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

Friday, December 1, 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 18^th 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 the 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.

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 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.

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 kiruham- 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 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 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 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 Saraswati and Jyeshta on the north. In Sanctum, Moolavar is of 16 flat surfaced Dhara Linga, 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 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 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 is worshipping 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.

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 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 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, according to the transfer records, the 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.

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), 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 the 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 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

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.