Hidden away in the remote village of Lepakshi in the Rayalaseema
region of Andhra Pradesh, merely a couple of hours drive from Bengaluru, is one
of the most spectacular Vijayanagara temples. Unlike so many other religious
monuments of the period that have suffered disfiguring additions, or have lost
their original carvings and ceiling paintings, that at Lepakshi dedicated to
Virabhadra, a fierce emanation of Shiva, is miraculously intact. Its
architecture, sculptures and paintings showcase the finest artistic achievements
in southern India during the first half of the sixteenth century.
While the remarkable qualities of Lepakshi
have long been recognised, particularly its unique series of ceiling paintings,
this volume is the first to provide the temple with a comprehensive
description. It is authored by three eminent scholars: George Michell, who has
focused on Vijayanagara temple architecture; Anna L. Dallapiccola, who has
extensively researched the sculptural and painting traditions of southern
India; and Brigitte Khan Majlis, an expert on Indian textile designs and
techniques.