Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi –
Legends
Lepakshi:
As per legend, Lepakshi
is regarded as the place where Jatayu fell down after being injured by Ravana.
Jatayu is a huge mythical bird in the Ramayana who tried to rescue Sita when
Ravana was abducting her. Despite being very old, Jatayu fought very bravely
with Ravana but could not stop him. Instead, he was injured during the attempt
and fell on the earth. Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana found the injured
and dying Jatayu during their search for Sita.
Before succumbing to his
injuries, Jatayu narrated abduction of Sita to Lord Rama. Lord Rama then
performed the last rites of Jatayu with full honour. Ramakkalmedu is the place
where the last rites were performed. Lord Rama is said to have commanded the
bird to rise: 'Le Pakshi (Rise, bird)' in Telugu, hence, the village came to be
called as Lepakshi.
Lepa Akshi:
The Veerabhadra
temple was built by Viruppanna, the treasurer of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. It
is said that he used the treasury to fund the construction of this
temple during the absence of the reigning King. The King returned and found
the treasury empty. The furious king ordered Viruppanna’s eyes to be taken out.
Viruppanna did not wait for the King’s order to be carried out and plucked out
his eyes himself. Even today, one can see two dark stains on the wall near the
Kalyana Mandapa, which are said to be the marks made by his eyes, which he
himself dashed against the wall. The builder did not survive for a long time
and the village is called Lepa Akshi (a village of the blinded eye).
Kalyana Mandapa:
The Veerabhadra
Temple has an open air Kalyana Mandapam (wedding hall), where the wedding
of Lord Shiva and Parvati should have taken place in the presence of other gods
and goddesses. It can be noticed that the Kalyana Mandapam was unfinished. As
per local folklore, this Mandapa was supposed to be ready for the wedding of
Lord Shiva and Parvati, but since it was not ready, it was not used.
Etymology:
The town is variably called as
Lepaksha, Lepakshi and Lepakshipura in the inscriptions found here. The name
might have been derived from Lepa + Akshi meaning ‘embalmed eye’. The place was
known as Lepakshi even before the construction of the
temple as the father of Viruppanna is referred as Lepakshi Nandi Lakkisetti
in an inscription.
Papanasheshvara:
As per Sthala Mahatmiyam, Sage
Agastya stayed here, in a cave on the Kurmashaila hill, during his visit to the
scared places in the south of Vindhya mountain. He built a small temple
dedicated to Papanasheshvara at this place. This place is marked with a natural
rock shelter over a hill and still revered by the locals.
Divya Kshetras:
The first reference of Lepakshi
is found in Skanda Purana as Lepakshya Papanasanah. According to Skanda Purana, this
temple is considered as one of the Divya Kshetras, an important
pilgrimage site of Lord Shiva.
Kurmashaila:
The major portion of the
temple was built on a tortoise-shaped rocky hill. This hill is referred to
as Kurmashaila, meaning 'Tortoise Hill' in Telugu.
Nagalinga:
As per legend, the Nagalinga was
sculpted out of a single stone by sculptors while they waited for their mothers
to arrange for lunch.
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