PM Modi Immerses in Ram Bhajan, Explores Historic Lepakshi Temple

Anantapur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his stay for an hour at five century old historic Lepakshi that was connected with the epic Ramayan of Jatayu bird that fell down at this spot after trying to save Goddess Sita from Demon King Ravana, had offered poojas and prayers on Tuesday. The Prime Minister was immersed in Rambhajan performed by TTD artists who sang St.Thyagaraja Swamy Keerthanas on Lord Sriram for about 20 minutes.

Modi, who arrived at Satya Sai airport at Puttaparthi in a special aircraft at around 12.30 pm reached Lepakshi by helicopter and reached the temple by car.

The temple priests offered a traditional welcome to Modi who offered harathi poojas at Lord Veerabhadra Swamy temple. After offering harathi to Veerabhadra Swamy, the Prime Minister offered poojas to Goddess Durga Devi and Lord Shiva in the temple premises. After the poojas, a team of TTD carnatic music artists performed bhajan in the temple premises for which Mr.Modi immersed in the Ram Bhajan for about 20 minutes.

Later, the tourism department organised puppet show, artists from Nimmalakunta in Dharmavaram mandal in Satya Sai district. The Prime Minister interestingly watched the puppet show performed on epic Ramayan with several important scenes.

The team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and team briefed about the historic notes of Lepakshi connected to Epic Ramayana as the place of evidence of Jatayu bird and the historic site was named after the bird Lepakshi. The Prime Minister visited the hanging pillar in the Veerabhadra Swamy temple mandapam and the team of officials briefed about the exclusive sculpture and civil engineering technology used five centuries ago. Modi also visited the Mural paintings on the ceiling of the temple premises. He also visited the World’s Biggest Nandi statue a few metres away from the temple.

After having darshan, Narendra Modi felicitated the temple priests Narasimha Sharma and Srinivasulu Sharma and also the TTD artists and puppetry artists from Nimmalakunta. Modi appreciated the Puppetry artists for continuing the legacy of many decades.

After spending one hour in the temple, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Palasamudram.

Representation with DC clippings seeking UNESCO tag

The Lepakshi temple development committee member L.Ramprasad and Lepakshi gram panchayat sarpanch G.Adinarayana submitted a representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Lepakshi historic site to be included in the final list under UNESCO world heritage status. In the representation, the team submitted Deccan Chronicle clippings and sought the development of Lepakshi that was badly neglected for many decades and at least could gain attention from ASI and other wings. Ramprasad said they also requested to develop the temple town through Amrut Scheme. “At least after the PM visit to the historic site, we hope the development will get all the ways”, Ramprasad hoped.