Context:
PM Modi offered prayers at Lepakshi temple ahead of Ram Mandir consecration event
Lepakshi Temple:
- Location – Andhra Pradesh
- Time period – Belongs to era of the Vijayanagara Empire
- Built by – Believed to be Sage Agastya
- Rebuilt by – Virupanna and Veeranna under the rule of Achyuta Devaraya
- Chief Deities – Lord Ram, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva
- Architecture –
- Monolithic gigantic Nandi statue
- Long panels of Fresco Murals from Vijayanagar era
- Sculpture of yali, yakshas and yakshis
- Nagalinga statue
- 70-pillared nrutya mantapa
- Significance –
- Linked to Ramayana’s Jatayu episode
- Veerabhadra Swami temple here added to the UNESCO’s Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in 2022
Vijayanagar Architecture:
- Style- Dravidian architecture plus some unique features
- Materials – Wood, Brick, Stucco
- Uniqueness –
- Pillared Kalyanamandapa (Marriage Halls)
- Tall Rayagopurams (Entrances of the temple) with
- Life-sized figures of gods and goddesses
- Examples – Virupaksha Temple at Hampi, Hazara Rama Temple
Vijayanagara Empire
- Established by – Harihara and Bukka
- Location – Karnataka, along the banks of Thungabhadra
- 4 dynasties– Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu
- Important Rulers – Deva Raya I, Deva Raya II, Krishna Devaraya, Achyuta Devaraya
- Declined with – Battle of Thalikkotta
Source: Times of India
Previous Year Question
Building ‘Kalyana Mandapam’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) Chalukya
(b) Chandela
(c) Rashtrakuta
(d) Vijayanagara
Answer: (d)
