Kailasanadar Kancheepuram

Kailasanadar Kancheepuram is another Archaelogical wonder of Tamilnadu pre-dating the Thanjavur Big Temple. The temple is also called Rajasimha Pallavaneswaram after its builder. The temple is built on a solid Granite foundation with the superstructures created in Sandstone. The temple has a unique feature of 53 small niche shrines inside with several carvings including Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Durga and more in different forms and positions of mythological significance. The main deity is 16 sided Lingam in black granite. The external walls of the main shrine has got several excellent carvings of 23 Gods. A significant feature is the profusion of lions jutting out all around the mantapa and pillars. A circumambulatory passage with a narrow entry passage requires devotees to crawl through by climbing down seven steps to reach it. Passing through the narrow passage is indicative of passage through life. Some of the magnificient sculptures include Shiva under a Banyan tree, Shiva dancing with 8 hands, Shiva with 10 hands coming out as Lingotbava, Somaskanda, Mahishasuramardhini in a different posture of happiness after destroying the demon Mahisha, Shiva chopping off the fifth head of Brahma, Dakshimamurthy, Harihara, Kalasamharamurthy, Narasimha in an unusual depiction of fighting with the Asura Hiranyakashipu, Pitchadanar, Sivathandava, Gangadhara, Jalandharavada Murthy and Chakradhara. Our reference was some writings by Dr.Kudavayil Balasubramanian. We suggest you go with one of the several good books on this temple and spend at least half a day observing and appreciating the features one by one.