వీరభద్ర స్వామి దేవాలయం
Shiva (Veerabhadra) temple · Lepakshi, Sri Sathya Sai, Andhra Pradesh, India
Sri Veerabhadra Temple, also known as the Lepakshi Temple, is a Hindu temple to Veerabhadra — the fiery form of Shiva — at Lepakshi in Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh. Together with its monolithic Nandi, it is on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites as an example of the Vijayanagara sculpture and painting tradition.
Faith & Tradition
The temple's murals are among the most significant surviving paintings of the Vijayanagara empire, according to the temple; its Veerabhadra mural measures about 24 by 18 feet. The monolithic Lepakshi Nandi represented Andhra Pradesh in the Republic Day parade tableau in 2021, the Times of India reported.
The village is named in the temple's inscriptions as Lepaksha, Lepakshi and Lepakshipura; UNESCO notes that the name's origin is hard to establish because of the many stories told about it.
Heritage
UNESCO's listing notes that the temple developed into a large complex of shrines and pillared mandapas during the mature Vijayanagara period, especially in the reign of King Achyutaraya (1529–1542 CE). According to the temple, construction was carried out under the patronage of the brothers Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna.
In 2023 a historian identified a long 'Tulu Vamsa Prashasti' (genealogy of the Tulu clan) inscription on the temple's second rampart, recording gifts of land, gold and cows; it is written in Kannada script in the Sanskrit language, The Hindu reported.
The temple complex comprises several shrines, mandapas and multi-pillared halls of the Vijayanagara period, with murals on the ceilings of the mahamandapa and other shrines (UNESCO; temple).
Plan Your Visit
Confirm visiting hours locally before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration (official website) before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Location
Lepakshi is in Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh.
Location: Lepakshi, Sri Sathya Sai, Andhra Pradesh, India
More in Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh · Shiva (Veerabhadra) temples
Questions
At Lepakshi in Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh.
A fiery form of Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the temple.
It is on UNESCO's tentative list, together with its monolithic Nandi.
It developed mainly in the Vijayanagara period, especially under King Achyutaraya (1529–1542 CE).
Vijayanagara-era ceiling paintings, among the most significant of the empire, including a Veerabhadra mural of about 24 by 18 feet.
Further reading: Sri Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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