Indian Columbus

Just about 120 km from Bengaluru and located inside the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh lies a town that whispers stories through its rocks, murals, and sacred winds: Lepakshi . A place where legends of sages and kings, stone-carved wonders, and centuries of spiritual heritage converge. This sleepy town is home to the magnificent Veerabhadra Temple , a Vijayanagara-period marvel famed for its intricate sculptures, hanging pillar, ceiling paintings, and the iconic monolithic Nandi , one of the largest of its kind in India. Yet, Lepakshi is more than just its temple. It’s a palimpsest of myths, dynasties, and sacred geography, waiting to be explored one step at a time. Lepakshi Nagalinga Swami What’s in a Name? The earliest known reference to Lepakshi is found in the Skanda Purana , where it is mentioned as Lepakshya-Papanasanah , one among the 108 sacred Shaiva sthalas (pilgrimage sites) of South India. Inscriptions call it by various names -  Lepaksha , Lepakshi , or Lepaks...

In the shadow of divine legends and Vijayanagara grandeur, a young granite bull gazes westward in eternal devotion. About a kilometre before you reach the famed Lepakshi Temple in Andhra Pradesh, the road gently curves to reveal one of India’s largest monolithic Nandi sculptures, a silent guardian carved from a single block of granite, immovable yet full of life. This colossal Nandi , known simply as the Lepakshi Nandi , is one of the finest and most massive of its kind. Sculpted in couchant posture, it measures around 27 feet long and 15 feet high , making it not just one of the largest Nandi sculptures in the country, but one of the most beautifully proportioned. What’s more, it isn’t tucked within a temple complex but rather sits open to the sky , welcoming travellers as they enter the sacred town. Lepakshi Nandi A Young Bull in Stone This Nandi is not just about size; it is about detail. A graceful bell necklace , muvvahara ( a triple-strand necklace) , and delicate earrings a...

In the suburban serene location called Rajkilpakkam near Tambaram, just outside Chennai, lies a school that is far more than an educational institution. The Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir, run under the aegis of the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, offers an environment where learning is steeped in values, culture is lived daily, and divinity walks hand-in-hand with discipline. What makes this campus truly extraordinary is not just the school but the profound spiritual and commemorative landscape that surrounds it: shrines, museums, galleries and installations that together form a living repository of Indian tradition. Let us take a holistic walk through this remarkable complex. Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir, Rajkilpakkam The Temple Trail – From Ganapati to Kamakshi The journey begins at the entrance, where stucco images of Kamakshi Amman, Adi Shankaracharya and Maha Periyava welcome every visitor. On the right is the quaint Vidya Ganapati Temple , modest in size yet rich in devo...