Lepakshi, Virabhadraswamy Temple
Historical background
The small town of Lepakshi in the region known as Rayalaseema, Royal Realm, in south-western Andhra Pradesh, is famous for its temple dedicated to Virabhadra. The monument extends over a rocky outcrop known as Kurmsaila, or Tortoise Hill, a name deriving from its shape which recalls the shell of a tortoise. This uneven terrain had an impact on the layout of the temple, which incorporates several huge natural boulders and seven small shrines dedicated to various deities. No epigraphs are available recording the foundation date of the temple. Local legends attribute its origin to the mythical sage Agastya, and a small shrine dedicated to him is in the inner precincts of the complex. The temple dates back to before the 16th century, but was expanded to its present dimensions during the Vijayanagara period. Tradition credits the construction of the present monument to Virapanna, the governor of Penukonda, and his brother Viranna, representatives of the Vijayanagara emperor Achyutaraya (r. 1530-42). Grants dating from 1531 to 1538 inscribed on the enclosure walls and onto the adjacent bedrock suggest a concentrated period of building activity. It may be assumed that Virapanna and Viranna were responsible for bringing the seven shrines scattered on Kurmasaila into one coordinated architectural complex, and that the outstanding ceiling paintings, the only surviving murals of the Vijayanagara period, date from these years.
Read more
The main temple is entered from the north through a pair of gateways with uncompleted brick towers. The inner gateway leads directly into a grandly-scaled natyamandapa (‘dance hall’). This open structure has 70 majestic granite columns carved with nearly human-size deities, celestial musicians and dancers. They carry a ceiling almost 4 metres high above the floor. At its centre a corbelled dome with elaborate carvings reaches a height of c. 6.4 metres. Steps on the south side of the natyamandapa ascend to a narrow columned verandah that runs around three sides of the outer walls of the inner part of the temple. The ceilings of the natyamandapa and verandah just noticed are covered with fine paintings.
The inner part of the Virabhadra temple comprises a spacious, but poorly lit mahamandapa (‘great hall’), off which open a number of shrines. The central space of the hall is adorned with a single painted composition of Virabhadra (c. 7.6 x 4.2 m), the deity worshipped in the sanctuary at the far end of the hall. Other paintings, now damaged are seen on the ceilings over the side bays of the hall, on the walls and ceiling of the passageway running around three sides of the Virabhadra sanctuary, in the Shayanagara (bedroom of the deities), and in the subsidiary shrine known as the Raghunathalaya.
The subjects depicted are mostly devotional, drawn from the popular epics, the Periya Puranam and other texts. They include also depictions of Virapanna and Viranna, the temple donors, together with their retinues, thereby offering an invaluable visual record of courtly life during Vijayanagara times.

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Detail of the decorative patterns on the beam between the second and the third bay from the east.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, beam between the second and third bay from the east

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Detail of the decorative patterns on the beam between the second and the third bay from the east.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, beam between the second and third bay from the east

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Parvati; From right: the dikpalas, Brahma officiating at the wedding; Shiva, Parvati, Mena, Himavan, three ladies. and Vishnu. Two diminutive female attendants flank the couple.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, south and centre

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Parvati; From right: Vishnu, Vishvakarma, and eight rishis. On the left: a green-complexioned male – almost disappeared- sits before a lady reading from a manuscript; six ladies bearing sugarcanes and a fragment of a seventh (?) stand behind him.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, centre and north

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Parvati; On the right the dikpalas; clearly recognisable are Indra, Agni and Yama. On the left, Brahma officiates at the wedding.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, south end

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Parvati; From right: Brahma officiating, Shiva and Parvati flanked by female attendants, Himavan and Mena.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, centre

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Parvati; From right: three ladies, Vishnu, Vishvakarma and rishis. On the left: Fragment of seated male figure and the plait of an obliterated female figure.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, centre and north

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Parvati; From right: Three ladies, Vishnu, Vishvakarma and rishis. On the left: Fragment of seated male figure and the plait of an obliterated female figure.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, centre and north

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: A lady with a manuscript in her hand reciting, and a female musician accompanying her performance; Fragments of a seated male figure, the plait of a no longer extant female figure, and six standing ladies with sugarcanes.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, north

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Detail of the decorative patterns on the west beam of the third bay from the east.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay west beam south end

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Detail of the decorative patterns on the west beam of the third bay from the east.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy;Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, west beam

Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Detail of the decorative patterns on the west beam of the third bay from the east.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from the east, west beam
« Previous 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 14 Next »