21st
February 2020 ( 1st Dec 2017 post updated)
The third visit to
this Kailasanathar Temple at Pillayarpalayam, Kanchipuram was a part of the 2020
Maha Shivaratri Temples Visit, on 21st February 2020. After the Sri Anekadhangavadeswarar
Temple Visit, our next destination was this temple. The list of Shiva temples in and around
Kanchipuram with links to Google Photos, Location links on Google Maps, and Location
QR Codes are posted already in this blog. The additional
details collected during these three visits are updated in the
old post.
The 18th Century Sri Sivagnana
Swamigal who had written the Kanchipuram, wrote this Kailaya Padalam after
Sri
Anekadhangavadeswarar Temple. The sthala purana of Kailaya Padalam may take it for this Kailasanatha Temple and out of 37, the first
poem is reproduced as given below...
29. கயிலாயப்படலம்
(1015 - 1056)
1015 அல்லிப்பூஞ் சேக்கைமிசை அன்னச் சேவல் பெடைக்குருகைப்
புல்லிக்கண் படுபொய்கை அனேக தங்கா வதம்புகன்றாம்
எல்லைச்செய் மணிக்கோயில் அதன்மேல் பாங்கர் இறைஞ்சினவர்க்
கொல்லைப்பே ரருள்கூருங் கயிலா யத்தை உரைசெய்வாம்.
Moolavar : Sri Kailasanathar
Some of the salient
features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with a sandstone Rishaba coated with lime plaster on a platform surrounded by 4 Simha pillars. In Rishaba Mandapa’s north, there is a ceremonial stepped
temple tank and the history is not known. Moolavar is of 16 flat-faced/sided Dhara
linga. The Pallava's Iconic sculpture of Somaskanda is on the back side wall of the sanctum
Sanctorum. A Shantharam, with a narrow entrance and exit, circumambulatory corridor is around the
sanctum sanctorum. The koshtas are in the form of nine sub-shrines. Each shrine
has the large panels of Lord Shiva on the interior wall and other sculptures
are on the interior side walls.
There is a row of mini shrines in front of the temple with a Dwarasala, the precursor to the modern Rajagopuram. This is of two tiers with 4 Mahanasis, Kirthi mukha and 5 Stupas. These mini shrines are built by Rajasimha’s wife and Queen Ranga Pataka and the inscriptions are also found.
HISTORY
This Kailasanathar
temple was built by the 7th Century
Pallava King Narasimhavarman –II ( 700 –
728 CE – Some experts of opinion 690 CE instead of 700 CE ), also called Rajasimha and called “Rajasimha Pallaveshvaram”. The Pallava
Dynasty’s iconic temples of Mamallapuram Shore temple and Panamalai in Villupuram District Sri Talagriswara were also built by him. He called himself “Atyantakaamah
– அத்யந்தகாமன்”, (means endless) the insatiably (difficult to satisfy)
passionate “Kalaasamudrah - கலாசமுத்திரம்”, the ocean of Arts.
The Chozha King Rajaraja-I, latter who
built the Thanjavur great temple of “Rajarajecharam – ராஜராஜேச்சரம்”, described this temple as “The great stone temple of Kanchipuram
– “காஞ்சிபுரத்து பெரிய திருக்கற்றளி”. It was said that this temple was the inspiration for building the
Thanjavur Rajarajecharam, also known as the Big Temple.
During the Rajasimhan Period, this temple was called “Rajasimecharam” and the same was
called “Kachipettu Periya Thirukkarrali” during the Chozha Period and “Eduththathu
Ayiramudaiya Nayanar Alayam – எடுத்தது ஆயிரமுடைய நாயனார் ஆலயம்”, during Kumara Kampanna Nayak period. When this was changed to
the present name of “Kailasanathar Temple” is not known and there is no evidence
found to prove the same.
The
temple was abandoned and dilapidated, and the Kanchipuram had shrunk to a small
town, during the era of Nawabs and early British. In 1883 CE, Dr Burgess, who
visited Kanchipuram recorded that he had seen this temple. Ernst Hultzsch recorded and translated the
inscriptions and guessed it was built by Simhavishnu in the sixth Century.
Alexander Rea sketched and compiled a marvelous
collection of its sculptures and tried to trace the Pallava genealogy. Joveau Dubreuil developed a better genealogy
of the Pallavas, C Meenakshi’s doctoral thesis elaborated several aspects.
Michael Lockwood
and his collaborators added several valuable pieces of information. First is the study of the titles of Rajasimha, statistical analysis of various Pallava Somaskandas,
including those at Kailasanatha, and conjecture of the Rangapataka inscriptions
may be attributed to a different person, perhaps Parameshvarma’s queen.
ARCHITECTURE
Atimaanam.
As per Mr Gopu, this one word captures the architecture of the sanctum.
Kalaasamudrah saved us from an ocean of description, with pithy definitions.
Maanam is the Sanskrit word for measure
and Vimanam means well measured, is the sthapathi’s jargon for the roof of the
temple. Atimaanam ( immaculately measured ) so impressed Rajaraja-I, who describes this temple as "Kanchipurattu Periya Thiru Karrali".
The
entire temple complex which includes the sculptures is made of sandstone with
a small amount of granite stone used for the mini shrines plinth floor above
the adhisthana. There are many Somaskandar Sculptures with small variations like Shiva with 2 and 4 hands, Uma devi’s sitting postures with
Kandan and without Kandan, with and without Vishnu and Brahma on the back side,
with and without whisk bearers ( Samaratharis), etc,. Various forms of Lord
Shiva’s sculptures like, Anughraha murthy, Samhara murthy, Thandava murthy, Bhikshatana murthy, Harihara,
Arthanari, Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy are in this temple. The pillars are of
Yazhi, Simha, Nagarajar, Soldiers riding on Yazhi, etc.
“Mahendrameechura kiruham- மஹேந்திரமீச்சுர க்ருஹம்”, a Shiva temple after the east entrance was built by Rajasimhas’s son Mahendravarman-III. The temple was built with a narrow front courtyard, past the maha mandapa. This temple also has the Somaskanda panel on the back side wall of the sanctum. Alexander Rea believes that this may be constructed within a few years after the main temple. The inscriptions on the adhisthana, patti, and on the side of the steps record the name of this Temple and the details of this temple. The adhisthana is of simple padabhanda adhisthana. Bhuta Ganas are in the jagathi. The Somaskandar ( west ), Dakshinamurthy ( south ), and Gaja Samhara Moorthy ( As per Alexander Rea Gaja Samhara Moorthy had 8 hands on the north ) are around the wall of this temple as Deva Koshtas.
Mini Shrines in the prakara.... Starting from South
side mini sannidhis are for Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Umadevi, Kotravai, Uma with Shiva, Gajendra Moksha, Vishnu on Garuda, Narasimha with Hiranyaksha ( fighting
each other with flying yagnopaveetha ), Narasimhar coming out of Pillar, The
story of Jalandhara birth ( Lord Shiva as Bhutagana, the action of Indra
tries to enter Kailash, which was
obstructed by Agni and Brahma, Jalandhara born from the third eye of Lord
Shiva), Lord Vishnu’s Thiruvikrama avathara, Vishnu supporting the manthara
hill to churn the milk ocean in which Dhanvantari is coming out with a pot of
amritha, Sirasiseda murthy ( the story of Brahma’s 5th head /
chopping samhara ), Kiratha Arjuna murthy ( The fight between Arjuna and Lord
Shiva for the killing of Mookasuran in the form of pig ), Jalandhara samhara
moorthy, Lord Shiva with various weapons and Vishnu in anjali hastam, Jyeshta
Devi, Brahma with his consorts, Mahishasuramardini with 8 hands in sitting
posture keeping leg on Mahishasuran, Tripurantagar ( as per the inscription
this Shrine was built during Kulothunga period and called as Kulothunga Chozheeswaram ), Sapta
matrikas, Yoga Dakshinamurthy,
Kala samhara moorthy, Bhairavi with 8 hands, Agasthiyar with his 12
disciples, Gangadhara murthy ( Lord
Shiva controls the flow of Ganga for
Bhagiratha penance to dissolve his ancestor’s asthi ), Urthuva thandava murthy and Somaskandar with Vishnu and Brahma. After this, there was an entrance on the
west side which was closed now.
The mini shrines further from the west entrance, of Lord Shiva with Uma on the
right side, Somaskandar, Paintings of Lord Shiva with Uma, Chandesa Anugraha Murthy, Dakshinamurthy, Ekadasa Rudras, Sarasvati, Vishnu with his consorts, Gajalakshmi,
Ravana Anugraha murti, Uma playing Vina, Santhiya Thandava murthy, Indra
Anugraha Murthy, Vishnu worships Lord Shiva with his eye, Kalyana Sundara
Murthy, Uma Maheswarar, Urthuvajanu Thandava murthy, Manmatha Anugraha Murthy,
Vinadhara Dakshinamurti, Gangadhara Murthy, Bhairava murthy, Bhikshatana murthy,
Vali with Ravana and, Chandikeshwara with Pallava period inscription reads as “Athyanthakaamah Avawalantha”, a shrine for Brahma, Vishnu with his consort on the left side, Vinayagar with 4 hands, Arthanareeswarar
as Risharooda (As per Alexander Rea this was originally at Mahendravarmiecharam
Temple – holds Soolam and Naga) and Gajalakshmi.
Rajasimeshvaram....
The Central shrine Raja Simeshvaram, consists of Two
mandapas and Sanctum Sanctorum with Vimana. The Centre mandapa was built during the Nayaka period interconnecting the Maha mandapam and Sanctum sanctorum. The
maha mandapa originally had an entrance on all four sides. The sanctum
sanctorum is on a simple pada bhanda adhisthana. Bhuta ganas with different
postures are on the jagathi. Dwarapalakas is near the east side entrance of the Sanctum. At the east side entrance, on the south Sarasvati and Jyeshta on the north. In Sanctum Moolavar
is of 16 flat surfaced Dhara Linga also called Shodasa Lingam and height is about 8 feet. Somaskandar is
on the back side wall of the sanctum sanctorum. Only one Dwarapalaka is at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The Vimana is of ( apasa style) 3 tiers with, Karnakood, sala
etc and a kalasa on the top. In the first hara three salas. On the second tier, two salas are in between pPncharas. One Sala is on the third tier. As per the
inscription the vimana was called “Adhimaanam Adhiarputham- with correct
measurements, looks grand and beautiful.
The Anga Aalayas –
mini shrines, There are 9 mini shrines
as Deva Koshtas. While the three shrines on the back face west, the rest 6
shrines are facing east. There are sculptures in between the shrines. The mini
shrines are for 1. Santhiya Tandava Murthy measures around 8 feet, with Brahma, Vishnu, and Devi watching
the tandava. 2. While Devi is standing, Shiva is in a sitting posture. On the base is the Gajaseersham
( elephant’s head ). 3. Shiva is with 6 hands and Devi is sitting near Shiva.
The murti is called Vishanhaaharanar. Gajalakshmi is on the right and an
unknown Devi. 4. While Shiva with 4 hands is in a sitting posture, Brahma and
Vishnu are standing on his back. Devi with Kandan is on the other side. At the
entrance, on one side Kinnaras and Dwarapalaka are on the other side. 5. Lord Shiva as yoga Dakshinamurthy with 4
hands (holding Acca mala and Jyothi) and Yoga patti. The Kallala tree is shown on
the back side with a snake, owl, etc. On
the other side Lord Shiva as Harihara holding conch and Mazhu.
6. Lord Shiva as
Lingothbavar standing in sama bhanga holding Mazhu, Soolam, Kamandala, and three
hood Snake. Surya and Chandra are also there. Brahma and Vishnu are on both sides.
7. Bhikshatana facing south with Rishi pathinis. Lord Shiva’s Sandhya Tandava
is on the top. 8. This shrine faces
west with Somaskandar on the top and Bhikshatana in the sanctum. Lord Shiva
Holds Soolam, Snake and bhiksha patra / kapala. Rishi Pathinis are on both
sides. 9. Lord Shiva’s Sandhya Tandava. In this Lord Shiva is with 10 hands, Bhuta ganas are playing the music
and Devi is watching the dance. On the left of the shrine is another form of
Lord Shiva’s dance and on the right is Vinayagar, Suryan, and Chandran. 10.
Ganga and Yamuna are at the entrance. This shrine is also supported by the Yazhi
pillars. Gangadhara is at the center with 8 hands. While Shiva controls the flow of Ganga, Ganga
is worshiping Lord Shiva. Brahma and Vishnu are on both sides of the
shrine.
11. This shrine contains the
Shiva’s Urdhva Tandava. Nandhi Deva and Bhuta Gana are dancing. Suryan, Chandran, Brahma, and Vishnu are also watching Lord Shiva’s Dance. 12. Tripurantaka is in this shrine. Lord Shiva
is on the Ratha with horses, and Devas are on both sides.. 13. This shrine contains
the Kala Samhara moorthy. Yama’s expressions are worth to see. 14. This shrine
features the sculpture of Tripura samhara. Right leg Kneeled down and resting
the left leg on the ground. Shiva is shown with 8 hands, holds a bow on the
left hand and there are no weapons on the other hand. Brahma and Bhuta Gana are
also shown below. On the right Bhairavi
and Bhairava are in walking posture. 15.
Jalandhara Samhara moorthy,. In this Chakra / Disc is shown on the shoulder of
Jalandharan. Brahma, Vishnu, Suryan, and Chandran are shown above.
16. Anantha
Sayana perumal is on the top. This is similar to the Mamallapuram
Mahishasuramardini mandapa panel. Bhudevi is at the feet of Vishnu. Madhu and
Kaidapan are also seen. In the Sanctum Lord Shiva is in a sitting posture Brahma and Vishnu are on his back. Devi and
Kandan are on the side. 17. Kotravai with 10 hands holds various weapons. An
Umbrella and Snake is shown above. She is standing keeping the right foot on
the ground and the left foot on the simha. On the right is the Jyeshta with Manthan Manthi and Kotravai on the left sitting in Sukhasana. A dwarapalaka is shown
near Jyeshta Devi. 18. Gangadhara is with Devi. Gaja Samhara Murti is shown
above. 19. This shrine features the Santhiya Tandava Murthy, in this Lord
Shiva is with his right hand raised up, folding the left leg like a kneeling
position. On the side, Bhuta Ganas is playing the music and Devi is watching
the Dance from the other side. The inscription regarding the construction of the
shrine is below the entrance. 20 & 21. These two shrines are now in
closed condition. Both features Urthuva Tandava Murthy and Vishnu, Brahma, and
Devi are watching the dance.
Paintings... Some of the mini shrines have chambers behind them has the panels of paintings of Somaskanda. In one Parvati looks clear and in another Vishnu standing behind Lord Shiva looks splendid. There are also outline sketches of a pair of Kinnaras and Somaskanda. These paintings are comparable to Ajanta and Sittannavasal, for their beauty and antiquity.
The temple is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. The stone and statues were damaged badly due to age and were reconstructed by ASI, spoiling the original beauty of the structure and sculpture.
INSCRIPTIONS
Rajasimha’s
period inscriptions mention his 244 titles and some of them are Atyantakamah,
Bhuvanabajanan, Narasimhan, Mehan, Nayana Manohara, Sarvathi pathran,
Mahamallan, RaNajayan, Parabaran, Paran found in this temple “Atyantakamah
Pallaveshvara Kirukam – அத்யந்தகாம பல்லவேஸ்வர க்ருஹம்”.
The
Twelve-stanza Sanskrit inscription in Pallava Grantha script is inscribed on
the granite slabs of adhisthana running around the temple. It records the chronological
history of Pallavas. The history goes like this... Rishi Angirasa born from Brahma’s
thought, begat Brihaspati, a minister to Indra. Shamyu is the son of Brihaspati. Shamyu begat Bharadvaja who begat Drona, who begat Ashwathama, whose son Pallava was
the first King of Pallava Dynasty. In this line came Ugradanda, who destroyed
the city of Ranarasika, whose son Atyatkaamah, also called Ranajaya, built this temple of Hara called Rajasimha Pallavesvaram. The inscriptions are inscribed in four scripts, Nagari, Grantham, a florid Grantham, and calligraphic
Nagari on most of the mini shrines of the Prahara. The words “Kailaasa Leelam
Apaharathi Gruhe” declares Rajasimha which captures of beauty of Kailash and resembles Hara’s captivating smile (
“Harasya hara haasa roopam”).
During Kulothunga
Chozha-I’s, period the lands and properties belonging to this temple were transferred to the Sri Anekadhankapadeswarar
temple. The Inscription of Vijayanagara King Kumara Kampanna period in this temple after 260 years, of the transfer records, the transferring back to
this temple. During this 260-year period, poojas and celebrations were not
conducted on a big scale, which can be seen from the old photo available at the British Museum ( 1900 CE ). The reason for this transfer is not known.
The
Vikramaditya of the Chalukya Dynasty, an enemy of the Pallava Dynasty, destroyed
Kanchipuram but, spared Kailasanatha Temple and gave donations to this temple. The
same is
inscribed in Kannada on the adhisthana of Pillard Mandapa.
Tamil
inscriptions of Veeranarayana Parantaka Chozha and Kumara Kampanna are found on the pillars. The roof of the
Nayak mandapam ( in front of the sanctum sanctorum ) is covered with slabs
bearing Rajaraja Chozha-I’s inscriptions.
LEGEND
When the
date was finalized for the consecration / Kumbhabhishekam, Rajasimha heard Lord
Shiva’s heavenly voice asking him to postpone the consecration date, as Lord Shiva
had to attend the temple built by Poosalar Nayanar in Thiruninravur, near
Kanchipuram of his kingdom. While Rajasimha’s inscription mentions hearing a
bodiless (shareeram vinaa), ie a celestial voice, no message nor Tiruninravur
or postponement is mentioned.
In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar mentions Poosalar like this...
காடவர்
கோமான் கச்சிக் கற்றளி எடுத்து முற்ற
மாடெலாம்
சிவனுக்கு ஆகப்பெருஞ்செல்வம் வகுத்தல் செய்வான்
நாடமால்
அறியாதாரைத் தாபிக்கும் அந்நாள் முன்னாள்
ஏடலர்
கொன்றை வேய்ந்தார் இரவிடைக் கனவில் எய்தி
There are very small entries and exit passages around Moolavar sanctum sanctorum, called Santharam. Going in and coming out through the passage signifies that people will get rid of the pain caused due to birth and death.
It is a
mystery that Sri Anekadhangavadeswarar Temple, one of the
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam praised by Sundarar, and
this Kailasanathar temple are close to each other, existed same period and
Rajasimhan & Sundarar also lived during the same period, Why Lord
Shiva of this temple was not praised by Sundarar in his Thevara hymns
is not known.
As per Kanchi Purana Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Buddha, and Naradha
worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
1043 புத்தனும்
நாரதனும் பூசைன புரிதல்
மன்னு நாரத முனிவனும் புத்தனும் மனங்கவன் றழிந்தேங்கி
என்ன காரிய மியற்றின மிமையவ ரியம்பிய மொழிகேட்டுப்
பன்ன ருஞ்சிவ பத்தரி லுயர்ந்தவர் பழமைற கைரகண்டோர்
அன்ன தானவர் தைமவறி தேமயல் பூட்டினம் அந்தோவே
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 08.30 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00
Hrs to 18.00 Hrs.
HOW TO
REACH.
This temple is at
Pillayarpalayam, about 200 meters from Sri Anekadhangavadeeswarar Temple, one
of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples.
The temple is about
2.0 KM from Kanchipuram Bus Stand, 4.0 Km from Kanchipuram Railway station,
37.5 KM from Arakkonam, and 70 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway
Station is Kanchipuram and Railway Junction is Arakkonam.
Reference: 1. An article on Kailasanatha Temple, Mr R Gopu. 2. Athyanthakaamanin Athimaanam .. a book on Kailasanatha Temple compiled by M Vimal Raj and S. Raghavendar.
Uma Maheswarar with old colour painting
Mahishasura Mardini
Tripurantaka
Narasimha & Hiranya vatham
Jalandhara Samhara
Uma Maheswarar
Dakshinamurthy
with Yogapatti
Thavvai or the
Jyeshta Devi
More photos
are posted on my Google+. CLICK HERE to view.
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
Hey there,
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check out out blogs
mata durga story and images
the plaster is awful - how sad.
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