Lepakshi

Lep
ಲೇಪಾಕ್ಷಿ లేపాక్షి
Village

Nandi at Lepakshi
Lep
Coordinates: 13°49′N 77°36′E / 13.81°N 77.60°E / 13.81; 77.60Coordinates: 13°49′N 77°36′E / 13.81°N 77.60°E / 13.81; 77.60
Country India
State Andhra Pradesh
District Ananthapur
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 10,042
Languages
 • Official Telugu,Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 515331
Vehicle registration AP 02

Lepakshi is a small village in Mandal in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Hindupur and approximately 120 km (75 mi) north of Bangalore. Lepakshi is culturally and archaeologically significant as it is the location of shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra which were built during the Vijayanagara Kings' period (1336–1646). The temples are the location of mural paintings of the Vijayanagar kings and Kannada inscriptions. Near the temple complex is a large granite Nandi bull. On a hillock known as Kurma Saila, "tortoise shaped hill", are other temples to Papanatheswara, Raghunatha, Srirama, and Durga.[2]

Archaeological sites

Lepakshi Archaeological Notice

Veerabhadra temple

The Veerabhadra temple of Lepakshi, which was built by the brothers Viranna and Virupanna, is dedicated to Veerabhadra. It is an example of the Vijayanagar architectural style.[3] Points of interest in the temple include a rock chain, Vastu Purush, the Padmini race lady, the hanging pillar, Durga Paadam, the eyes of Viroopaakshanna and Lepakshi saree designs. The paintings on the roof are made with natural pigments. Several stories like the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana; Vijayanagara murals and Kannada inscriptions on the walls.[4]

Lepakshi nandi

The Shiva's bull Nandi is a granite monolithic sculpture on the main road of Lepashki approximately 200m from the temple. It is 4.5m high and 8.23m long making one of the largest nandi in India. The sculpture has been positioned so that it faces the shivalinga which is shielded by a large serpent inside the temple. The nandi wears a kaasu malai, a bell chain, earrings and other jewellery. Legend has it that the Naga of the Nagalinga was carved out of a single stone by sculptors while they waited for their mothers to prepare lunch.[5]

Transport

Lepakshi is reached by going north from Bengaluru, turn west at the Kodikonda checkpost on the Hyderabad highway NH 44. Lepakshi is 14 km away from Hindupur where there are bus and train links.

References

  1. ↑ Census 2011 The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Accessed 26 July 2014
  2. ↑ Lepakshi Tourism – The Temple Village Accessed 1 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Lepakshi Accessed 18 August 2006.
  4. ↑ Michell G. Architecture and Art of Southern India Volume 6 of New Cambridge history of India: The Mughals and their contemporaries. The New Cambridge history of India. Cambridge University Press, 1995 p226. ISBN 0521441102, 9780521441100.
  5. ↑ Van der Greer A. Animals in Stone: Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time BRILL, 2008. p102 ISBN 904744356X, 9789047443568

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepakshi.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, May 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.