Lepakshi Sri VeerabhadraSwamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Sri VeerabhadraSwamy Temple, Lepakshi Lepakshimandal Hindupur taluk, Andhra Pradesh515331

Diety

Veerabhadraswamy (shiva)

Introduction

Veerabhadra temple is a Hindu temple located in Lepakshi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Virabhadra, a fierce emanation of Lord Shiva.

Puranic Significance

Built in the 16th century, the architectural features of the temple are in the Vijayanagara style with profusion of carvings and paintings at almost every exposed surface of the temple. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance and is considered one of the most spectacular Vijayanagar temples.The fresco paintings are particularly detailed in very bright dresses and colors with scenes of Rama and Krishna from the epic stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas and they are well preserved. There is a very large Nandi , mount of Shiva, about 200 metresaway from the temple which is carved from a single block of stone, which is said to be one of the largest of its type in the world.

The temple was built in 1530 AD. The cost of building the temple was defrayed by the government According to SkandaPurana, the temple is one of the divyakshetras, an important pilgrimage site of Lord Shiva.The temple is of the Vijayanagara architectural style, main temple is laid out in three parts, these are: The assembly hall known as the Mukha mantapa or Natyamantapa or Rangamantapaardamantapa or antarala (ante chamber); and the garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum. 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.

Special Features

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 sanctumIn the columns in the northeastern part of the hall, there are images of Natesha flanked by Brahma and a drummer. In an adjoining column there are figurines of nymphs in dancing postures, flanked by a drummer and cymbalist. The column at the southwest part of the hall has an image of Parvathi, Shiva’s consort, flanked by female attendants. It has frescoes of the 14 avatars of Lord Shiva as: Yogadakshinamurthy, ChandesAnugraha Murthy, Bhikshatana, Harihara, Ardhanarishwara, Kalyanasundara, Tripurantaka, Nataraja, Gouriprasadaka, Lingodhbava, Andhakasurasmahara and so forthThe presiding deity deified in the sanctum sanctorum is 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