Blog Archive

Monday, April 26, 2021

Veerbhadra Swami in Lepakshi and Virupaksha in Hampi

Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi- Andhra Pradesh 

Sometime in the early 1500s 

King Achutaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire 

Financed the construction of the aalayam

That became an architectural marvel 

Source: Real Bharat

Two brothers, Virupannna Mayaka and Viranna

Governors of the Empire 

Built the structure by hiring 

The best artisans from the kingdom 

Gaining a mention in the ancient text of Skanda Purana 

The walls and surfaces display the elaborate carvings

Of scenes from the Ramayana 

With musical pillars and complex patterns 

With a pillar that hangs in the air 

Not touching the ground 

Veerebhadra aalayam is proof of talent found nowhere else

Source: Amusing Planet

Outside in the premises stands the monolithic Nandi

Inside stands the murti of Veerabhadra 

In his majestic glory 

Prabhu Shiva and Maa Parvati reside in the eastern wing 

And Bhagwan Vishnu in another chamber 

While a huge boulder carved into a shiv ling 

With a multi-hooded serpent shielding the lingam 

Adorns the premises, attracting people from near and far 


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Virupaksha Temple, Hampi- Karnataka

It’s the Vijayanagara Empire again 

With their love for art and architecture 

Developed a 7th-century mandir dedicated to Prabhu Shiva 

Now a World Heritage Site, standing tall 

Amidst the ruins of Hampi 

Surviving the destructions by the invaders 

Virupaksha devalaya* was renovated in the 19th century 

To bring back its lost glory 

The gopuram* is 49 meters high 

Built around 1442 along with the 100 pillars 

Some of which play music when tapped by a chisel 

An annual chariot festival, the divine marriage of 

Bhagwan Virupaksha and his consort Devi Pampa

Bring bhakts from around the place 

To celebrate the pious union

One day, we hope 

The ruins of Hampi would rise again 

To build a kingdom that would last for the future to see 

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Note: 

Devalaya- Temple 

Gopuram- tower 

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Source: 

https://www.astroved.com/astropedia/en/temples/south-india/lepakshi-temple

https://www.karnataka.com/hampi/virupaksha-temple/ 

https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/hampi/virupaksha-temple.html

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#FreeHinduTemples

18 comments:

  1. So much to love in this post Sri.
    That pillar! OMG!
    And the gorgeous Nandi.
    Hampi has been on my travel list forever.
    Praying for India and hope the silver lining doesn't take too long to show up.
    Take care. xx

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Arti <3

      Amazing pillar, isn't it! I have no words to praise it.

      I hope so too. Hugs.

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  2. These are amazing temples, what an art and craft involved to make them! I like that there is also music involved, I can't remember ever having seen/heard anything like that.
    I'm visiting from the A to Z master list, and am glad that I clicked on the link to your blog, I learned something new!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Gunilla. I'm happy that you found the blog interesting. :)

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  3. The naga is very majestic and so is the nandhi

    https://pagesfromjayashree.blogspot.com/2021/04/v-for-veritaserum.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes! They'd be even more majestic when seen from close, I guess. How I wish I could go there.

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  4. Wow, I love this huge statue! These temples are beautiful, so many treasures!

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    Replies
    1. That's the famous monolithic statue in the region. True, many treasures, and a lot of them are still hidden. Thank you for visiting. :)

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  5. Beautiful post. beautiful temples. What architecture. The engineers of old times were something else

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Meena. :)
      Oh, yes! They were true masters.

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  6. Definitely looks like work of skilled artist and hope the ruins will rise again.

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    Replies
    1. Yes! I hope so too. Have you been to Hampi?

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    2. Not yet. The only one in family to have not visited.

      Once my family (joint, around 15 people) took the south India tour. But they left me home to take care of home and business. :-P

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    3. Uh oh... That's not so good on their part. :/
      I hope you get to visit it with your family very soon. Your kiddos would probably love running around the place. :D

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  7. Oh Hampi has been on my to visit lists for ever now!Every single time I plan something or the other comes up. Are these the snaps of what was prior to the ruins... They look so so beautiful. Don't know when I will get to visit Hampi.

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    Replies
    1. I hope you get to visit soon (and the pandemic subsides even sooner). No, the pics are recent from what I know. Not all of Hampi is in ruins. The temple and a few other structures have been renovated and cared for. It's a mix of ruins and life.

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  8. The information given here is very useful and I like a lot of information that has been discussed about the Hindu temple here. Thanks for sharing useful information.

    Best Regards,
    - Talk to Astrologer

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such an incredible blog post. Thanks a lot.

    ask an astrologer

    ReplyDelete