Kailasanatha Temple
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The Kailasanatha Temple or Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple in the southern Indian temple city of Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu is - next to the coastal temple of Mamallapuram - one of the oldest (preserved) free-standing Hindu temples in southern India. The name means "Lord of Kailash " and is an epithet of the Hindu god Shiva .
location
The Kailasanatha Temple is located about 1.5 km northwest of the city center of Kanchipuram at an altitude of 87 m above sea level. d. M.
history
On the basis of the inscriptions that have been preserved, the Pallava king Narasimha Varman II (also called Rajasimha ; ruled 685–705) is considered to have commissioned the massive construction project. The temple was probably only completed under his son and successor Paramesvara Varman II (r. 705-710). It is also unclear whether and to what extent the rulers of the subsequent Chola (approx. 850–1200) and Vijayanagar (approx. 1350–1565) residing rulers in Thanjavur or in Hampi made structural changes. In any case, a visit by the Chola ruler Rajaraja I (r. 985-1014), who took the building as a model for the Brihadishvara Temple in Thanjavur, is documented. The temple no longer serves cultic purposes, but is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India .
architecture
Originally the temple or temple area consisted of three larger components - an all-enclosing outer wall with a gate ( gopuram ) and numerous small shrines, a separately standing flat-roofed vestibule ( mandapa ) and a tower-crowned cella ( garbhagriha ) on a square floor plan. At an as yet undetermined time, the vestibule was connected to the cella via an unadorned intermediate piece.
Temple precinct
The approx. 60 m long and approx. 28 m wide temple area, which is only slightly elevated compared to the surrounding ground level, is surrounded by an outer wall with rearing horned lion monsters ( yalis ), the front facade of which is much more representative than the rest of the area. Along the entire inner wall there are a total of 64 shrines with scenes from Shivaitic and Vishnuitic mythology; these are also framed by numerous lion monsters. Columns and figures were originally covered with a layer of stucco and painted in color. Each shrine closes at the top with a building-like attachment with a small "umbrella dome". Behind the protruding entrance portal there is a transverse gate ( gopuram ) with a passage that can be passed by stairs.
Vestibule ( mandapa )
The portal of the vestibule of the temple is divided into three parts by two unadorned but inscribed pillars. On both sides there are kneeling guardian figures ( dvarapalas ), which are framed by rising lion monsters. The eaves cornice of the front part of the vestibule is richly decorated with false windows ( kudus ) etc.; the rear part, which was added later, on the other hand, is kept completely unadorned on the outside.
Temple tower ( vimana )
Three exterior reliefs on the ground floor show scenes with high quality artistic work, including a depiction of Narasimha ; the lion monsters are accompanied by a hybrid of lion, elephant and a consecrated animal. The temple tower ( vimana ), which has been stepped back several times, is surrounded by numerous small and both square and rectangular false pavilions with "umbrella domes" or elongated roofs; in between there are false windows ( kudus ) and other decorative elements such as lying Nandi bulls. The top is formed by a large "umbrella dome" with a jug ( kalasha ) at the top.
literature
- Alexander Rea: Pallava architecture. Asian Educational Services, 1995 (facsimile of the 1st edition from 1909), ISBN 978-8120610071 .
- Michael W. Meister (Ed.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture South India Lower Dravidadesa 200 BC-AD 1324. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia 1983, ISBN 978-0812278408 .
- George Michell: The Hindu Temple. Architecture of a world religion. DuMont, Cologne 1991, ISBN 3-7701-2770-6 , pp. 168f.
Web links
- Kailasanathar Temple - Photos and information (English)
- Temple in Kanchipuram - Info (English)
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 12 ° 50 ′ 32 " N , 79 ° 41 ′ 23" E