Lepakshi temple
Also called: Veerabhadra temple, Lepakshi · Topic: Vijayanagara and the Deccan · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Lepakshi temple is a 16th-century temple of the Vijayanagara period at Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh. It is dedicated to Veerabhadra, a fierce form of Shiva. It is a fine example of Vijayanagara art. It is known for its carved pillars, its paintings on the ceilings, and a huge Nandi (Shiva's bull) carved from a single block of stone nearby. The Lepakshi group of monuments is on UNESCO's tentative list, which means it is being considered for World Heritage status.
Example
The temple's "hanging pillar" barely touches the floor. Visitors traditionally slide a thin cloth under its base to show that there is a gap. Its ceiling murals show stories from the epics and the Puranas in the Vijayanagara painting style.
Don't confuse with
- Virupaksha temple, Hampi: this temple stands in the capital itself and honours the kingdom's guardian god. Lepakshi is a temple in the provinces, in Andhra Pradesh, built in the same period.
Related concepts
- Sacred centre of Vijayanagara
- Pampadevi
- Virupaksha temple
- Hindu Suratrana
- Gopuram
- Mandapa
- Vitthala temple