Lepakshi Temple -Not simply what we see

We had planned to start for Lepakshi on this Saturday at 7 AM but somehow due to some confusions we could only start by 10.30 AM. Our plan was to visit Bhoga Nandeeshwara and Sir Visvesvaraya birth place, Muddenahalli on way but due to lack of time we dropped seeing this on way.

We took breakfast at hotel “Udupi Swada”, one of the best restaurants between Hebbal and Lepakshi on NH7, just before where we take turn to go to Nandi Hill road. Enough parking.

After passing Bagepalli we could see a big gate with Nandi statue indicating the deviation to Lepakshi. We reached Lepakshi, a small village at 1 PM. Population seems to be less and I think this temple is the only thing for which this village is famous for. There is no language problem here, people seem to be good and there were no taxes inside and around temple, nor will any local vendors will trouble you. Car parking is available at the temple gate. Just as caution keep the eatables with you as good hotels are scarce in 50 Km radius of Lepakshi.

Where to stay in Lepakshi

State Government Andhra Pradesh Tourism Corporation runs Haritha hotel (www.harithahotel.com) in Lepakshi. Online booking aptourism.gov.in ( a very good site ) and toll free number 1800-4254-5454. Rooms are good, AC and NON AC, spacious and very reasonable rate. You can get buffet South Indian meals here.

How to reach

This temple is in Anantpur distt of Andhra Pradesh. Nearest railway station is Hindupur (15 KM ). Bangalore is 110 KM via NH7. Hindupur and Anantpur are well connected by road and public transport also.

Not simply what we see here

There are a few unique illustrations about this temple unlike other temples..

No foundation Uniquely whole temple is on rock and there no foundation as such.
Hanging pillar There are 70 pillars in dancing room. One pillar in this was completely hanging but we see that now a very small bit of pillar corner touches ground after it was disturbed by British engineer Hamilton in 1902 while investigating the truth about load bearing.
Naga Shivalinga and Nandi There is Naga Shivlinga which seems was constructed in one day time. There is one Nandi Bull statue (world’s largest) statue 200 meters away from this Naga Shivlinga. This is the only Nandi which does not have Shivalinga in front of it but its head up looking towards Naga Shivlinga.
Sita foot It is said the seeing the size of Sita Mata foot her height must be about 25 feet. It is claimed that in treta yug the human height above 25 feet which reduced to 15 feet in dwapar yug and now in Kalyug some times we see people with 7 to 9 feet. There are reports which say this temple was built by giants of height more than 20 feet.
Another strange story is from locals that today this temple is world famous due to its uniqueness of creation still Viruppana, one of the two creators of this temple faced wrath of Vijaynagar king, plucking his both eyes.
In total there are 890 pillars in this temple and all have some sculpture and carvings.

Location

The temple is located in Andhra Pradesh. It is 120 KM from Bangalore and 15 KM from nearest railway station Hindupur.

History

Archaelogical Survey Of India Board about Lepakashi

Luckily we could locate a guide named Raghu (9030670262) inside the temple.This temple was built to house the famed God Veerbhadra (fiery form of Shiva) and was constructed by two ministers (brothers Viranna and Virupanna) of King Achut Raya (brother of Krishna deva raya) of Vijay Nagar Empire in 1539. Vijayanagara Kingdom (1336–1646) was one of the glorious kingdoms of India in this age. Before this temple this hillock known as Kurma Saila, “tortoise shaped hill”, five temples and Sita Mata foot existed in open dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.

The complete structure of temple consists of 9 mandapas – Garbh grah, Dancing hall, Temple entrance along with four mandapas, bit far apart from temple. Now the four mandapas are occupied by local population and so not visible.

Veer bhadra Temple

Veerbhadra (fiery Shiva) is main deity in this temple and was family God of Viranna and Virupanna. The other temples inside Veerbhadra temples are Durga temple, Navgraha temple, Ganesha, Papanashewara (Shiva), Agatasya cave, Parwati temple, Ramalingamu, Raghu Nada Swamy and Veerbhadra temple.

There are total 5 shiv lingas. Out of these 3 are inside the temple – Papa nasheshwer, Rama Lingam and Hanuman lingam.

Hanging Pillar

There are 70 pillars in dancing room. one pillar in this was completely hanging. As per guide and locals in 1902 a British engineer wanted to verify the truth and tried to disturb hanging pillar with iron rod and due to this the whole structure got disturbed and some pillars lost their vertical as shown below. Today due to that hanging pillar north west corner slightly touched the base. Guide showed me two proofs of disturbed pillar. Further investigation was stopped by British.

View of 70 pillars in dancing Hall. Out of this one is hanging

All visitors try their luck to pass cloth through the hanging pillar

The guide showed us the pillar which lost verticallity due to British engineer invesigation

Dancing Hall

Sculpture of Apsara Rambha, Dattatreya, Shiva, Parwati, Surya God, Varah, Riteshwar, Nandi, Bramha, Natraj, Chandra God, Sanataneshwara rishi. are carved on 12 pillars while other 58 pillars have other mythological carvings.

3-legged Dancing Guru Bhringi dancing with Apsara Rambha. There is an intersting story of Rishi Bhringi who used to worship only Shiva and ignored Parwati. Angry Parwati noticed it and sat in lap of Shiva. Then Bhringi took form to Snake and separated Shiva and Parwati. Parwati got very angry and took all blood of Bhringi. So he got weak and was unable to stand. Seeing this Shiva gave him third leg. Later Shiva showed his Ardh Narishwar form so that Bhringi realises that his half is Parwati also.

God Chandrama (Moon) holding Tambaram in his hand contributing his share in dancing hall

God Surya ( Sun ) holding flute in his hand.

Lord Shiva enjoying the dance of Apsara Rambha in dancing hall

Riteshwara ( form of Shiva ) playing musical instrument harmonium

As per guide this sculpture is of Maa Parwati in wedding suite. So I think this dancing hall depicts the dance program on occasion of wedding of Parwati with Lord Shiva and all these Gods contributed to this function.

Dancing hall also has this Annapurna devi story when Lord Shiva in disguise of beggar wanted to test devotion of Parwati. In this Parwati did not allow any food to fall even though her saree fell. See the picture with fallen saree. Shiva was overwhelmed by devotion of Parwati for Annam ( food grains ). So Annapurna is also synonym of Parwati.

Incomplete Kalyan Mandap

Some people say it is marriage hall but as per guide it is not the actual marriage venue site of Lord Shiva and Parwati but it is depiction of the same. The marriage was performed at Bhoga Nandeesh which is about 60 Km from Lepakshi on way to Bangalore and near Nandi Hills.

This mandap has the beautiful sculpture of dignitiaries who had visited during that time.

Rishi Agatsya in background first to welcome the guests in Kalyan Mandap

The Gods on pillars are shown with their chariots such as bull, eagle, capricon etc while the sages ( Bramh Rishis and Raj Rishis ) are on foot.

Lata Mandap ( House of creepers)

The house of creepers. Even today these 500 years old designs are used in saree borders. There are 36 pillars with 4 different designs on each pillar making it 144 different designs. Even now also sarees are sold with these designs called Lepakshi designs.

Maa Sita Foot

There is print on rock which is legendarily said to be print of Sita who descended here to bless bird king “Jatayu” who had tried to save Sita from Ravana and in the process got killed. As per guide the height of Sita must have been 25-32 feet seeing the size of foot. Mata Sita had blessed Jatayu that he will die only when Ram will reach him searching for her.

Nandi

200 meters away from the Veerbhadra temple is located a magnificent God Nandi bull, giant statue, synonymous with Lepakshi and regarded as world’s biggest Nandi. It is 4.5 meter high and 8.23 meters long and is positioned such that it faces the Shivlinga shielded by a huge seven headed serpent inside the temple..

Eyes of Viruppana

The Minister builder Virupanna was accused guilty of having taken out money from treasury without permission of king Achut Raya. So king ordered to pluck eyes of Virupanna. Thereafter this incident this mandap remained incomplete.

On one of the walls of temple we can see the stains of the plucked eyes which saddened Virupanna himself took out and threw on the particular wall of the Gopurs. This is the story which prevails among locals since last 500 years. This wall is very popular among the tourists and I saw almost all taking photo of this wall. Strange.

Stains of Virupanna eyes which he plucked himself and tossed here

Hanuman, Lord Ganesha,Dharmshala and Old trees

Dharmashala surrounds the south and west side the temple . These are just corridors and were meant for pilgrims to stay for a night. All pillars have carvings in dharmshala. There are two very old trees which are unique and I never saw these types of trees else. These enhance the beauty of temple.

Dharamshala and Temple corridor. The dharmshala ( pilgrims stayed in dharmshala ) surrounds the two sides of temple.

Shivalinga

There is one more shivalinga and as per guide it was built by Chola kings 800 years ago and before thisVeerbhadra temple existed.

Havan Kund and Panchang Sravan

On the North side corner of temple there are 2 pillared structures which are known as Havan kund and and other is Panchang Sravan. In Havan kund the Yagna is conducted on day of Shivrati

There is a havan kund here and even today havan is conducted here on day of Maha Shiv Ratri. While Panchang sravan was used by locals to hear and know about the auspicious times and astrology.

Naga Linga

It seems Naga Linga is said to have been constructed in a single day before the cooking finished for workers. As soon as the mother of architect came out of kitchen she was taken by the speedy and art work and due to her evil eye ( superstition?) the crack appeared. Even today we can see the cracks as guide showed. Government body ASi has tried to fill some cracks. And as per guide in order to continue worship of Naga linga , a shivalinga is kept.

I am seeing almost all visitors taking their selfie at this legendary spot and same Naga linga is visible from 200 meters away Nandi.

SriKalaHasti

Srikalahasti temple, situated 36 km away from Tirupati and is regarded as Rahu-Ketu kshetra and Dakshina Kasi. This sculpture at Lepakshi is depiction of Srikalahasti on rock. It depicts Lord Shiva linga, Spider, elephant and snake are on rock.

Ambiance around temple

The village is small and locals seem to be co-operative and peaceful. There is good garden outside the temple and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Devlopment corporation runs a hotel with AC and Non AC rooms with very nominal charges. I visited the hotel which looks clean and buffet South Indian meals was available till 3 PM.

Andhra Pradesh Tourist hotel with stay and buffet facility

An medieval time huge pond on East of temple ( 300 meters away )

Excursions

Excursions to cover some heritage places in Anantpur Distt of Andhra Pradesh are

Gooty Fort – 52 km from Ananthapur . Built by Vijaynagar empire
Hemavathi architecture – Pallava’s 1000 year old architecture – Near Hindupur
Penukonda Fort – 50 km from Ananthapur. Built by Vijaynagar empire

Epilogue

The 500 years old ( Ending era of Vijaynagar Empire ) though Kalyan mantap is incomplete yet one of the most decorated sculpture, 890 pillars around, depicts kalyan mandap, dancing hall of Shiva marriage, Veerbhadra ( fiery Shiva ) temple, Seeta foot, Naga Linga and above all world’s largest God Nandi bull and hanging pillar are the main attarctions in this temple. Of course take a guide to understand this temple. This temple has something more to offer to tourists as many stories are associated with this temple unlike other temples. Temple is maintained well by ASI.