Kanchipuram – synonymous
with the rich silk Kanjeevarams , traditionally woven and originated from this
small town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. But this is not why I was in this town Or to
be honest, not primarily.
Kanchipuram from being the capital of the Pallavas, is also famous for its
ancient and very old temples – and this is what got me here, 75 kms from
Chennai . I wanted to see the structures
, the pillars, the sculptures which were laid over 1300 years ago .One such
temple is the Kailasnathar Temple , the only extant and testimony of the first
Pallava Dynasty structure in South India. Prior to this, temples were
constructed from wood or carved within
caves / rocks and boulders.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva , Kailasnathar
Temple was constructed between 685 -705 AD . The architecture is unique and
since it is one of the earliest structures it perhaps does not bear much resemblance to the temple structures built by succeeding
rulers though the latter structures have
drawn influences from here.
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| The inner courtyard . There are 58 subshrines within the complex |
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| All the pillars are adorned with the mythical half lion face. |
As per mythology and beliefs ,Lord Shiva appeared to a sage named Romasa and mentioned to him the Circumambulatory passage inside the Kailasanathar temple grants salvation. Many devotees still come here and crawl through the narrow passage for deliverence .
There are many exquisite temples all over Tamil Nadu , few of which I managed to see. But the Kailasnathar Temple holds a command and authority of its own.
Today this temple is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.
