perfect symmetry, the exquisite sculptures, make Lepakshi a perfect example of the Vijayanagara style of architecture.

Apart from the sculptures, the murals at Lepakshi are equally beautiful too, on the walls as the ceilings, mostly with themes from the Puranas, Ramayan, Mahabharat and the Vijayanagara Court.

One of the wonders of Lepakshi is the Hanging Pillar, that does not rest on any foudation per se. One can pass a fine piece of cloth right under it. The pillar is a testimony to the skill of the Viswakarma Brahmins who built the temple.

Lepakshi is on par with Hampi when it comes to representing the sheer grandeur and majesty of Vijayanagara architecture style. One of those places that you need to visit at least once in your lifetime.