![KAILASNATHAR TEMPLE [KANCHIPURAM]
Kailasanathar Temple(meaning:"Lord of the Cosmic
Mountain") , Kanchipuram is one of the cultural assets of
India. It’s located in Pillayarpalayam, two kilometers away
from Kanchipuram City, Tamil Nadu.
The temple is built by Rajasimha Pallava. His son,
Mahendravarman III completed the construction later. It is
the architectural icon of the Pallava dynasty.
The temple is built in the tradition of Smartha worship of
Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, Surya, Ganesha, Kartikeya, which
has replaced Buddhism.
The Kailasanathar temple draws some influence from other styles developed by Chola
Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors, and also Pallava architecture in its original style.
The entire temple is made of stone, but it is not like the rock-cut architecture built into
hallowed caves or carved into rock outcrops like Mahabalipuram.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/nfa71mndrtg92pu9v3h2-signature-4d697fe05ef3cafb109da56d1330aee40ef7b6bb3749586ff4ef8258d15c469d-poli-210510083320/85/Pallava-temple-architecture-5-320.jpg)
![• The majestic Shore Temple (known locally as Alaivay-k-kovil)
sits beside the sea in the small town of Mamallapuram in the
state of Tamil Nadu in India.
• This complex of three separate shrines was constructed under
the patronage of the Pallava king Nrasimhavarman II Rajasimha,
who ascended the throne in 700 C.E. and ruled for about twenty
years.
• The Shore Temple is both a rock cut and a free-standing
structural temple. The entire temple stands on a naturally
occurring granite boulder.
• The foundation of the temple is laid on granite stones while the
superstructure is carved out of sandstone. The pradakshinam
path around the sanctum is made in such a manner that it
requires visitors to climb up and down a flight of seven stairs and
to crawl through narrow ways.
SHORE TEMPLE[MAHABALIPURAM]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/nfa71mndrtg92pu9v3h2-signature-4d697fe05ef3cafb109da56d1330aee40ef7b6bb3749586ff4ef8258d15c469d-poli-210510083320/85/Pallava-temple-architecture-12-320.jpg)
Pallava temple architecture
- 1. PALLAVA TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE 01 VASAVI 04 BHAVANA 07 MEGHANA 10 SRIJA 15 JAYESH 16 ALANKRITHA 29 POOJA 40 SUREANDRA
- 2. PALLAVA ARCHITECTURE The Pallava dynasty existed between the 3rd and 9th centuries CE, ruling a portion today Andhra Pradesh (early Pallavas) and Tamil Nadu (later Pallavas). Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas from 4th to 9th century. The Pallava architecture shows the transition from the rock cut temples to the stone built temples. The lasting monolithic temples known as rathas and mandapas provide superb skill of sculptors of Pallava period. The monolithic temples (Eg: Five rathas) gave way to structural temples like the Shore temple in Mahabaliram. Pallava Pillar Mandagappattu, 7th century
- 3. Pallava period is an age when architecture showed grandeur and beauty. The period is also known as the age of “poetry in stone”. The magnificent temple of Kailashnath, which is carved out in stone, bears the testimony of the period. The monolithic seven Pagodas or rathas named after Pandavas are architectural wonders, though sea-erosion has taken its toll.
- 5. KAILASNATHAR TEMPLE [KANCHIPURAM] Kailasanathar Temple(meaning:"Lord of the Cosmic Mountain") , Kanchipuram is one of the cultural assets of India. It’s located in Pillayarpalayam, two kilometers away from Kanchipuram City, Tamil Nadu. The temple is built by Rajasimha Pallava. His son, Mahendravarman III completed the construction later. It is the architectural icon of the Pallava dynasty. The temple is built in the tradition of Smartha worship of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, Surya, Ganesha, Kartikeya, which has replaced Buddhism. The Kailasanathar temple draws some influence from other styles developed by Chola Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors, and also Pallava architecture in its original style. The entire temple is made of stone, but it is not like the rock-cut architecture built into hallowed caves or carved into rock outcrops like Mahabalipuram.
- 6. The temple has garbagriha , antarala, mandapa, high compound wall, entrance gate, gopuram, making it complete in all aspects. The mandapa was made by interposing ardhamantapa. Mythical lion mounts surround the pillars, which adds to the Pallava style. The layout of Kailasanthar temple is simple with a tower at the centre and with the vimana above the main shrine, square in plan and rising up in a pyramidal shape. At the top is a small roof in the shape of a dome. The gopuram walls at the entrance are plastered, with eight small shrines and a gopura. The adrhamantapa joins the mandapa and sanctuary, acting as an intermediate hall. The temple within walls, is, however, rectangular.
- 7. The main door through the Gopuram asymmetrically stands between these cave shrines, 2 on one side and six on other. The round pillars with bottom carved in the shape of mythical animal lions are the signature stamp of Pallava dynasty. The walls facing the meditation caves are sculpted and painted with mostly Shiva-Parvati sculptures with occasional Ganesha sculpture Meditation Caves or Shrines The main entrance to Kailasanathar Temple
- 8. SANCTUM Inside the sanctum, the temple is rather simpler. There is a 16-faced Shivalinga in black granite. Behind the Shivalinga is an image of Somaskanda that is Shiva, Uma with Skanda or Kartik. A pillared mandapa stands in front of the main temple MAIN TEMPLE PYRAMIDAL SHIKARA This temple has a pyramidal Shikhara, with sculpted figures on each later. It looks like the stone plates are delicately balanced on each other while holding the stories they must tell. On the top is a spherical dome-like finish, and Nandis sit in all four directions on the layer just below the top. PILLARED MANDAPA NANDI MANDAP: The main Nandi Mandap is about 100 meters away across the sprawling lawns from the temple. The Nandi is mid-sized and facing the sanctum,
- 9. 8 Shrines or meditation caves in front of the Kailasnathar Temple A tank is located diagonally across the temple at the other end of the lawns.
- 10. Outer walls of the kailasanathar temple Landscape view of Kailasanathar Shiva Temple, Kanchipuram
- 12. • The majestic Shore Temple (known locally as Alaivay-k-kovil) sits beside the sea in the small town of Mamallapuram in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. • This complex of three separate shrines was constructed under the patronage of the Pallava king Nrasimhavarman II Rajasimha, who ascended the throne in 700 C.E. and ruled for about twenty years. • The Shore Temple is both a rock cut and a free-standing structural temple. The entire temple stands on a naturally occurring granite boulder. • The foundation of the temple is laid on granite stones while the superstructure is carved out of sandstone. The pradakshinam path around the sanctum is made in such a manner that it requires visitors to climb up and down a flight of seven stairs and to crawl through narrow ways. SHORE TEMPLE[MAHABALIPURAM]
- 13. The complex consists of three separate shrines: two dedicated to the god Shiva, and one to Vishnu. Shore Temple is in fact a temple complex comprising of multiple temples. This complex is dominated by two rising towers, corresponding to two different temples, dedicated to Shiva. These two temples are set up back to back, one facing east and the other facing west. In between these two temples,sandwiched, is a temple dedicated to the sleeping form of Vishnu This temple is inside an enclosure (prakara) wall which surrounds it through north, east and south, leaving it open on the west. The open west side allows entrance to the Vishnu shrine. The temple is built on a square plan and has a four-story tower.
- 14. The tower of the temple is lean and elongated, achieved by avoiding the regular row of mini shrines one few stories. This mini shrine arrangement is missing on the first and the fourth story. Instead of it, the first story has sejant lions at the corners while the fourth story has dwarf human (bhuta) figures at the corners. East side view West side view
- 15. The outer-walls of the mandapa also has sculptures, northern side is better preserved. On the north wall, there is an image of Shiva as Tripurantaka and Durga as Mahishasuramardini. The garbhagrha (sanctum) is guarded by dvarpalas. A Somaskanda panel is carved out in its back wall. A tall, sixteen-faceted linga, broken at the top, is installed in front of this panel. There is a socket for linga in front of the panel, however lings is missing at present. There are two mandapas in front, one small and other large, superstructure of both have not survived. The temple facing the west has shorter tower, consisting of three stories. It is referred as Rajasimha-Pallava-Ishvara-griham in inscriptions. However, it also follows the patter of the taller tower, thus achieves similar slenderness and elevation.