News Excerpt: 

The PM performed darshan and puja at Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi, Puttaparthi, in Andhra Pradesh.

More About the news: 

PM also heard the verses from the Ranganatha Ramayan in Telugu and witnessed the tale of Jatayu visually presented through the traditional shadow puppetry art form from Andhra Pradesh known as Tholu Bommalata.

About Veerbhadra Temple:  

• The Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple, also known as the Lepakshi temple is dedicated to Veerabhadra (the fiery incarnation of Lord Shiva). 
• From the inscriptions engraved on the prakara walls of the temple, the village is alternatively called as Lepaksha, Lepakshi and Lepakshipura. 

• The literal meaning of the word is Lepa + Akshi, an embalmed eye or a painted eye. 

• Due to several stories signifying the meaning of the name of the village, it is difficult to understand its origin.

• The significance of the place dates back to the Indian epic Ramayana. 

• • It is believed that the bird Jatayu, wounded by the king of Lanka Ravana, fell here after a battle against the king who was carrying away Sita, the wife of Rama, the king of Ayodhya.
  •  When Rama reached the spot, he saw the bird and said compassionately to him, “Le Pakshi” — meaning “arise, bird” in Telugu.
• The Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple and the Monolithic Bull (Nandi) at Lepakshi in Anantapur district known for the Vijayanagara sculpture and painting art tradition, had found a place on the tentative list of the World Heritage Committee in 2022.