By T.V. Antony Raj

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Lepakshi is a small village in the Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is about 9 miles (15 km) east of Hindupur and about 75 miles (120 km) north of Bangalore.

This village is historically and archaeologically significant. It has three shrines dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra built during the period of Vijayanagara Kings (1336–1646).

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The famous 16th-century Veerabhadra stone temple constructed in Vijayanagar style has about 70 pillars, but only one of these pillars is best known as the Aakaasa Sthambha (Hanging Column). It is a tribute to the engineering genius of the temple builders of medieval India. The pillar does not rest on the ground fully.

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A cloth can slide smoothly underneath this Hanging pillar.

During the British era, a British engineer tried to move it to uncover the secret of its support. His attempt was unsuccessful and the pillar got slightly dislodged from its original position.

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RELATED ARTICLES

• Lepakshi (en.wikipedia.org)
• Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi (en.wikipedia.org)
• The hanging pillar and other wonders of Lepakshi (thehindu.com)
• Temples of Andhra Pradesh (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Awesome Monolithic Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora, India.
  (tvaraj.com)
• Images WorthvieW (images.worthview.com)

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