Kailasanathar Temple
Encyclopedia
The Kailasanath temple is the oldest temple of Kanchipuram
, located in Tamil Nadu
, India
. It is Hindu temple
dedicated to Lord Siva and known for its historical presence. The low-stung sandstone compound is a chock-a-block with fascniating carvings, including many half-animal deities that were in vogue during the period of early Dravidian Architecture
.
as Nataraja
in various postures.This temple was built by Pallava King Narasimhavarman II
(Rajasimhan), and so is also called Rajasimha Pallaveswaram.
The Chola King Rajaraja Chola I
visited this temple and named this temple as Kachipettu Periya Thirukatrali(Stone Temple of Kachipettu(ancient name of Kanchipuram
). It is believed by many archeologists that this Kailasanathar temple must be the inspiration for Rajaraja Chola I
to build the Tanjore Brihadeeswarar temple.
Currently the temple is well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
, located in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is Hindu temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
dedicated to Lord Siva and known for its historical presence. The low-stung sandstone compound is a chock-a-block with fascniating carvings, including many half-animal deities that were in vogue during the period of early Dravidian Architecture
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
.
History
It was built by the Pallavas in the early 8th century CE. It is famous for its splendid vimana. It also contains numerous panels showing lord SivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
as Nataraja
Nataraja
Nataraja or Nataraj , The Lord of Dance; Tamil: கூத்தன் ;Telugu:నటరాజ is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer Koothan who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation...
in various postures.This temple was built by Pallava King Narasimhavarman II
Narasimhavarman II
Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha was a Pallava king who ruled in South India during the 6th century. Succeeding his father Paramesvaravarman I in the year 700 CE, he ruled for nearly 3 decades, until he was succeeded by his son Paramesvaravarman II in 728 CE.-Ascension to the throne:By the time...
(Rajasimhan), and so is also called Rajasimha Pallaveswaram.
The Chola King Rajaraja Chola I
Rajaraja Chola I
Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...
visited this temple and named this temple as Kachipettu Periya Thirukatrali(Stone Temple of Kachipettu(ancient name of Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
). It is believed by many archeologists that this Kailasanathar temple must be the inspiration for Rajaraja Chola I
Rajaraja Chola I
Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...
to build the Tanjore Brihadeeswarar temple.
Currently the temple is well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...