VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Kailasanathar Temple / காஞ்சிபுரம் கைலாசநாத கோயில், Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday, 1 December 2017

Sri Kailasanathar Temple / காஞ்சிபுரம் கைலாசநாத கோயில், Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

21^st 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 21^st 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, is already posted 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 the 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 its history is not unknown. Moolavar is of a 16 flat-faced/sided Dhara linga. The Pallavas' Iconic sculpture of Somaskanda is on the back side wall of the sanctum Sanctorum. A Shantharam, with a narrow entrance and exit, circumambulatory corridor 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.

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; it 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 Grham- மஹேந்திரமீச்சுர க்ருஹம்”, a Shiva temple after the east entrance was built by Rajasimha’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 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 a 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 prahara.... 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 5^th 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 the sanctum sanctorum with a vimana. The centre mandapa was built during the Nayaka period, interconnecting the Maha mandapam and the 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 Saraswati and Jyeshta on the north. In Sanctum, Moolavar is of 16 flat surfaced Dhara Linga (Shodasa Lingam), also called Shodasa Lingam, and its height is about 8 feet. Somaskandar is on the back 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 between Pancharas. 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 a conch and Mazhu.

6. Lord Shiva as Lingothbavar standing in sama bhanga holding Mazhu, Soolam, Kamandala, and a hooded 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 at the top.

8. This shrine faces west with Somaskandar on the top and Bhikshatana in the sanctum. Lord Shiva holds trishul, snake, and bicksha patra / kapala. Rishi patinis 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 are 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 centre with 8 hands. While Shiva controls the flow of the Ganga, the Ganga worships Lord Shiva. Brahma and Vishnu are on both sides of the shrine.

11. This shrine contains 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 the Devas are on both sides.

13. This shrine contains the Kala Samhara moorthy. Yama’s expressions are worth seeing.

14. This shrine features the sculpture of Tripura Samhara. The right leg knelt down and rested the left leg on the ground. Shiva is shown with 8 hands, holding a bow in his left hand, and there are no weapons in his 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 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 which Lord Shiva is with his right hand raised up, folding the left leg in 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 closed. Both features, Urthuva Tandava Murthy and Vishnu, Brahma, and Devi are watching the dance.

Paintings... Some of the mini shrines have chambers behind them that have 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.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
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 the 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 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 marvellous 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 the conjecture that the Rangapataka inscriptions may be attributed to a different person, perhaps Parameshvarma’s queen.

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 the 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 the 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” declare Rajasimha, which captures the beauty of Kailash and resembles Hara’s captivating smile (“Harasya hara haasa roopam”).

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman II’s Pallava Grantha inscription, around the outside of the central shrine in the Kailāsanātha temple, is in the form of a poem. The first three verses trace the mythical pedigree of the Pallava from Brahman, through Angiras, Bṛhaspati, Śamyu, Bhāradvāja, Droņa, and Aśvattā-man. In this Pallava family, Ugradanda, the destroyer of the city of Raņaraśika, and to him was born Rājasimha.

Rājasimha built a Śiva temple, naming it Rajasimha-Pallaveśvara after him. He bore the birudas Atyantakāma, Śrıbhara, Ranajaya, Citrakārmuka, Ekavira and Śivacūdāmani. He also boasted of having heard of a heavenly voice in this Kali age, which only the kings of the Krta age, like Dushyanta, were fortunate enough to do.

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman II’s period Pallava Grantha inscription on the front wall of the first niche to the right of the entrance of the Shrine Mahendravarmesvara in the Kailasanathar temple, records the name of the (shrine) as Sri Nityavimteśvara-grham.

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman II’s period Pallava Grantha inscription on the third niche to the right of the front entrance in the Kailasanātha temple states that Rangapataka, the wife of Kālakāla alias Narasimhavişņu, whose banner was the vrsa (bull), built the temple for Śiva. The queen claims her superiority over Parvati, the wife of Śiva, whose sign is also the bull, and over Puşkaradevatā (Laksmi), the wife of Narasimhavişnu (her husband's namesake). The whole inscription is in double entendre.

The Pallava King Narasimhavarman II’s period, Pallava Grantha inscription, on the fifth niche to the right of the entrance in the Kailāsanātha temple, refers to a lady¹ (name lost) who is acclaimed for beauty, grace, etc.

NOTE:

Probably, she was the builder of the niche that contains the record. Though the name of the lady is not mentioned in the record, in all probability, she may be the same as Rangapatāka, whose beauty is well complemented in another record from the same temple.

The Pallava King Mahendravarman III’s period Pallava Grantha around the outside of the shrine of Mahendravarmeśvara (Naradeśvara) in front of the central shrine in the Kailasanātha temple, records that Mahendravarman, the son of Rajasimha and grandson of Lōkāditya, built a temple for Siva near the temple of Rājasimheśvara and named it after him as 'Mahendravarmeśvara grham. Lōkāditya is said to have destroyed the army of Ranarasika.

The Pallava king Mahendravarman III’s period Pallava Grantha inscription on a slab fixed in the northern end of the Okkapirandankula Street, mentions that (this is the temple called) 'Sri Mahendravarmeśvara-grham.'

Note:

The present inscription is engraved on the lateral face of a stray granite slab from the appearance of which it seems to have formed the lintel of a structural temple, probably of brick. A similar label inscription is also found in the Kailāsanātha temple.

The king may be identified with Mahendravarman II or III, preferably the latter.

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman II’s period Pallava Grantha inscription on the front wall of the first niche to the right of the entrance of the shrine of Mahendravarmeśvara in the Kailāsanātha temple, records the name of the (shrine) as Śri-Nityavimteśvara-grham.

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, according to the transfer records, was transferred back to this temple. During these 260 years, poojas and celebrations were not conducted on a large 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.

Two more long inscriptions are written at the end of this article...

References:
1. ARE, 1888, 1932-3,
2. SII, i, SII, xii,
3. 'New Light on Mamallapuram,
4. TASSI, 1962, 40, 41 - 2.

5. An article on Kailasanatha Temple, Mr R Gopu.

6. Athyanthakaamanin Athimaanam, a book on Kailasanatha Temple compiled by M Vimal Raj and S. Raghavendar.

7. The inscriptions of Pallavas by T V Mahalingam.

LEGEND

When the date was finalised 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 in his kingdom. While Rajasimha’s inscription mentions hearing a bodiless (shareeram vinaa), i.e., 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 the Moolavar sanctum sanctorum, called Santharam. Going in and coming out through the passage signifies that people will get rid of the pain caused by 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 in the 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 the Kanchi Purana Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Buddha, and Narada worshipped 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 from 08.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 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.

The nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram, and the Railway Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Uma Maheswarar with an old colour painting

Mahishasura Mardini

Tripurantaka

Narasimha & Hiranya vatham

Indra Anugraha Murthy

Jalandhara Samhara

Uma Maheswarar

Dakshinamurthy with Yogapatti

Thavvai or the Jyeshta Devi

More photos are posted on my Google+. CLICK HERE to view.

Pallava period inscriptions continue….

The Pallava King Narasimhavarman II’s Pallava Grantha inscription around the inside of the enclosure of the Rājasimheśvara (Kailāsanātha) temple. (first, second, and third tiers).

The record enumerates about two hundred and fifty epithets of the king, revealing the varied accomplishments, tastes, talents, and various characteristics of his personality. The epithets mentioned are:

A. Right Side of the East enclosure

...(1st niche)

Śrī Rajasimha, Śrī Atyantakama, Śrī Ranajaya, and Śrī Abhirama

...(2nd niche)

Śrī Aparajita, Sri Amitramalla, Śri Akutobhya, and Śri Urjjita

...(3rd niche)

Śri Jyapara, Śrī Atiranacanda, Śrībhara, Śrī Bahunaya, and Śri Udayabhaskara.

B. South Enclosure

...(4th niche)

Śrimegha, Śrī Abhayankura, Śrī Kulatilaka, and Śrī Arimarddana.

...(5th niche)

Śrī Uditamabhava, Śrī Uditakirtti, Śrı Rsabhadarppa, and Śrı Risabhalanchana.

...(6th niche)

Śri Ugraviryya, Śri Uditodita, Śrī Unnatarama, and Śri Ugrapratapa

...(7th niche)

Śrı Atyudara, Sri Anunayasaddhya, and Śrī Ahavakesari

...(8th niche)

Śrī Kalankavarjjita, Śrī Kancimahamani, Śrī Kharavikrama, and Śrī Cakravarti.

…(9th niche)

Śrī Khinnanukampi, Śrı Capadvitiya, Śrī Chinnasamsaya, and Śri Chalarahita.

…(10th niche)

Śrī Amitrasani, Śrī Apratimalla, Śri Adbhutacarita, and Śrī Ibhavidhyadhara

…(11th niche)

Śrī Icchapura, Śrī Isanasarana, Śrı Udayacandra, and Śrı Parjjanyarupa

...(12th niche)

Śrı Paracakramarddhana, Sri Narendraculamani, Śrı Nityavarsa, and Sri Rajaraja.

…(13th niche)

Śri Vadhyavidhyadhara, Śri Citrakarmmuka, Śri Virakesari, and Śri Kamuka.

...(14th niche)

Śrī Sarvvatobhadra, Śrī Kşatracūlamani, Śrı Vilasa, and Śri Yuddharjjuna

...(15th niche)

Śrī Vallabha, Śri Sangramarama, Śrī Sarvvabhauma, Śrı Kṣatravidravana.

…(16th niche)

Śrı Ahavabhima, Śrī Amitaprabhava, Śrı Trailokyanatha, and Śrī Danavarsa.

..(17th niche)

Śrī Tusnapurana, Śrī Daridranukampi, Śrī Aviratadana, and Śrī Diptapaurusa.

...(18th niche)

Śrī Danusura, Sri Dharmmanitya, Śrī Dhavalasaya, and Śrī Dharmmakavaca

...(19th niche)

Śrī Samaradhananjaya, Śrī Bhisanacapa, Śrī Ajayya, Śrī Gunavinita, Śrı Avanidivakara, Śrī Kalankarahita, Śrī Kalasamudra, Śrī Ahavadhira, Śrī Dusthadamana, and Śri Pallavaditya

...(20th niche)

Śrī Parapara, Śrī Parahita, Śrī Nityatsaha, and Śrı Purusasima.

..(21st niche)

Śrı Punyasloka, Śrı Patthavikrama, Śrı Bhimakanta, and Śrı Bahudaksina.

...(22nd niche)

Śrī Bhayarahita, Śrī Mahamalla, Śrī Mattapramatta, and Śrī Mattavikara

...(23rd niche)

Śrī Bhuvanibhajana, Śrī Mahendraparakrama, Sri Mahaprabhava, and Śrı Manucarita.

C. West Enclosure

...(24th niche)

Śrı Mayacara, Śrı Pativallabha, Śri Caranavira, and Śri Yugantaditya

...(25th niche)

Śrī Ranadhira, Śrī Raksamani, Śri Ranacanda, and Śrī Ranavikrama

...(26th niche)

Śrī Atulabala, Śrī Ahitantaka, Śrī Aparavikrama, and Śrī Asvapriya

...(27th niche)

Sri Apratima, Śrı Akhandasasana, Śrı Akandasani, and Śrī Amoghavikrama

…(28th niche)

Śrı Anatamandala, Śrī Apratihata, Śri Adhhutasakti, Śri Ajnarasa, and Śrı Ascaryyaviryya

...(29th niche)

Śrī Apatadurddhara, Śrī Asabiyi, Śrı Ahavoddhura, and Śrī Ibhavatsaraja
...(30th niche)
Śrī Iddhasasana, Śrī Ilaparamesvara, Śrı Ugradanda, and Śri Unnatamana
...(31st niche)
Śri Ucchitaviryya, Śrī Udayatunga, Śri Uttarottara, and Śrī Ugrasasana
...(32nd niche)
Śrī Gunalaya, Śrı Udayavasanta, Śri Ekasundara, and Śrī Mahanubhava

D. North Enclosure
...(33rd niche)
Śrī Upendravikrama, Śrī Asapara, Śrī Kuladhvaja, and Śrī Gunonnata.
...(34th niche)
Śri Unnateccha, Śrı Utkhatakhandaka, and Śrī Ekadhanurddhara, and Śri Udarakirtti.
...(35th niche)
Śrī Acarapara, Śri Arttayana, Śrī Asritavatsala, and Śrī Itisatana.
...(36th niche)
Śri Atoddhatumburu, Śrī Agamapramana, Śrī Ajnalankata, and Śrī Itihasapriya
...(37th niche)
Śrī Atisahasa, Śrī Anavagraha, Śrī Agamanusari, Śrī Utthanasila, Śrī Udayonnata, Śrī Udvrttadamana, Śrī Ekaraja, Śrī Kalavikrama, Śrī Jayanidhi, Śrī Kalavasana, and Śrī Garvvitadamana.
...(38th niche)
Śri Jatigambhira, Śri Caracaksu, Śri Jnanankusa, and Śri Taptasarona.
…(39th niche)
Śrī Damittavyala, Śrı Danavarsa, Sri Devadevabhakta, and Śrı Durvvakhega
...(40th niche)
Śrı Caruvilasa, Śrı Tungavikrama, Śrı Tivrakopa, and Śrı Dharmmavijayi
…(41st niche)
Śrī Devagni, Śrı Desavarddhana, Śrī Duradurita, and Śrī Dharmmasetu
...(42nd niche)
Śrı Duradasi, Śrī Drptasasana, Śrī Nayanusari and Śrı Nayanamanohara
...(43rd niche)
Srī Aninoyacarita, Śrī Ugadhagambhiryya, Śrī Anabhravrsti, and Śrī Atanupratapa
...(44th niche)
Śrı Adharmmabhiru, Śrı Arinasa, Śrı Avanibhajana, and Śrī Aprativaryya
…(45th niche)
Śrī Avandhyakopa, Śrı Amitrantaka, Śrı Avihatasakti, and Śrı Anavagita
…(46th niche)
Śrı Aratikala, Śrı Anavagrah, Śri Atisahasa, and Śri Anugrsila
...(47th niche)
Śri Abhayarasi, Śri Ahatalaksana, Śri Utsahanitya, Śri Upayanipuna.
...(48th niche)
Śrī Gandhahasti, Śrı Kamavilasa, Śrı Kaviprabodha, and Śri Karnakopa
...(49th niche)
Śrī Candadanda, Śrı Asahyakopa, Śri Chayavrksa, and Śrī Dharanitilaka.
...(50th niche)
Śrı Varunapasa, Śrī Dhairayasagara, Śri Pravrttacakra, and Śrī Nagapriya
...(51st niche)
Śri Niramitra, Śrı Niraggala, Śrı Parantapa, and Śrī Lokasikamani
...(52nd niche)
Śrī Partthivasi, Śrı Balaprama, Śri Bhuridana, and Śrī Pratibhaya

E. Left Side of East Enclosure
...(53rd niche)
Śrī Bhimavikrama, Śrı Rajakunjara, Śrı Lalitavilasa, and Śrı Sastradhrsti
...(54th niche)
Śrī Varanabhagadatta, Śrı Vikrsavilasa, Śrı Vikramakesari, and Śri Vinanarada
...(55th niche)
Śrī Sankarabhakta, Śrı Suragraganya, Śri Tatvavedi, and Śrı Isvarabhakta

The Pallava king Narasimhavarman II’s period Pallava Grantha inscription around the inside of the enclosure of the Rajasimheśvara temple (Kailasanathar Temple) (fourth tier), gives the following epithets of the king:

2nd niche, Śrī Atyantakāma; Śrı Amitramalla
3rd niche, Śri Guņavinīta; Śrī Aparājita
4th niche, Sri Avanidivākara; Śrī Urjjita
5th niche, Śri Uditaprabhāva; Śrı Uditakırtti
6th niche, Śrı Kalankarahita; Sri Kalāsamudra
7th niche, Śri Ugravīryya; Śrī Uditōdita
8th niche, Śrī Atyudāra; Śrī Anunayasāddhya
9th niche, Śri Unnatarāma; Sri Ugrapratāpa
10th niche, Sri Ahavadhira; Srı Āhavakesari
11th niche, Sri...; Śrī Kālakōpa
12th niche, Śri Kharavikrama; Śrı Khinnānukampi
13th niche, Śri Cakravartti Śrı Cāpadvitīya
14th niche, Śrı Amoghabāņa; Śrī Asahyamārggaņa
15th niche, Śrı Ugrasāyaka; Śrı Uddhataviśikha
16th niche, Sri Bhımakāmmuka; Śrī Bhışaņacāpa
17th niche, Śrı Avismita; Śrī Amitrāśani
18th niche, Śrı Işțavarşa; Śrī Indralila
19th niche, Śrī Amitramarddana; Śrī Ajimarddana
20th niche, Sri Duştadamana; Śrī Durutsaha.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---