The Mystery Behind Lepakshi's Hanging Pillar

Lepakshi is a small town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Town was built during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1646) and it is historically and archaeologically significant, with three shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra. The most interesting thing about Lepakshi is its hanging pillar.

A pillar which is attached with the ceiling but not to the floor. One can easily swipe a piece of cloth or paper mid-air that separates the ground and the pillar. The pillar is at Veerabhadra temple and it is famous as Aakaasa Sithambha (floating pillar). There are about 70 pillars at this fabulous temple of stone in Vijayanagar style, but this one is the best known and a tribute to the engineering genius of ancient and medieval India’s temple builders.

The temple of Lord Shiva famously known as Veerbhadra temple, situated in Lepakshi village of Ananthapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh is a popular weekend getaway, especially for people looking for one day road trip from Bangalore and Hyderabad. Veerbhadra Lepakshi temple is famous for two things: A huge seven faced hooded Linga of Lord Shiva and its Hanging Pillar, which is said to be one of its kinds in the entire Asia region. You heard that right! A Hanging pillar which doesn’t touch the ground and rather stands without any support from anywhere.

The shrine dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra, the Lepakshi Temple is an exhibition of timeless art which includes beautiful frescoes and murals. Much of the temple is built on a low, rocky hill called Kurmasailam (” tortoise hill” in Telugu) - inspired by the shape of the hill. As per the Puranas, the Veerabhadra temple was built by the sage Agastya. Moortis of Ganesha, Nandi, Veerabhadra, Shiva, Bhadrakali, Vishnu and Lakshmi are important deities in the temple. It is also believed that Pakshi Jatayu fell at this spot after his battle with Ravana to rescue Mata Sita. Lord Rama is said to have said to the brave bird “Le Pakshi” — ‘rise, bird’ in Telugu. This temple also houses a footprint that is believed to be of Mata Sita.

The mystery of the Hanging Pillar:

What really makes everyone marvel most is how the Lepakshi Temple is home to the miraculous hanging pillar.


It is absolutely stunning to even dare imagine what instruments could have been used to have a wafer-thin gap between the pillar’s bottom and the surface of the rocky stone floor under it. The guides who take you around here will do different things to prove that the rock-solid stone pillar is indeed hanging and is suspended, not touching the floor.


Like moving a twig slowly under the pillar. Or sending a scarf between the pillar’s base and the floor under it. From one end to the other! Tourists give out audible gasps.


There are about 70 pillars at this fabulous 16th-century temple of stone in Vijayanagar style, but this one is the best known and a tribute to the engineering genius of ancient and medieval India’s temple builders.


However, it is a slightly dislodged from its original position — it is said that during the British era, a British engineer tried to move it in an unsuccessful attempt to uncover the secret of its support. Needless to add, neither the curious British engineer (identity unknown) nor anyone after him have been able to explain the mystery of how the hanging pillar at the Lepakshi temple was crafted.



The Secrets:

The hanging pillar is a bit dislodged from its original position. A British engineer tried to move it in an unsuccessful attempt to uncover the secret of its support and this is the reason behind this shift. There is a giant Ganesha statue in the temple’s outer enclosure. I was astonished to witness a gigantic Nagalinga with three coils and seven hoods here which probably is the largest one in my country.



The name of the hanging pillar is the Aakaasa Sthambha. The pillars and walls of the temple have the images of a divine entity, dancers, saints, musicians, and 14 avatars of Shiva. You will find three separate Mandapas in the Lepakshi Temple. The first one is Mukhya Mandapa (or Natya or Ranga Mandapa), Artha Mandapa and Garva Griha comprises the second one and the third one is Kalyana Mandapa. The last Mandapa is unfinished.


The temple is built on a low, rocky hill called Kurmasailam which means tortoise hill in Telugu. The shape of the hill resembles a tortoise. Devotees worship Shiva in the ferocious mood named as Veerbhadra. Veerbhadra was worshipped during wars in ancient and medieval periods as the warrior god.


The Lepakshi temple has the finest specimens of mural paintings of the Vijayanagar kings. Fresco of Veerabhadra on the ceiling before the antechamber is the largest in India of any single figure. The scenes of Rama and Krishna from famous epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas are the main subjects of the paintings of the inner hall and the fresco technique with bright colors is used to do the artwork. A frieze depicting a flock of geese with lotus stalks in their beaks is simply awesome. The entire temple is adorned with flawless carvings and all of them are done with the intricate details.

Stories around the temple:

The villagers believe the hill on which the temple is built is called Kurmasaila as the hill resembles a tortoise. The unfinished Kalayanamandapam was built by Viranna and Virupanna who were the courtiers of the kingdom. It is said Virupanna’s son was blind. Once in his dream, Shiva appeared and asked him to build a temple around Shiv Linga. Virupanna started building the temple and his son blindness was cured. But the other courtiers were jealous and complained to King that he is using kingdom money for his son’s cure. King ordered to blind Virupanna. After hearing this news, he himself popped his eyes out and threw them at the wall of Kalayanamandapam. The villagers believe the stains of blood are still on the walls.


Giant footprint - A large carved foot can be seen on the ground. It is believed the people were 20 to 25 feet tall at that time. The footprint is 2 1/2 feet long. The sculptor has carved the footprint on the original footprint to preserve it.


Nandi statue - You can find this statue  660 ft away from the temple which is carved from a single block of stone, which is said to be one of the largest of its type in the world.

Written by: Vaibhav Kunde