The correct option is Lepakshi.
Explanation
The Vijayanagara School of art (14th-16th century AD) revitalized Hindu temple architecture and mural traditions in South India. While influenced by earlier Chola and Pandya traditions, Vijayanagara art developed a distinct idiom characterized by figures in profile, large eyes, two-dimensional rendering, and elaborate detailing of costumes and jewellery.Site-wise Analysis:
- Lepakshi (Correct): The Virbhadra Temple at Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh) was built in the 16th century by Virupanna and Viranna, governors under the Vijayanagara Empire. It is celebrated for the extensive mural paintings adorning the ceilings of the Natya Mandapa (Dance Hall) and the Ardha Mandapa. These paintings depict mythological scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and incarnations of Shiva, representing the zenith of the Vijayanagara pictorial style.
- Sittanavasal (Incorrect): This site in Tamil Nadu is renowned for its rock-cut Jain cave temple (Arivar Koil) and contains murals belonging to the Pandya period (circa 9th century AD).
- Panamalai (Incorrect): The Talagirisvara Temple at Panamalai is associated with the Pallava period (7th-8th century AD). It contains fragments of paintings, such as the famous depiction of Bhavani (Parvati), which predate the Vijayanagara style.
- Tiruvarur (Incorrect): Tiruvarur is famous for the Tyagaraja Temple, which is primarily associated with Chola architecture and later expansions. It is not the specific site referenced for the Vijayanagara ceiling murals found at the Virbhadra Temple.
Key Takeaway:
The Virbhadra Temple at Lepakshi contains the most significant and well-preserved examples of Vijayanagara mural paintings, serving as a stylistic bridge to the later Nayaka paintings.