Lepakshi Veerabhadra temple, the intention behind the temple was to depict the Marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Lepakshi is the name of the village.
This is because , this area known as Ananthpur in Andhrapradesh which is about 125 kms from Karnataka was also ruled by the Vijayanagara kings of Karnataka.
Vijayanagara kings not only ruled Karnataka but also Andhrapradesh.
Achyutha Raya who was the younger brother of Krishnadevaraya ruled this area.
The Veerabhadra Temple in Lepakshi was built in 1538AD by Virupanna the minister, with the approval of Achyuta Raya the King located in the Ananthapur district of Karnataka.
You almost hear Kannada every where here.
Exactly Like the Virupaksha temple in Hampi both Vishnu and Shiva have been given equal status here in Veerabhadra Temple (better known as Lepakshi temple).
As soon as you enter the Lepkashi temple , there is a long corridor. In olden days devotees who came here stayed back in the temple for a few days.
Lets get into the temple ,
Now there is a Natya Mandapam inside the temple ,
Brungeshwara the Dancing Guru - If you have noticed he has 3 legs? wonder why?
Bringi was a ardent devotee of Lord Shiva , he never worshiped Parvathi ..
Parvathi cursed Bringi and Bringi became so weak that he could not dance anymore, Lord Shiva granted him an additional leg a third leg, hence Brungeshwara is always seen dancing in 3 legs .
Lost inside the Natya Mantapam , there are 70 dancing Pillars here in the sanctum.
There is a story here, if you notice the below sculpture Goddess Parvathi's waist is unwrapped with clothes/ undressed. Lord Shiva once came in disguise as a Beggar to test Parvathi, Parvathi who heard the call while bathing wraps a cloth around her waist and brings rice , ghee and milk for the beggar. After offering rice , she began pouring ghee losing concentration on her clothes , lord Shiva tries to distract her by pulling the clothes unwrapping her waist, but the Goddess continues to pour the Ghee and Milk with full concentration. Shiva impressed with her comes in true form and Parvathi gets a new name called as Annapoorneshwari.
The dancing Queen of Apsara's , she is called as Rhamba.
Now there is a Natya Mandapam inside the temple ,
Brungeshwara the Dancing Guru - If you have noticed he has 3 legs? wonder why?
Bringi was a ardent devotee of Lord Shiva , he never worshiped Parvathi ..
Parvathi cursed Bringi and Bringi became so weak that he could not dance anymore, Lord Shiva granted him an additional leg a third leg, hence Brungeshwara is always seen dancing in 3 legs .
There is a story here, if you notice the below sculpture Goddess Parvathi's waist is unwrapped with clothes/ undressed. Lord Shiva once came in disguise as a Beggar to test Parvathi, Parvathi who heard the call while bathing wraps a cloth around her waist and brings rice , ghee and milk for the beggar. After offering rice , she began pouring ghee losing concentration on her clothes , lord Shiva tries to distract her by pulling the clothes unwrapping her waist, but the Goddess continues to pour the Ghee and Milk with full concentration. Shiva impressed with her comes in true form and Parvathi gets a new name called as Annapoorneshwari.
The dancing Queen of Apsara's , she is called as Rhamba.
What an engineering it was !
Do we have such engineers today?... anywhere in the world.
Do we have such engineers today?... anywhere in the world.
One of these 70 Pillars does not stand on the ground, and hence it is known as Hanging pillar better known as Anthariksha Sthambha or Moola Sthaambha.
Carved out a natural Boulder, is seven hooded Naga and it shelters a lingam.
Where stones speak,
Snake that is protecting the Shiva linga ;
Snake that is protecting the Shiva linga ;
Now lets move to the climax .. the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi.
Here is the marriage hall , known as Kalyana Mantapa
There are 38 pillars in this Mandapam
Priest blessing Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi is seen below ;
The guests who attended the wedding also have been carved on pillars.
Inside the Mandapam pillars were arranged in the form of a circle, there were many Gods and Goddess carved here who came to attend the wedding including me lol.
The Mandapam looks grand, and i can imagine if it was complete how beautiful it could have been .?
Yes the Mandapam is incomplete, if you have noticed it does not have a roof.
The legend Virupanna under whose ministry the temple was constructed was in charge of Financial aspects, one day his subordinates falsely accused him of atrocities not committed by him , in order to prove his loyalty to the king Virupanna plucked his eyes off and offered to the king , he was accused of building the Kalyan Mantap without king's approval thereby spending money unnecessarily.
Time to relax.
End View ; The green lawn and trees.
Yes the Mandapam is incomplete, if you have noticed it does not have a roof.
The legend Virupanna under whose ministry the temple was constructed was in charge of Financial aspects, one day his subordinates falsely accused him of atrocities not committed by him , in order to prove his loyalty to the king Virupanna plucked his eyes off and offered to the king , he was accused of building the Kalyan Mantap without king's approval thereby spending money unnecessarily.
Time to relax.
End View ; The green lawn and trees.
A very happy new year 2017 to all my friends and followers.
200 Meters away from the temple is Nandi Bull carved out of a single Monolithic Stone
Is it possible to dream into that era to find out how they lived their life.
Life was so elegant and artistic in that era..
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