Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi –
The Temple
The
temple has been built on a low altitude hillock of a
large exposure of granite rock, which is in the shape of a tortoise,
and hence known as Kurma Saila. The
temple is enclosed within a compound wall with three entry gates on the
north, east and west side. The northern gate is used regularly. This
temple is facing towards north and has three prakaras. The second prakaram
houses Kalyana Mandapa, Balipitha, Vahana Mandapa and Homa Mandapa. it has two
entrances, one on north and one on south.
The outer prakaram houses water
cistern, Somavara Mandapa, Yaga Mandapa and Uyyala Mandapa. The inner prakara
has entrance on the north side. There is a 3 headed bull with single body is
carved on the pillar of main entrance. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Natya
Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Antrala and Sanctum. The inner east gate is the entry to
the assembly hall, which is a large sized open hall designed with a large space
in its central part.
It is at the entrance to the
sanctum sanctorum and has a profusion of sculptures and paintings over every
inch of space on the columns and ceiling. The images on the pillars and
walls are of divine beings, saints, guardians, musicians, dancers and 14 avatars of Shiva.
Figurines of the goddesses Ganga and Yamuna flank the entrance
to the sanctum. The exterior columns of this hall are built over a decorated plinth;
the decorations are in the form of blocks of carved images of horses and
soldiers.
The columns are slim and have
features of collonettes carved with eaves,
overhanging in a curved shape. The open space in the middle part of the hall is
defined by large columns or piers which have carvings of triple figures. There are images of Natesha flanked
by Brahma and
a drummer in the columns in the northeastern part of the hall. There are
figurines of nymphs in
dancing postures, flanked by a drummer and cymbalist in an adjoining column.
The column at the southwest part of the hall has an image of Parvathi,
Shiva's consort, flanked by female attendants.
There are also carvings of
divinities such as Bringi with three legs and Bikshadana carved
in a dancing posture in the northwestern part of the hall. The
temple is built in Trikuta fashion, however the third shrine
dedicated to Raghunatha was added later. There were two shrines sharing the Mahamandapa
and platform, the main shrine dedicated to Veerabhadra facing north and a
lateral shrine dedicated to Papanasheshvara facing west, an aspect of Lord Shiva.
Raghunatha Shrine facing east,
was added at later point of time opposite to Papanasheshvara Shrine, sharing
the same mandapa and platform. The back wall of the Papanasheshvara shrine is
shared with a huge granite boulder. There is a bas relief of Bikshadana in this
boulder. The Sanctum houses a near life-size image of Veerabhadra,
fully armed and decorated with skulls.
There is a cave chamber in the sanctum where sage Agasthya is
said to have lived when he installed the image of the Linga here.
The ceiling in the sanctum above
the deity has paintings of the builders of the temple, Virupanna and Viranna,
regally dressed and crowned with headgear similar to those adorning the Krishnadevaraya
bronze statue in Tirupati. They are depicted, with their
entourage, in a state of reverential prayer, being offered sacred
ashes of their family deity.
Red blotches:
There are two red blotches on
the western wall of the inner enclosure near Kalyana Mandapa. There is a story
behind these red blotches. Viruppanna, the royal treasurer, was accused of
drawing funds without the king’s permission from the state treasury to build this
temple. The king ordered, as a punishment to this heinous crime,
that he should be blinded. The treasurer being a loyal person carried out the
punishment on the spot with his own hands. These red blotches are said to be
the marks left by his bleeding eyes. Thus, the village came to be called as Lepakshi
(village of the blind eye).
Hanging Pillar:
The hanging pillar (Akasha Sthamba)
is one of the 70 pillars which is hanging well almost on its edge. This pillar
does not rest on the ground fully. There is a small gap between the temple
floor and base of the pillar and it is possible to pass thin objects such as a
sheet of paper or a piece of cloth from one side to the other. However, it is a
bit dislodged from its original position. It is said that during the British period,
a British engineer wanted to know the technical wonder behind the hanging
pillar in this temple. So, he tried to move it, to his utter dismay, found out
that it caused the movement of adjacent pillars to maintain the equilibrium.
Basavanna:
This
colossal Nandi is considered one among the largest monolith Nandi found in
India. It is said that this Nandi faces the Nagalinga of the Veerabhadra
temple. It is about 27 ft in length and 15 ft in height. Ganda Perunda
is found carved on the neck of this Nandi. It is decorated with a necklace,
muvvahara and hara of bells and has short horns. It is located about 200 metres
(660 ft) from the
temple.
Naga Linga:
This
temple houses the largest monolithic
structure of Nagalinga in India. It is
situated to the western side of the sanctum. It is a seven hooded Naga with three
coils, carved out of a single rock housing a black polished Linga placed on the
grooved coil of the serpent. A massive Vinayaga is carved on rock
perpendicular to the Naga Linga can be seen in the inner courtyard. The sculpture
is provided a pillared porch.
Goddess Sita’s footprint:
There is a foot print found near
Hanuman Mandapa in the
temple premises. It is a unique sculpture depicting a larger size
human foot print. It is believed that the footprint got imprinted on
the floor during the time Ravana was abducting Sita to Lanka.
Other Shrines:
There is a separate chamber with
Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi carved on a boulder on the eastern side of the
temple complex. There are shrines for Vishnu, Ramalinga, Ganesha, Lakshmi,
Parvati, Bhadrakali, Hanumantha Linga and Navagrahas in the
temple premises.
Sculptures:
The
temple is renowned for its Maha Mandapa which has
exquisitely carved pillars with life size figures of Tumbura, Dattatreya,
Brahma, Narada, Rambha, Padmini and Nataraja. The granite pillars has
impressive sculptures of dancers, drummers, divine musicians, Lord Brahma
playing drums, celestial nymph Rambha dancing and Lord Shiva engaged in Ananda
Tandava. There is a frieze that depicts geese with lotus stalks in their beaks
in the intermediary hall. A Chain made of granite, Vastu Purusha, the Padmini
race lady and Lepakshi saree designs are remarkable example of artistic prowess
of Vijayanagara artisans.
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