kailasanathar-temple-kanchipuram

Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram

The Kanchi Kailasanathar temple is the oldest shape in Kanchipuram.Located in Tamil Nadu, India, it’s far a Hindu temple in the Tamil architectural fashion. It’s miles dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and is thought for its historic significance. The temple changed into constructed from 685-705 advert through a Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II) ruler of the Pallava Dynasty. The low-slung sandstone compound contains a large variety of carvings, which includes many half-animal deities which were popular at some point of the early Pallava architectural length.The shape contains fifty eight small shrines which are committed to numerous varieties of Shiva. Those are constructed into niches at the inner face of the excessive compound wall of the circumambulatory passage.The temple is one of the most outstanding traveler points of interest of the metropolis.

The Kailasanathar Temple (that means:”Lord of the Cosmic Mountain”), is constructed within the culture of Smartha worship of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya (sun), genesha and Kartikeya, in Hinduism Temple production is credited to the Pallava dynasty, who had hooked up their kingdom with Kanchipuram (additionally known as “Kanchi” or “Shiva Vishnu Kanchi”) because the capital metropolis, considered one of the seven sacred cities below Hinduism. In Kanchi, after the Pallavas extended their territories to the north, west and south both inside Tamil, Andhra and Kannada territories underneath Emperor Narasimhavarman I, they started expanding their capital city of Kanchipuram and built many temples of superb class. Most of the unique specimens of temple structure of the period 640-730 advert are the Tiru Parameswara Vinnagaram, which is likewise called the Vaikunta Perumal temple and the Kailsahanathar Temple.

The temple changed into built throughout 685-705AD.It’s far the primary structural temple constructed in South India through Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), and who’s additionally called Rajasimha Pallaveswaram. His son, Mahendravarman III, finished the front façade and the gopuram (tower). Previous temples were either built of timber or hewn into rock faces in caves or on boulders, as seen in Mahabalipuram.The Kailasanathar temple became the fashion setter for different comparable temples in South India.According to local notion, the temple was a safe sanctuary for the rulers of the dominion in the course of wars. A secret tunnel, built by using the kings, became used as an get away route and is still visible.It’s miles believed that Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014 CE) visited the temple and drew idea from this temple to construct the Brihadeeswara Temple. Presently, Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is maintained by way of Archaeological Survey of India.

The temple has retained the Pallava structure in its original stylized form with influence of the later styles evolved by using the Chola Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors.It’s miles of stone built structure not like the rock cut structure constructed into hallowed caves or carved into rock outcrops as in Mahabalipuram. The tall gopuram (tower) is to the left and the temple complicated is to the right.The temple’s foundations are made of granite, that could resist the weight of the temple, while the superstructure, such as the carvings, are all manufactured from sandstone. To begin with, most effective the main sanctuary existed with pyramidal vimana and a detached mandapa (primary hall). The temple complicated is entire in all respects as it has garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum), antarala (inner enclosure), mandapa, a excessive compound wall, and an entrance gate, the gopuram.The mandapa, which changed into to start with indifferent, become made a part of the principle shrine by interposing an ardhamantapa (smaller hall). The pillars of the mandapa have the repetitive capabilities of legendary lion mounts.

The shape has a simple format with a tower or vimana at the center of the complicated. The vimana of the temple, above the principle shrine (sanctum sanctorum), is square in plan and rises up in a pyramidal shape. The tower has many ranges growing proportionately.On the top of this tower, there may be a small roof in the form of a dome. The pillar factors with mythical animal shapes (lions on the bottom) are greater capabilities in Pallava fashion.At the entrance, the gopuram partitions are plastered. Its front wall has eight small shrines and a gopura, precursor to the main gopura. At some later level, the mandapa and the sanctuary had been joined by way of an intermediate hall referred to as the ardhamantapa, which is reported to have marred the splendor of the temple to a degree. The temple is enclosed inside walls in a rectangular format.

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How to reach

  • By Road: Buses are available from Tirunelveli Junction Bus Stand
  • By Train: Nearest Railway Station – Cheranmahadevi
  • By Air: Nearest Airport – Thoothukudi
Related Temples

How to reach

  • Nearest airport is Thoothukudi
  • Nearest railway station is Cheranmahadevi
  • Nearest bus station is Tirunelveli 
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