A temple that saved a city
It is said that the beauty of the Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram was such that it saved the city from being devastated by the Chalukya king, Vikramaditya, who conquered it 30 years after the temple was built. This temple is perhaps one of the earliest stone temples built in south India. Many great rulers like Vikramaditya and Raja Raja Chola were inspired by this shrine which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and they, in turn, built their own masterpieces. For instance, while Vikramaditya built the Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal in northern Karnataka, Raja Raja Chola built the famed Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur.
The temple was built by the Pallava monarch, Narasimha Varman, around 700 CE, and he called it the Kanchi Mahamanihi, which means ‘the great jewel of Kanchi’. The Pallavas, who were originally from the Andhra region, ruled the northern region of present-day Tamil Nadu. They were in power from the 4th to the 9th centuries CE, and their capital was Kanchipuram. The temple was built to project Narasimha Varman’s wealth and power.
This temple was one of the earliest temples the Pallavas built. According to historians, it was probably the inspiration for the stone temples the region is renowned for. It was originally called the Rajasimheswara Graham meaning the Shiva temple of Rajasimha (another name for Narasimha). King Narasimha Varman, as well as the entire Pallava dynasty, adopted the lion as their emblem, and it is apparent all over the temple. He also constructed the famous shore temples at Mamallapuram some years after the Kailasanathar temple was built.
Special features of the temple
This sandstone shrine was not only an aesthetic achievement, it’s also innovative technologically. It was the first temple in south India to be constructed by joining together pieces of stone. Formerly, temples were built using wood or by excavating and carving rock.
The temple complex has four structures that date back to the 8th century CE- a pyramidal, tower-like structure, above the sanctum of the central shrine, or vimana, a porch-like mandapa, a boundary wall, and also a temple built by Narasimha Varman’s son during his father’s lifetime.
As the temple is dedicated to Shiva, all the shrines here are dedicated to him. Other than the central shrine, there are 7 other smaller shrines outside it. Shiva in his Linga form is worshipped here, and his sculptures cover the walls.
In fact, the sculptures that cover almost every surface comprise the most remarkable feature of this temple. Shiva is seen carved in many postures along with Parvati. He is shown vanquishing Kala, in mendicant form, dancing, playing a musical instrument, and also riding into battle with his army. The pillars, walls, and base of the temple (especially the central shrine and the mandapa) have many inscriptions. One inscription is by the Chalukyan king, Vikramaditya, who conquered Kanchipuram, and it says that he was so spellbound by the beauty of the temple that he didn’t destroy the city as he initially planned to. Emperor Raja Raja Chola also left an inscription here that speaks of the beauty of this temple.
In most Hindu temples, devotees circumambulate in the clockwise direction. But the sculptures and inscriptions found here suggest that at this temple, it was in the anti-clockwise direction.
Maha Shivaratri celebrations at the temple
Since the temple is dedicated to Shiva, Shivaratri and Maha Shivaratri are celebrated here. On the day of Maha Shivaratri, special Pooja, arti, and Abishekams are performed. Many devotees visit the temple for worship and take part in the ceremonies, offering flowers, fruits, coconuts, etc., to the deity. Mantra chanting, singing of bhajans, recitals of Shiva Purana, meditation, etc., are some of the activities that take place at the temple during the occasion.