2016 Vacation: India / Tamil Nadu / Kanchipuram

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple.

It is a Hindu Temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva.

Located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Kanchi Kailasanathar temple is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram, and is known for its historical importance. The temple was built from 685-705 AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty.

The temple is one of the most prominent tourist attractions of the city.

Kanchipuram: The City of Thousand Temples.
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi or Kancheepuram, is a famous temple city of Tamil Nadu. It is nicknamed as “The City of Thousand Temples.” It served as the capital city of the Pallava Kingdom. It is now the Administrative headquarters of Kanchipuram district. Kanchipuram is located 72 kilometers from Chennai, the capital city of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of India. In Hinduism, a kṣetra is a sacred ground, a field of active power, a place where moksha, final release can be obtained. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven cities as providers of moksha, namely Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Avantikā, Dvārakā and Kanchipuram.

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple / Image courtesy Tanvi Sinha

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple
The Kailasanathar Temple [meaning:“Lord of the Cosmic Mountain”], is built in the tradition of Smartha worship of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya (Sun), Ganesha and Kartikeya, in Hinduism, a practice which replaced the Buddhism.
The temple has retained the Pallava architecture in its original stylized form with influence of the later styles developed by the Chola Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors.
It is of stone built architecture unlike the rock cut architecture in Mahabalipuram.
The tall gopuram (tower) is to the left and the temple complex is to the right.
The temple’s foundations are made of granite, which could withstand the weight of the temple, while the superstructure, including the carvings, are all made of sandstone.

The temple complex is complete in all respects as it has garbagriha [sanctum sanctorum], antarala [inner enclosure], mandapa, a high compound wall, and an entrance gate, the gopuram.

The structure has a simple layout with a tower or shikara at the center of the complex. The shikara of the temple, above the main shrine (sanctum sanctorum), is square in plan and rises up in pyramidal shape. The tower has many levels rising proportionately. At the top of this tower, there is a small roof in the shape of a dome. The pillar elements with mythical animal shapes (lions on the base) are extra features in Pallava style.

The low-slung sandstone compound contains a large number of carvings, including many half-animal deities which were popular during the early Dravidian architectural period. The structure contains 58 small shrines which are dedicated to various forms of Shiva. These are built into niches on the inner face of the high compound wall of the circumambulatory passage.

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple

The main shrine has a 16 sided Shivalinga in black granite stone deified in the sanctum sanctorum. On each face of the outer walls of the main shrine there are many carvings of deities.

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple

The outstanding feature of sculptures is the profusion of depiction of the erect lions projecting out in several directions.
The structure contains 58 small shrines which are dedicated to various forms of Shiva. These are built into niches on the inner face of the high compound wall of the circumambulatory passage.

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple / Image courtesy Tanvi Sinha

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple / Image courtesy Tanvi Sinha

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple

As mentioned earlier Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of India. Among the major Hindu temples in Kanchipuram are some of the most prominent Vishnu Temples and Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu like the Varadharaja Perumal Temple for Vishnu and the Ekambaranatha Temple which is the “earth abode” of Shiva. Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kumara Kottam, Kachapeshwarar Temple, and the Kailasanathar Temple are some of the other prominent temples.

Recreating a 1974 trip to South India, through the eyes of my niece’s 2016 trip.

Yes that’s more than 40 years later!!!

Recently in Sep 2016, my niece Tanvi Sinha shared photos from her trip to South India. It was a family tip with my sis, brother-in-law and three nieces. The images she posted took me to the trip we had more than 40 years ago.

In 1974 we [ mom-dad-sis-&-me] took a trip to South India. I have memories from that trip are frozen in my mind’s eye in the form of colorful images and delightful anecdotes. I remember the mesmerizing colorful gopurams of Meenakshi Amman Temple, striking long corridors of Ramanathaswamy temple, the thousand pillar hall of Ekambareswarar Temple and the picturesque hills of Oatacamund. I remember our trip to mainland India’s southermost tip to Kanyakumari, and the boat-ride to Vivekananda Rock Memorial off from the mainland! I remember the beaches of Kerala and our somewhat long stay in Alleppey, Kerala.

I am not sure if I would be able to visit these places again. We did take some photographs, but I am not sure if they still exist, or where they would be.

So I took my niece’s permission to post the beautiful images she took!! Of course I took help of wikipedia to get information. What would I do without Google and Wiki!!!

My niece’s 2016 South India trip included: Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahaballipuram, Pondycherry, Tanjore, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Alleppey, Periyar, Kovalam, and Trivandrum. For some of the highlights of the trip.. click here..

Public Art in Chicago. Where public places are art galleries.

Chicago Art Blogger

2016 Vacation: India / Tamil Nadu / Kanchipuram – Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple

Written by Jyoti Srivastava

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