Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram

The temple was built by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II, better known as Rajasimha. The district website places it in the 7th century, Incredible India gives about 700 CE, and the 2021 IANS report says experts date its construction to between 685 and 705 CE.

Rajasimha's son, Mahendravarman III, added to the complex. World History Encyclopedia describes a separate shrine he built in front of the main temple, and Wikipedia says he completed the front façade and the entrance tower. Small shrines near the entrance were dedicated by members of the royal family; one is attributed to Queen Rangapataka. World History Encyclopedia adds that inscriptions of the Chola emperor Rajaraja I are also found here, which suggests he probably visited.

In 2021 the ASI said it planned to consult experts from IIT Madras on preserving the temple, the IANS report states. An ASI survey had found that the murals were fading and that chemical treatment had not stopped the decay. That treatment had covered the sanctum and some outer-wall sculptures, several of which were described as damaged beyond recognition.

Architecture and sacred features

According to the district website, the foundation is laid in granite while the superstructure is carved from sandstone. The sanctum sits beneath a tiered vimana (tower) that the district site singles out as the temple's best-known feature. Halls in front of the sanctum rest on carved pillars. Wikipedia describes the vimana as four-storeyed and pyramidal, with smaller shrines to forms of Shiva around the sanctum.

The inner face of the rectangular enclosure wall holds 58 small shrines, set into niches along the walkway around the temple, each dedicated to a form of Shiva. Carved panels across the complex show scenes from Shaiva mythology, along with some goddesses and Vedic deities. World History Encyclopedia counts 23 benign (anugraha) and 17 fierce (samhara) forms of the gods. The inner walls of the courtyard cells keep traces of painted murals, which Incredible India compares in style to the Ajanta caves and to the Vaikunthaperumal temple in Kanchipuram.