Lepakshi

Arvind and I were travelers at heart - wanderers. It so happened that Nature obliged with an occupation in the travel industry, and as the world beckoned, we went. However, for road trips primarily within Karnataka with Arvind's dad, we only explored a little of what India had to offer. Once we moved back, we set out on a plan to drive from Bangalore to Rishikesh. This involved cutting across Andhra, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi on the onward journey, and we were game. 

Our first historic halt was Lepaksi, within a 2-hour drive from Bangalore. Lepakshi is in the Satya Sai district (previously Anantapur district) of Andra Pradesh, about 150 km from our home. Lepakshi is known for the Virabhadra temple built by the Vijayanagara Kings. The temple dates back to the 15th century. The temple complex is large and sprawling. It is famous for the largest monolith Nandi and the Nagalinga. The sculptures in the pillars are exquisitely detailed and add to the beauty of the temple. The ceiling paintings are faded; one can see the outlines under close scrutiny.  No amount of words can possibly describe the amazing temples left behind as legacies that have survived so many centuries, in every nook and corner of India. That Lepakshi is almost a stone's throw from Bangalore is a huge plus.

How did the name Lepakshi come about? The legend goes back to the Ramayana days. When Ravana abducted Sita, the mythological bird Jataayu tried to stop him. His wings were cut off in the fight. Lepakshi is where the wings fell. When Rama found him, he said Le Pakshi, meaning ' Rise Bird" in Telugu, giving the name Lepakshi. 

As you enter the complex, ignoring the monolith giant Nandi that greets you is impossible. He looks majestic with the decorations on him that have stood the ravages of time. Despite the huge size, the body is artistically proportioned with beautiful bells around his neck. Nandi looks at Virabhadra temple complex and his head is raised in a dignified manner - not combative or submissive but majestic.

The Veerabhadra temple is 1 km away. You can either walk or take the car to the parking spots. The complex is maintained well. As you enter the temple, the vast stone corridors greet you with their tall pillars engraved intricately with figurines of birds, animals, and goddesses. One of the interesting sights at the temple is the Nagalinga statue and the stone carving of Ganesha.

The huge kalyana Mandapa stands behind the rock engravings of Nagalinga. The mandapa is built on an elevated platform, with beautiful, elaborate artistic work on the pillars of various Gods and Saints who come to attend the wedding of Shiva and Parvati. Around 38 to 40 pillars are standing in the Mandapa. The temple's rear is a large open area with a long corridor surrounding the rear wall. This area was used for cultural activities during the Vijayanagar Empire. 

The Lepakshi Hanging pillar is an interesting feature of the temple complex. The pillar is fixed to the roof and does not touch the ground. A piece of paper can pass between the floor and the pillar. It is an engineering marvel.

The glory of the Vijayanagara kingdom, which patronized sculptures and artists, is seen as we lose ourselves walking around the temple. With great reluctance, we left the temple as we had many more miles to cover for the day.