| Lepakshi |
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The
temples of Lepakshi in Anantapur district are rich in frescoes
and ornate wonders. The hanging tower here is an architectural
wonder. This shrine is located 480 kms from Hyderabad and is
one of the finest temples of Andhra Pradesh in architecture
and painting. Lepakshi is easily accessible from Tirupati.
Known as the Ajanta of Andhra Pradesh, Lepakshi excells in its
myriad artistry. The presiding deity is Veerabhadra. The
"Vastu" is divided into three parts.
The Mukha Mantapa (also called Nitya Mantapa), the Artha
Mantapa and Garbha Griha, and the Kalyana Mantapa. Built in
the Vijayanagar style, the shrine is believed to be the
"Kalyana Mantapam", where Shiva and Parvati were
married.
The Lepakshi Temple is known for its elaborate murals and
exquisite stone carvings. Dating back to 1538, the temple has
many attractions and legends associated with it. There are
several myths regarding the name of the place. According to
one legend, Lord Rama, during his search for his wife, Sita,
saw the wounded bird Jatayu here and said, "Le -
pakshi". In Telugu, it means "Get up bird".
The Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi, built on a hillock, though
small and dilapidated is still rich in sculptural beauty. The
figures of Padmini and Vastupurusha adorning the pillar inside
the main shrine is marvellous. On the Western side of the
temple, is an incomplete structure with pillared hall. It is
decorated with many gods and goddesses. Of these, an
interesting one is that of Kubera (legendary money lender of
the angels) shown emptying his money bag probably to meet the
huge expenses of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
Many mural paintings on the inner ceilings and wall panels of
the temple are yet another attraction. The figures drawn are
from Hindu Puranas painted in bright red, green and yellow,
and show a variety of costumes and hairstyles. They vividly
describe the life and customs of the people of those times.
Lepakshi is also famous for the seven-hooded coiled serpent
carved out of a single stone. A lingam in black stone is
placed in the hollow of the coils. There is an interesting
legend associated with it. The room opposite the Nagalinga was
a kitchen. An old woman was busy preparing a meal for her
children who were sculptors. While waiting for the meal, they
carved out the huge Nagalinga from a boulder. On seeing the
beautiful work, the mother extolled her children and blessed
them. Ever since the Nagalinga stands where it is.
Yet another treat to watch is the Lepakshi Bull or Nandi,
about half a kilometer from the temple. The monolithic Nandi,
4.5 meters high and 8.23 metres long is an outstanding feature
of this temple. Carved from a single red granite, it is said
to be the largest monolithic Nandi in the country and most
beautiful too!!
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