Murals of Lepakshi, Natyamantapa, Veerabhadra temple,Hindupur

                              The Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi was built in the 16th century, during the command of King Achuta Deva Raya. The murals of Lepakshi are most excellent displays of the murals and paintings of Vijayanagara period. The ceiling is divided into a number of strips and the individual strips are broken into rectangular panels. Each one of the panels depicts a particular scene, or part of one, in keeping with the theme of representation in the central panel. 

                          The Fresco technique of mural painting was adopted and the sources of colours were the naturally occurring dyes present in vegetables and flowers. Though some of the paintings have retained its bright colors, most of them have become less vibrant and lustrous or vanished. The panels are bordered by floral patterns, mostly in black or red, while the background color of the paintings is orange red. The paintings are in striking compositions, where the particular emphasis is on the period costumes and facial expressions. The characters displayed individually one after the other with minimal overlapping, show a clear visual of each and every figure. Each character is differentiated by the body colour, dress, drape and the ornaments decked up according to their status. The cultures of the royalty as well as the common people of the Vijayanagara period are depicted by the clothing, head gear, ornamentation through these paintings. While most of the men are clothed in dhotis tied as panche with an uttariya, some are depicted in Indo-Islamicate type of clothing, Men and women are depicted with different hair-styles and ornaments. The rich fabrics and jewelleries depicted in the Lepakshi paintings indicates the wealth and fashion of that period.

                                 The Natyamantapa is surrounded on all four sides by the narrative of Kiratharjuniyam depicted in over fifteen scenes.The story of Manuneeti Cholan painted inthe north side of the Natyamantapa is the longest single narrative panel in this temple. On the eastern side Draupadi Swayamwara,  Vatapatrasayi Krishna and Veerabhadra and Girija Kalyana have been painted. On the western side  Rama Pattabhisheka,  Nataraja dancing among the assembly of gods who accompany him with various musical instruments with gesture of worship or praise and Shiva Parvathi playing chess have been painted which are badly damaged. 

Shiva and Parvathi playing chess panel:

Parvathi seems to be announcing her victory in the game of chess with her raised right hand. She is wearing an ornate saree with intricate design and kirthi mukuta. Her attendants are behind, one of whom is carrying chaamara. Shiva in vamalalithasana,  is carrying parashu and Krishna mriga in his upper hands. He is holding a chess pawn in his lower right hand and the lower left hand is resting on the simhasana. 

The saptarishis: Kashyapa, Atri, Vasishta, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Bharadvaja

Draupadi swayamvara panel:

Drupada is praying to Kalabhairava, who is shown with his vehicle shwana. Draupadi is sitting on the lap of Drupada looking at her mother Prishata, while Drupada is watching Arjuna targeting Matsya yantra.

Krishna/Dhristadyumna is behind Arjuna holding a fruit. The same type of fruit is in the hand of the pandavas at the end of the panel. A mysterious character with simple attire is seen in between four pandavas and Arjuna who is with Draupadi.

Veerabhadra panel :

The two royal males in front of Veerabhadra are Viranna and Virupanna who constructed the temple and behind them are their assistants.

Girija Kalyana panel:

Ashtadikpalakas are standing in a row near Bramha.

Kalyanasundara is getting married to Girija in the kalyana mantapa decorated with plantain leaves. Himavat and his wife are standing behind Parvati in the act of kanyadana ceremony. On their right are shown few ladies holding flower plates and raising their hands to bless the newlywed couple. Parvathi, is holding utpala flower and Nandi near Shiva is looking at Parvathi.