Overview

The Sri Veerabadhra Swamy Temple is an architectural marvel and a wonder to behold. It is situated in the peaceful Lepakshi, in the district of Anantapura of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is set amid a calm escape and presents a spiritual reawakening to whoever visits. The locals commonly refer to it as Lepakshi Temple. Veerabhadreshwara Swamy Temple has been a landmark for more than eight centuries because of its historical, mythological and archaeological importance.

God

Lepakshi Temple God is Veerabhadra Swamy, a fierce and enraged form of Lord Shiva. This form of Lord Shiva was created to avenge the death of his consort, Goddess Sati.

Lepakshi Temple History

The Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi history during the ancient times is not easily discernible. It is unclear when the temple construction started because it is located close to Siddapura, Brahmagir, Yerragudi, and Jatinga Rameshvar; these places are all associated with the Mauryan King Ashoka. This may lead to the notion that Lepakshi was under the Mauryan Dynasty. It was later passed to the Satavahana Dynasty, then to the Chutus, the Gangas, the Chalukyas of Badami, and the Nolambas until the 10th century CE. Chalukyas of Kalyani and the Hoysalas ruled this city until the 13th century when the Vijayanagara Dynasty eventually annexed it. Under the Vijayanagara, Lepakshi saw extensive construction activities, especially around the Veerabhadra Temple.

During the rule of the Vijayanagara King Harihara, Lepakshi became an essential provincial center in terms of trade, commerce and social gatherings. It gained prominence extensively in the later years, leading to the renovation of Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple in 1530 AD. It was completed during the rule of King Achyutaraya of Vijayanagara Dynasty by two brothers, Viranna and Virupanna Nayaka, who were Penukonda's governors. King Achyutaraya's inscriptions describe this temple's construction, history and significance in detail.

Architecture

The temple is built in Vijayanagara style. It's a grand temple building enclosed by a single court compared to the other Vijayanagara temples. The shrine and court walls are constructed of plain masonry with ornamental brick niches on the wall heads. Kalyana mandapa is the best example, with four lavishly carved pillars and a carved ratha in front of the Mahamnadapa. The temple is divided into three parts: the Mukha Mandapa, the Artha Mandapa, and the Kalyana Mandapa, which is still unfinished. All the panels are enriched by textile designs as a border painting. On the verandah in front of the door, the eye is caught by the patches of colour on the ceiling; once a series of paintings were executed on plaster over granite ceiling slabs, the artists used the theme of Ramayana for these murals. The method of execution and style can easily be traced to the same way Lepakshi murals are made of Fresco‐Secco.

The temple houses a monolithic bull, which is a figure of Lord Shiva's divine ride, Nandi. It is considered the largest single-stone Nandi statue. The temple also has a beautifully crafted 7 hooded Nagalinga hovering over the lingam of Shiva, which amazes the spectators.

Veerabhadra Swamy Temple in the sanctum sanctorum is considered fierce, so devotees worship the monolithic Ganesha idol before the Garbhagriha. There is an intricate Hanuman temple as well inside the temple complex.

The temple has a giant footprint on the floor of the front verandah, which is considered to be of Goddess Sita, and it is said that water flows from it constantly.

Significance

Veerabhadra Swamy Temple is significant from a historical and mythological point of view. Lepakshi is the most important place not only in Anantapur District but also in Andhra Pradesh. Apart from iconography and numerous sculptures, it has rare paintings, murals, and portraits of the brothers Virupanna and Viranna, who built these magnificent temples. The style of architecture, sculpture and paintings suggests that this temple belonged to the Rayas of Vijayanagara, the most famous South Indian dynasty. A reference is made in Skandapurana, Lepakshi, as one of the 108 crucial Saivakshetras in India.

The temple draws its significance from the various inscriptions found at the site, especially the "Tulu Vamsa Prashasti," it also draws significance from the multiple scriptures that mention its name.