Kanchipuram, a town located at about 70 kms from Chennai has the privilege of being a holy land with hundreds of temples speckled across the breadth and width of the town. There are several important temples there and Kailasanathar temple for Lord Shiva is one among the crown jewel of temples.
This is a magnificient 1300 years old temple with exquisite sandstone sculptures estimated to be constructed somewhere between 685 AD to 705 AD by the Pallava dynasty king Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II). The entire temple premise contains numbers numerous beautiful sculptures, it contains 58 small shrines for Lord Shiva built into the inner walls of outer circumambulatory passage.It is the first structural temple built in South India by Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), and who is also known as Rajasimha Pallaveswaram. His son, Mahendravarman III, completed the front façade and the gopuram (tower). The Kailasanathar temple became the trend setter for other similar temples in South India.According to local belief, the temple was a safe sanctuary for the rulers of the kingdom during wars. A secret tunnel, built by the kings, was used as an escape route and is still visible.
Currently this is well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), well manicured grass lands surround the temple and the entire temple compound is clean which greatly enhances the landscape of the temple, no doubt this is one of the popular tourist places in Kanchipuram.
The main shrine houses a giant splendid 16 sided Sivalingam typical to the Pallava signature of Sivalingams. An inner circumambulatory passage is located on the left of the main shrine with narrow entry and exit on the right side of main shrine. One has to enter the narrow entry by crouching, traverse the inner circumambulatory conduit by walking and again exit out on the right side by bending the body as if in a womb position. This is symbolical of the birth and death cycle every living being has to pass through in this world. The difficulty level imposed by this entry and exit implies that every birth and death in the world is a painful process and even in the life time between these extremes, it is always full of dualities - pleasure and pain in cycles, desires that could not be fulfilled, anger, jealousy and what not. In order to attain perpetual divine bliss, one must understand the transitory nature of life and things in the world and pray to the Lord Siva for redemption from this birth-death cycle.
This temple also has an interesting story, there was a great devotee of Lord Siva - Poosalar who lived in a place called Thirunindravur, near to Chennai. He wanted to build a temple for Lord Siva but he did not any wealth for constructing this temple. He tried on with multiple means to get help but could not get the required funds. His unrelenting devotion did not yield, he decided to construct a temple in his heart and stone by stone he was making progress of his virtual temple in his mind and heart. The temple was almost ready and he fixed up a day for consecration (kumbabhishekam). Fascinatingly, Kailasanathar temple construction was also in progress in parallel and the pallava King Rajasimha has fixed the same date for consecration of his temple. Lord Siva appeared in the dreams of King and told him that the date for consecration needs to be postponed as there is a consecration in another temple at Thirunindravur.
The King was wonder-struck as he was not aware of any other new temples being constructed, so he went there and inquired about the new temple being built. No one in the village was aware of such a new temple but they made a reference to Poosalar's quest for constructing a new temple. The King met Poosalar and asked him about the temple construction to which he politely explained about he was constructing the temple in his heart. The King understood the pure devotion of Poosalar which made Lord Siva Himself give priority for his temple rather than his magnificently built temple and promised him to build the temple that he envisaged in his vision. Accordingly, the king built a temple in Thiruninravur and is called Hrudayaaleeswarar Temple. Poosalar is one among the 63 nayanmars.
This is a magnificient 1300 years old temple with exquisite sandstone sculptures estimated to be constructed somewhere between 685 AD to 705 AD by the Pallava dynasty king Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II). The entire temple premise contains numbers numerous beautiful sculptures, it contains 58 small shrines for Lord Shiva built into the inner walls of outer circumambulatory passage.It is the first structural temple built in South India by Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), and who is also known as Rajasimha Pallaveswaram. His son, Mahendravarman III, completed the front façade and the gopuram (tower). The Kailasanathar temple became the trend setter for other similar temples in South India.According to local belief, the temple was a safe sanctuary for the rulers of the kingdom during wars. A secret tunnel, built by the kings, was used as an escape route and is still visible.
Currently this is well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), well manicured grass lands surround the temple and the entire temple compound is clean which greatly enhances the landscape of the temple, no doubt this is one of the popular tourist places in Kanchipuram.
The main shrine houses a giant splendid 16 sided Sivalingam typical to the Pallava signature of Sivalingams. An inner circumambulatory passage is located on the left of the main shrine with narrow entry and exit on the right side of main shrine. One has to enter the narrow entry by crouching, traverse the inner circumambulatory conduit by walking and again exit out on the right side by bending the body as if in a womb position. This is symbolical of the birth and death cycle every living being has to pass through in this world. The difficulty level imposed by this entry and exit implies that every birth and death in the world is a painful process and even in the life time between these extremes, it is always full of dualities - pleasure and pain in cycles, desires that could not be fulfilled, anger, jealousy and what not. In order to attain perpetual divine bliss, one must understand the transitory nature of life and things in the world and pray to the Lord Siva for redemption from this birth-death cycle.
This temple also has an interesting story, there was a great devotee of Lord Siva - Poosalar who lived in a place called Thirunindravur, near to Chennai. He wanted to build a temple for Lord Siva but he did not any wealth for constructing this temple. He tried on with multiple means to get help but could not get the required funds. His unrelenting devotion did not yield, he decided to construct a temple in his heart and stone by stone he was making progress of his virtual temple in his mind and heart. The temple was almost ready and he fixed up a day for consecration (kumbabhishekam). Fascinatingly, Kailasanathar temple construction was also in progress in parallel and the pallava King Rajasimha has fixed the same date for consecration of his temple. Lord Siva appeared in the dreams of King and told him that the date for consecration needs to be postponed as there is a consecration in another temple at Thirunindravur.
The King was wonder-struck as he was not aware of any other new temples being constructed, so he went there and inquired about the new temple being built. No one in the village was aware of such a new temple but they made a reference to Poosalar's quest for constructing a new temple. The King met Poosalar and asked him about the temple construction to which he politely explained about he was constructing the temple in his heart. The King understood the pure devotion of Poosalar which made Lord Siva Himself give priority for his temple rather than his magnificently built temple and promised him to build the temple that he envisaged in his vision. Accordingly, the king built a temple in Thiruninravur and is called Hrudayaaleeswarar Temple. Poosalar is one among the 63 nayanmars.
