This is an unassuming community in the Mandal Region of the Anantapur District and is considered as the sacred dwelling place of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Veerabhadra because of the presence of sanctuaries committed to them. The most popular out of everything is the Veerbhadra Temple. This sanctuary was worked by siblings Viranna and Virupanna and is committed tp Veerbhadra. The sanctuary is in the Vijayanagara style of engineering. The stone chain, Vastu Purush, hanging column, Padmini trim woman, Durga Padam and the Lepakshi sari plans are the fundamental components of this excellent sanctuary. The stunning artworks on the roof portrays scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata and were made utilizing normal colors. The Siva’s Granite bull or Nandi is one more fascination of Lepakshi. The bull wears pretty gems and furthermore has a Nagalinga cut out adjacent to it.
The renowned fresco artworks are especially nitty gritty in extremely splendid dresses and tones with scenes of Rama and Krishna from the awe-inspiring tales of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Huge Nandi of 23ft long and 20ft in stature is cut from a solitary dark stone, which is one of the biggest solid Nandi on the planet and significant fascination close to Lepakshi Temple at Basavanna Temple. The pictures on the columns and dividers of heavenly performers, holy people, artists, Goddesses, 14 symbols of Shiva are the major appealing site for the traveler.
There are loads of story related with Lepakshi Temple wherein key legends are portrayed here.
Lepakshi is where the bird Jatayu tumbled down after battle against the Demon King Ravana who had stole Ma Devi Sita. At the point when Lord Sri Rama arrived at the spot during search of Goddess Sita, he saw Jatayu and said caringly, "Le Pakshi" -’rise, gracious bird’ in Telugu, this is the way this spot was famous as Lepakshi.
One more story related with Lord snake, the Naga of the Nagalinga was cut out of a solitary stone by artists while they were trusted that their mom will plan lunch.
The hanging column upheld from the top is an amazement for the guests where you can pass paper or dainty fabric underneath which demonstrates the column isn’t upheld by the ground. It is additionally said that assuming anybody attempted to move one column is, any remaining column will begin move, what a designing. Toward the south of the fundamental hallowed place is a tremendous Nagalingam, remaining on a stone square, covered by a seven-headed cobra, gloriously cut out of single stone which can’t be discovered anyplace in India. Directly across the fragmented Kalyan Mandapa because of certain explanation might be, one can observer a red imprint in one of the dividers which takes after an eye. Another fascination is gigantic impression close to Kalyana Mandapa and it is said that this is Goddess Sita’s impression. Water from obscure source from underground continually tasting and washing this foot in regard of Ma Devi Sita.
The aide whipped out a twig from his shirt pocket with a twist and said drastically: "Presently I show you most amazing aspect of Lepakshi sanctuary." He got down on his knees before the huge dim column before us. Bowing forward, he passed the twig gradually under the column. From one finish to the next! There was a perceptible heave from the gathering of vacationers, for the most part Europeans, as the twig arose out of the opposite side. He rehashed the activity with a page of an old squalid paper which he pulled out from another pocket.
This was the renowned Hanging Column or Pillar of Lepakshi sanctuary, situated in Anantapur area in southern Andhra Pradesh. "This is the column which doesn’t lay on the ground completely, " the aide said, getting up alongside us, and radiating victoriously, as though he were the draftsman of this wonder. There are around 70 columns at this marvelous sixteenth century sanctuary of stone in Vijayanagar style, yet this one is the most popular and an accolade for the designing virtuoso of antiquated and middle age India’s sanctuary developers. Nonetheless, it is a bit unstuck from its unique position — it is said that during the British time, a British specialist attempted to move it in an ineffective endeavor to reveal the mystery of its help.
A significant part of the sanctuary is based on a low, rough slope called Kurmasailam — which means turtle slope in Telugu, after the state of the slope. The sanctuary traces all the way back to 1583 and was worked by the siblings, Virupanna and Veeranna, who were at first in the help of the Vijayangar rulers. In any case, Puranic legend has it that the Veerabhadra sanctuary was worked by the sage Agastya. It has symbols of Ganesha, Nandi, Veerabhadra, Shiva, Bhadrakali, Vishnu and Lakshmi.
Another legend gives the town a huge spot in the Ramayana — this was the place where the bird Jatayu fell, injured after a purposeless fight against Ravana who was diverting Sita. At the point when Sri Rama arrived at the spot, he saw the bird and said humanely, "Le Pakshi" —’rise, bird’ in Telugu.
The Lepakshi sanctuary likewise has the best examples of wall painting canvases of the Vijayanagar lords. We were educated that the 24 by 14 ft fresco of Veerabhadra on the roof before the fundamental sanctum sanctorum is the biggest in India of any single figure. The remainder of the frescoes are additionally wonderful and show a great tender loving care with colors strikingly differentiated — dark limework against an orange-red foundation with some green, white, dark, and shades of ochre-gold and brown for the most part applied to a plaster surface uniquely treated with lime. The Shiva-Parvathi kalyanam — an enduringly famous subject with customary Indian craftsmen — discovers articulation here. Notwithstanding, these frescoes are stripping off in many spots and needing better support and master rebuilding.
1 KM before the primary sanctuary there is enormous Nandi sculpture, one more significant fascination of Lepakshi. As said, it is the greatest Nandi sculpture in India. An extremely pleasant park is developed around this sculpture and is very much kept up with. You can spend at some point here and can take some great snaps.
When you venture into the sanctuary premise, it will begin following an effect of its enhanced social and antiquated designing wonder. It is a genuine wonderful creation which constrained me to contemplate the expert expertise presented by the specialists, modelers and whoever else were associated with making this masterpiece.The entire Lepakshi sanctuary is made of stones portraying our never evaporating conventional and social respectability. Different divinity of God and Goddess have been cut out on the dividers and mainstays of the sanctuary. You can see different figures all around in the sanctuary, all made of stone and some are made on dividers and columns.
Subsequent to intersection the Shivling you will show up at a construction that looks deficient. It is a Kalyan Mandapa(a marriage lobby).
Lepakshi is renowned for its conventional artworks. You should search for Banjara weaving things, metal antiquities, Kalamkari canvases and Cherial scroll artworks, cotton and jute floor mats, Kids would cherish the Kondapalli toys produced using softwood.
Instructions to arrive at Lepakshi: It is effectively agreeable through street by means of Hindupur. There is additionally accessibility of private - state transports and taxi - taxi to arrive at the sanctuary. APSRTC transports leave for Lepakshi like clockwork from Hindupur. The closest railroad Station is Hindupur rail route Station a ways off of 12kms. The closest Airport is Kempegowda International Airport a good ways off of 68kms and Bangalore at around 100 kms.