LEPAKSHI

Now enters the arena that designer-builder of immortal fame. His name is Virupanna and the role he played is-treasurer. And he was the Chief of Merchant guild, corresponding to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce now. Being an official of high ideals and reliable character, he won the king's favours and he exercised great powers. The king trusted him wholely. This trustworthy treasurer being a devout Sivabhakta developed a fancy for building one temple to be dedicated to Lord Siva. It haunted him day in and day out. So he started building for dedication to Lord Papanaseswara. With his own funds. As it went up, the spring of his finance was dried up; for the prakaras, mantapas, towers, images grew in great number and huge dimensions unknown to himself and to the workers. As it came up, it turned to be an excellent museum exhibit. He was delighted and was hailed. But the shortage of fund sought some means. The treasury was found to be his surest refuge. The king was then on his digvijaya yatra. Thinking that he could prevail upon easily and convince him with the nobel cause, he diverted the State Revenue to the construction. The imposing dimensions of the shrine and its exquisite sculpture soon exhausted the treasure. He had then second thoughts, and was feeling restless, for the all round expansion, particularly the Kalyana Mantapa was stopped abruptly, as the King was returning shortly and who knows his reaction?

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