Lepakshi, a place of Ramayana

My wife and I spent many years traveling together in India and abroad.  India is a unique travel destination that's growing in popularity all the time. Here almost every religious place have their own importance and story After we know little about place Lepakshi from Ramayana we  planned a budget trip to visit Lepakshi

Meaning of Lepakshi- The origination of name Lepakshi has associated with Ramayana when Sita had kidnapped by Ravana and taking her away, the bird Jataya tried saving her from his hand and stops the chariot of Ravana.   But when Ravana cut down Jatayu's wing, the bird Jatayua collapsed and fell on the floor. As he was counting his last breathe, at that time Lord Rama reached there and helped him attain Moksha by saying 'Le Pakshi' which in Telugu means 'Rise Bird.' Hence the name Lepakshi originated 

Lepakshi is a village in the Anantapur district of Andhara Pradesh . for us it is a  best way to reach Lepakshi, catch a bus from Bangalore to Hindupur a distance of 106 km bus fare is Rs.100 for each on express service and from Hindupur to Lepakshi 14 to 15 kms approx. We took APSRTC bus from platform no 18 in Kempegowda bus stand Bangalore located opposite the Bangalore city railway station for Hindupur. It take 3hrs to reach there.

when we told the bus conductor that we wanted to go to Lepakshi temple he dropped us at a centre place of Hindupur where a lot of auto rickshaws to Lepakshi are available and arranged a  auto ricksaw for us who take us there and drop us back at Hindupur . just only Rs. 350/- for three and half hours .  We hired that  auto-rickshaw , the auto rickshaw driver was well behaved most gentle and nice person.  Auto-rickshaws are the most common and popular modes of transport in Hindupur.

By that time it was already 3.15 pm and we were hungry. We searched for a restaurant but all we can find is a small hotel that provided meals, which I should say that we were able to eat only because we were hungry.

Lepakshi is a tiny village but a magnificent place which lies 15-km east of Hindupur maximum  a 30 minute ride by auto rickshaw. The road is very beautiful with big size trees each side and green paddy fields. the road—not so wide but it was still properly maintained

The temple built on the southern side of Lepakshi village situated on a low altitude granite rocky hill called Kurmasaila (tortoise shaped hill). It is hard to see much of the hillock now because of the numerous shops and houses built around the temple. Lepakshi Temple is known for the famous Veerabhadra Temple construction of the Veerabhadra  was started in around 1530 AD during the reign of the Vijayanagara king, Aliiya Rama Raya. Virupanna One interesting aspect of this temple is that it northern facing entrance is the main entrance. usually Hindu temples are typically East facing, while there are some West and South facing temples too, while North facing temples are rare in comparison.

The Archaeological Survey of India providing limited information about this temple on a board at entrance point. The temple is surrounded by a small garden which is maintained by ASI, however, its complex is comparatively clean. The temple does not seem that special from outside the outer enclosure walls, but once we climb the fleet of steps and enter, we  begin appreciating the thorough artwork of the sculptors of that time

We remove our  shoes before entering the temple. When  I entered  inside the mandap, I saw many sculptures and  paintings on the ceilings and columns,  there are about 70 stone pillars in Vijayanagar style,

These pillar structure are based on  divine beings and the avatars of Shiva. We  had  a good  dharshan of Veerabhadra Swamy where we feel the vibration and, perform puja to our satisfaction.  We feel, no rush and it takes few minutes to complete the Darshan it was absolutely peaceful since it is less frequented by tourists 

Unfinished Kalyana Mandapa - The Kalyana Mandapa is a big mandap behind the main temple. It was a unfinished construction maybe due to lack of funds.

The Story Behind,  Virupanna chief of the merchant  was the treasurer of Vijayanagar king Achyutaraya in 1500 AD. He conceived the idea of installing a temple here, because the image of Veerabhadra was found here. The temple is incomplete maybe due to lack of funds as he built the temple without the knowledge of the king.  The king ordered that the eyes of Virupanna to be gorged and he  should be blinded. Virupanna  a loyal servant he himself gorged his own eyes and threw at the wall and two dark blood stains are still visible on the wall.

The builder of the temple did not survive long after this, and hence the Kalyana mandapa was left unfinished.

The Kalyana mandapa  was a unfinished construction which has 38 carved with some beautiful Vijayanagar  design grey sandstone pillars. Each pillar has carvings of different gods flowers and birds. Rambha is seen dancing on one pillar who has three legs and dances with two legs while he rests one of his legs alternatively. Both Rambha and Bhringeshwara are seen in the same dance pose

The Hindu Puranas contain many supernatural events. It is difficult to believe them or take them seriously as true. It is believed that Shiva and Parvati got married at this mandapa. A wonderful carvings depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati can be seen on the pillars. Every stone here has a story. Many deities also worshiped here.

These stories of the place and the divinity of the place will make us almost believe them.

hanging pillar’- One of the most peculiar things about the temple is its hanging pillar.It was amazing experience to see another architectural wonder of hanging pillar. Among the 70 + pillars, one pillar hangs from the ceiling on the north-eastern corner of the natya mantapa. This pillar does not touch the ground, instead it grazes the ceiling, defying all laws of gravity. There is a small gap between the base of the pillar and the floor through which one can pass a twig or a piece of cloth. The pillar is slightly dislodged from its position now.

Nagalinga – a linga sheltered by the snake God, The Nagalinga magnificent rock-cut on a granite base single stone sculpture behind the main temple on the south-east corner is about 15 feet in height and it is the largest Nagalinga in the country where a Shivalinga sits shielded by a coiled, 7-headed snake form like a canopy and protect a granite Shivalinga positioned in the center of the top coil.

It is believed that, this Nagalinga was constructed in just 1 hour by the sculptures while their mother was cooking lunch for them. When mother finished cooking she saw this gigantic sculpture creation of her son in such a short span of time, it seems that her evil eyes fell on this sculpture and the hooded snake was damaged and has a crack in the right side.

The story behind this is what made me call this as a wonder

Behind the Nagalinga, there is a huge rock with carvings and a monolithic rock-cut giant sculpture of Lord Ganesha One of the major attraction of Lepakshi  temple 

From the Lepakshi Temple, within 200 meters, in a separate enclosure, you will find a Huge beautiful statue of Nandi (bull) sitting at alert position carved out of a single granite stone is wearing a necklace of stone, and ringing bells. The Nandi statue is about 27ft in length and 15ft in height this is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in the world and it faces the direction of the Lepakshi Temple.  is one of the major attractions of Lepakshi.

Opposite the Nandi a huge stone structure of the jatayu bird at the top of the hillock.it is a justice to the beauty of this place.

The stone carvings of temple are mind blowing  The “floating pillars”, about 70 of them are quite impressive, the architecture is amazing, and never-ending especially the “Naga-Linga and Ganesha” , The unfinished open air auditorium is spectacular, a ageless tree inside the temple complex is most exciting

It is a good destination for photographers, architectural enthusiast and history lover. After taking a few pictures of the grand Nandi, we came out of the small garden, planning to head back to Hindupur 

Durga Charan Mishra
dcmishradc@gmail.com