Away from the hustle bustle of the city, amidst the rustic backdrop of the suburbs, lies the Kailasanathar Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple was built by the Rajasimha Pallava, an eminent ruler of the Pallava Dynasty. The location of the Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram is about half a kilometer away in the western direction from the centre of the town. The architecture of this temple in unique and one of its kind.
The distinctive features of the Kailasanathar Temple, though in ruins now, still clearly indicate how beautiful the temple must have been when it was built. Built of limestone, there are a number of amazing paintings and great sculptures that adorn the temple. During the Maha Shivaratri, there are thousands of people and worshippers who flock to this temple in the evening to offer their prayers on this auspicious occasion. The temple, a symbol of grandeur and glory of the Pallavas is now almost in ruins. It is a protected monument.
History of Kailasanathar Temple :
Though the construction of the Kailasanathar Temple was started by Rajasimha Pallava, it was his son Mahendra Varma Pallava who completed the construction. Local people believed that the temple Kailasanathar served the purpose of a shelter for the king during the time of the battles. The origin or the legend behind building this temple is lost in the distant past.
Description of Kailasanathar Temple :
Around the main shrine of the Kailasanathar, there are about 58 small shrines. The inner walls of the temple are decorated with beautiful fresco paintings. The panel of the Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram is adorned with pictures that depict the dance competitions of Shiva and Parvati. The alcoves of the temple still have fragments of the murals from eight century. Beautiful specimens of Pallava art are exhibited in the temple.
