E-Book

Lepakshi

By
Tamarapu Sampath Kumaran

About the Author:

Mr T Sampath Kumaran is a freelance writer. He regularly contributes

articles on Management, Business, Ancient Temples, and Temple
Architecture to many leading Dailies and Magazines.
His articles are popular in The Young World section of THE HINDU.
His e-books on nature, environment and different cultures of people
around the world are educative and of special interest to the young.
His e-books Guide to 108 Divya Desams, Guide to 275 Siva Sthalams,
The Path of Ramanuja, Guide to Kancheepuram and Hinduism in a
nutshell have been well received in the religious circle. He was
associated in the renovation and production of two Documentary films
on Nava Tirupathi Temples, and Tirukkurungudi Temple in Tamilnadu.

Acknowledgement:
I wish to express my gratitude to the authors from whose works I
gathered the details for this book, and Courtesy, Google for some of the
photographs.
Special thanks to www.scribd.com for hosting my e-books.

Lepakshi is a small village located in the Anantapur of Andhrapradesh,

and is historically and archaeologically significant as it has three shrines
dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabadhra, built during
the Vijayanagara Kings' period (13361646). Puranic lore has it that the
Veerabhadra temple was built by the sage Agastya.

The historic town of

Lepakshi has been connected with an occurring of the Indian epic of
Ramayana. According to the Valmikis Ramayana, when Rama
accompanied by Lakshmana, met the dying Jatayu at this place, they
helped him attain moksha by uttering the words "Le Pakshi," which in
Telugu means "Rise, bird". Hence the name, Lepakshi.
One of the main attractions in Lepakshi is a large Nandi Bull made of a
single granite stone. The place is known for mural paintings of the
Vijayanagar kings. Legend has it that the Naga of the Nagalinga was
carved out of a single stone by sculptors while they waited for their
mothers to prepare lunch, which confirms the skill of the artisans.

The famous Veerabadhra dedicated to

Veerabhadra, built by the brothers Viranna and Virupanna is a notable
example of the Vijayanagara architecture.

There are many peculiarities in this temple such as a rock chain, Vastu
Purusha, the Padmini Race Lady, the Hanging Pillar, Durga Paadam. The
paintings on the roof are done in natural pigments. One noted spot in the
temple is the "Eyes of Viroopaakshana". Temples of 'Papanatheswara',
'Raghunatha', 'Srirama', 'Veerabhadra' and 'Durga' are located on a
hillock known as Kurma Saila (tortoise shaped hill).
On the walls of these temples, several stories like the Mahabharata and
the Ramayana are sculpted. This village is renowned for having one of

the best collections of mural paintings from the Vijayanagara Kings

period.
According to history, due to a misunderstanding with one of the temple
builder, the king ordered him to be blinded. Hearing this, the builder
plucked out his own eyes and threw them at the wall. Even today those
blood marks are evident on that particular wall. There are two red
blotches on the western wall of the inner enclosure, which explains of
the gory story.

The monolithic
"Nandi" sculpture, is considered to be the biggest monolithic Nandi
in India, synonymous with Lepakshi. It is 4.5m high and 8.23m long. It
is the second largest monolith in India, after Gomateswara statue in
Sravanabelagula. The big granite bull is positioned approximately 200
meters from the temple, facing the shivalinga shielded by a huge serpent
inside the temple. The Nandi sports huge ornaments like kaasu mala, a
bell chain, earrings and other jewelry.

There are about 70 pillars at this fabulous

16th-century temple, of which there is a famed Hanging Column or
Pillar, which does not rest on the ground fully. This one is the best
known and a tribute to the engineering genius of ancient and medieval
Indias temple builders. However, currently it is a bit dislodged from its
original position. It is said that during the British era, a British engineer

.
tried to move it, in an unsuccessful attempt to uncover the secret of its
support.

From the temples outer enclosure, one can see a mammoth Ganesha,
hewn in stone and leaning against a rock. Perpendicular to it is a massive
Naga with three coils and seven hoods. It forms a sheltering canopy over
a black granite Shivalingam. Its reckoned by many as the largest
Nagalinga in India.

The Lepakshi temple

also has the finest specimens of mural paintings of the Vijayanagar
kings. It is referred by historians that the 24 by 14 ft fresco of
Veerabhadra on the ceiling before the main sanctum sanctorum is the
largest in India of any single figure. The rest of the frescoes are also

beautiful and show an impressive attention to detail with colours

strikingly contrasted black limework against an orange-red background
with some green, white, black, and shades of ochre-gold and brown
mostly applied to a stucco surface specially treated with lime. The
Shiva-Parvathi kalyanam, an enduringly popular subject with traditional
Indian artists finds expression here. However, these frescoes are peeling
off in many places and need of better maintenance and expert
restoration.
The use of natural pigments and ancient mural arts makes Lepakshi a
remarkable storehouse of skills on the verge of extinction. The birds,
beasts and foliage depicted in its paintings and carving have spawned a
style often found today in block-printed Indian textiles and rugs,
popularly referred to as the Lepakshi motifs. One greatly humane panel
captures the story of the Chola king Manunitikanda, who loved to
dispense justice even to animals like the cow.
The ceiling of the natya-mantapa have eight panels depicting themes
from mythology , such as the manifestations of Shiva, Shiva as Kiratha
( boar hunter), Dakshinamurthy and scenes from Shivas wedding with
Girija; the scenes from Krishnas childhood.

This panel shows the marriage of Siva and Parvati. The seated figures as
well as the maids in attendance on Parvati each have distinct hairstyles,
dresses, and facial types.
The paintings that have survived are some of the most outstanding
murals in India. They are also the best among the Vijayanagara style of
pictorial art. The drawings are eloquent, natural and full of vitality. The
sense of liveliness is enhanced by the depiction of the protruding eye,
the angular features and by the peaked corners of clothes. The beauty of
line and form; grace and movement too are delightful.

The narrative panels are framed and structured by bands and beams with
textile patterns. They depict not merely the themes from the epics but
also from the contemporary life, bringing to life a variety of costumes,
textile patterns, jewellery, headgears etc
The Lepakshi paintings have continued to influence generation of artists.
It is practiced, even today, as a craft. The birds, beasts and foliage
depicted in its paintings and sculptures have spawned a style that
decorates the block-printed Indian textiles and rugs; popularly referred
to as the Lepakshi motifs.

The Lepakshi designs on sarees are popular amongst the women folk
which are taken from here.