KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE - KANCHIPURAM

 Kailasanathar Temple - Kanchipuram

 

 

The Kailasanathar temple is the oldest temple in Kanchipuram. It is 75 KMs from chennai. The architecture of this temple has been a model not only to many of the south indian temples,but also to temples in cambodia including the Angkorwat. It was perhaps the first temple to be built in stone. Earlier to this, temples were built with wooden structure( which would not last 2000 years) or engravings on rocks, as in cave temples.

 

 It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and was built from 685 - 705 AD by Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II) ruler of the Pallava dynasty. The temple is built with sandstone on a granite base.

 

 The outer side of the entire inner compound contains 58 smaller shrines with cubicles adjascent to them. There are also 8 cubicles on the Façade. The walls are engraved with sculpture's dedicated to various forms of Shiva ( Sukhasanmurthi, Umamaheshwara and somaskanda) along with a Shiva Linga. This fenced  wall of miniature chapels are called Devakulikas.

 

Among the two unique specimens of temple architecture of the period in 640 -730 AD are the Tiru Parameswara Vinnagaram, which is also known as the Vaikunta Perumal temple and the Kailsahanathar Temple. Both the temple are in a straight line and face each other though seperated by about 3.5 KM's.

 

 It is the first structural temple built in South India by Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), and who is also known as Rajasimha Pallaveswaram.

 

His son, Mahendravarman III, completed the front façade along with the small Gopuram (tower). There are 8 small shrines in the front before the compound. Two on the right & six on the left. Because of their addition later to the temple,a small square has been left out of the main compound on the left making it a abnormal non-square compound.

 

Opposite to the temple a little distance away is a Nandi in a mandapa. &  a temple pond on to its right. The bull was the emblem of the Pallavas, however you can see many idols and images of the Bulls, Lions and Elephants.

 

Prior temples were either built of wood or hewn into rock faces in caves or on boulders, as seen in Mahabalipuram. The Kailasanathar temple became the trend setter for other similar temples in South India. This temple looks like a miniature of the Brihadeeshwara temple at Tanjore.

 

 A secret tunnel, built by the kings, was used as an escape route and is still visible.

 

The tall gopuram (tower)being completed first is in the centre, however the temple complex has moved to the right because of subsequent additions. The super structure, including carvings, are all made of sandstone. Initially, only the main sanctuary existed with pyramidal Vimana and a detached Mandapa (main hall).

 

 The pillars of the mandapa have the repetitive features of mythical lion mounts of the pallava's.

 

The structure has a simple layout with a tower or Vimana at the center of the complex. The vimana of the temple, above the main shrine (sanctum sanctorum), is square in plan and rises up in a pyramidal shape. At the top of this tower, there is a small roof in the shape of a dome.

 

  At the entrance, the gopuram walls are plastered. Its entrance wall has eight small shrines and a Gopura. At some later stage, the mandapa and the sanctuary were joined by an intermediate hall called the ardhamantapa. The temple is enclosed within walls in a rectangular shape.

 

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 Shiva in various forms.

 

 In order to make the circumambulation of Lord Shiva, there is a narrow entry passage which devotees must crawl through, inside the sanctum. The narrow passage is indicative of the journey of life. After the circumambulation, the exit is through another narrow passage symbolic of death.  The entry point for this passage is called Gate of Death, Crawling and coming out of the passage indicates coming out of mother's womb. Hindu's belief of rebirth. Hence, exit is called Gate of Birth.There is another belief that by completing this circumambulatory passage the possibility of rebirth is not there and you shall attain Moksha. Such passage is UNIQUE, explaining the life cycle including aging process, death and rebirth.