Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi – The Temple

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.