Lepakshi Temple – Part 9: Sculptural Splendour of the Mukha Mandapa
After exploring the ceiling murals, painted corridors and sculpted legends of the Ardha Mandapa, the next phase of the journey through the Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple leads into the Mukha Mandapa , a space where stone comes alive in rhythm, grace, and divinity . This hall not only connects the outer structures to the inner sanctum, but also serves as a stage where divine episodes, mythological characters and architectural marvels converge in breathtaking stonework. A Forest of Pillars and Stories The Mukha Mandapa is supported by an impressive arrangement of around 70 monolithic pillars , each standing approximately 15 feet tall . The entrance is located on the northern side , leading visitors into a forest of exquisitely carved columns, many of which are elevated on ornate pedestals and designed in varied formats: those with Vyala brackets and a few with dual Vyala brackets set at right angles . Several pillars feature large sculptural figures emerging from the shafts, while o...