Lepakshi
Snippet from my journal: February 2020.
I believe weekend mornings are for sleeping in and having a lazy day. Even though I plan places to visit during the week, somehow, the weekends just pass by. It just happens. So you see, it has been a long since I got away from the city, just to get away; I like the idea that you can escape on a whim. Traveling gives you space to just be you, even if the destination is your nearby lake. Somedays, I dream of being a globetrotter with just a backpack and a travel journal. But we have to start somewhere, and starting is always a bit hard, especially for people who are low on mental health and struggle chronically.
Saturday was the day we had discussed a trip to Lepakshi. It was a one-day round trip, and then on Sunday, we will relax. But eventually, we had given in to our lazy weekend routines, deciding we would go some other time. Saturday passed by, and then the evening felt incomplete. The Sun was setting, and my camera was unused; it had defeated its purpose. I had procrastinated. Slowly, questions started pouring in (honestly, why do we think so much at night?) Had I just decided to go, what experience would I have had? What pictures would I have captured? What would have inspired me to draw? To write? What story would I be telling?….questions after question.
Thoughts while writing: I wanted to insert a quote on motivation to travel, and I naively searched: questions of travel and a book by Elizabeth Bishop by the same name popped up. It’s so interesting how one can come across beautiful books.
I was having a difficult time, and it was just the beginning of 2020. Anxiety and doubt slowly set in. I knew I would be caught, and I didn’t want to spiral. I reached out to my friend (who is so zen that his voice calms me down.) I poured my thoughts, and he said, let’s just go tomorrow. Let’s wing it.
We went to sleep reading about the place we were visiting. I love places filled with histories, culture, and stories; it’s so magnificent to see a place that once was and now is. Reading about Lekpashi felt like the best bedtime story.
The Sunday morning was a struggle again; we overslept, and I felt like I had already failed. I thought no amount of planning would ever make me travel again. (Sometimes, our minds are really hard on us.) But then my Zen friend just got up, got ready, got the car, and said, what are you waiting for?
I was grim; it was late and a long drive to our destination. (Sometimes, I turn into a hardcore-Sasuke-pessimist). Yet I felt indebted to my friend’s kindness. So, I woke up, wore what I found, took my camera and wallet, and drove away into a hot afternoon.
It takes just some time on the road to be free from your thoughts. The sky was still blue, the weather was warm, and the wind felt welcoming. I stayed quiet, taking in all the road had to offer me. When we stopped for breakfast, a sudden rush of travel hit me. I was excited. “Something new awaits!” I started to google Lepakshi.
Little about Lepakshi.
Lepakshi is a village in Andhra Pradesh, India, and around 2 hour and 30 minutes drive from Bangalore, Karnataka, India. There are many stories and legends in Lepakshi. The most exciting part for me is how the place got its name.
According to legends of Ramayana, Lepakshi got its name when Rama, Prince of Ayodhya, came across Jatayu, the King of Eagle, who was wounded by Ravana, Demon King of Lanka. Jatayu had tried to save Sita, the wife of Rama, who was abducted by Ravana. An epic battle ensued between them; Jatayu went all out, but eventually, Ravana fatally injured Jatayu. He fell. When Lord Rama found Jatayu injured, he addressed him as “Le Pakshi,” which means “Rise Bird.” Thus, the name Lepakshi. Ever since I watched Ramayana animation as a kid, I get emotional over Lord Rama and Jatayu moments.
Lepakshi’s Veerabhadra temple is beautiful; the moment you set foot inside, you feel the refreshing temple breeze welcoming you. It was built in Vijayanagara architectural style by Governor brothers under the Vijayanagar Empire, Virupanna and Virann Nayaka, in 1530–40s AD.
That day I looked at the beauty of Lepakshi; I jumped around the steps, pressed my feet next to Sita’s haint footprint to compare, and passed a paper from below the pillar. I took my time looking at the ceiling filled with paintings; I stared at the Shivling that looked magnificent and wondered why the Kalyan Mandapa was incomplete and on the walls were red stains. The story goes like this: The king was furious with the Accountant for spending the Kingdom’s money, and thus, he was punished. The punishment was to have his eyes removed, and they threw them at the walls. Another story is that someone framed to Accountant, and he was punished. What was fascinating was that there were red bloodstains on a temple?! Later, I then sat on the long Verandahs of the temple and looked at people passing by, lost in my thoughts as I sealed my presence.
I like places of worship, forts, monuments, and museums; it reminds me of people who came before me. People who stayed to build these places and people who freely visited them to unburden themselves are proof of their existence. Minds and bodies that put momentum together always stay imprinted between the walls.
The drive back was beautiful and filled with content. I’m glad I got out of that bed and grateful for my friend. I hope we can enjoy travel without constraints. Here are some pictures of Lepakshi!
Traveling to Lepakshi made me realize how travel is liberating. Once we arrive at the destination, we forget all our struggles. We think travel needs to be extended or international, but traveling in your own country or nearby cities humbles you. You learn so much about your people, diversity, exciting stories, hopes, and the beauty of your land. I hope to try my best to travel more wherever I am and learn to fly.
