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At a distance of 500 m from Lepakshi Bus Stand and 500 m from Sri Veerabhadra Temple (Lepakshi Temple), Lepakshi Nandi (Bull) is one of the main attractions in Lepakshi and a well-known landmark for the tourism of Lepakshi. It was built during Vijayanagara period when the main Veerabhadra Temple was built.
The Lepakshi Nandi is made out of single granite. The monolithic Nandi sculpture is said to be the second largest monolithic structure in India after Gomateshwara in Sravanavelagola.
Basavanna temple, lepakshi
the gigantic bull in couchant posture is a grand cut out
sculpture of a huge granite rock. This monolithic sculpture is a unique example of its kind in the country. It faces west and is looking towards the nagalinga located behind the veerabhadra temple.This big granite bull is situated on the main road beside AP Tourism Haritha resort. It has been positioned such that it faces the 200 meters Nagalinga in Veerabhadra Temple Complex.It is 10 meter in length and 6 meter in height. It is decorated with a necklace, muvvalahara and a hara of bells and has short horns.
The massiveness in size has not been secured at the expense of
artistic beauty. The bull is depicted in the characterstic pose of nandi. It is noticeable that the head is held aloft at a higher angle than usual. Consequently, the expression of submission which is typical of nandi before siva, is conspicuous by its absence here. From the standpoint of proper proportion in the formation of various limbs
and excellent finish secured in the workmanship, this nandi is an excellent piece of art of the vijayanagara period.
