Oldest Structural Temple of South India: Kai-lasa-Nadhar Temple, Kanchipuram

Wikipedia says that Kai-lasa-Nadhar Temple in Kanchipuram is the most established auxiliary Temple in South India. Amid one of my normal excursions to Kanchipuram, I went to see with my own eyes how a Temple was built amid 685 – 705 CE. Fortunately, this Temple has survived – verging on in place – for over 1300 years!

Kanchipuram is a South Indian town situated at a separation of 90 KM from the cutting edge Metropolitan city of Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu. This town has recorded history going back to the Tamil Sangam Period (3nd Century BCE – third Century CE). A couple of abstract works of the Sangam period have survived and specify Kanchipuram – that is the way we know now that it has been in presence, in any event from that point – it was most likely settled much before!

Despite the fact that Kanchipuram is a prominent Hindu religious focus, numerous (even in India) will be astonished to realize that Buddhism, Jainism, Islam (and now Christianity) additionally assumed a huge part in molding the way of life and religious fabric of the city. Sometime in the past Buddhism was far reaching in India. Bodhidharma, accepted to the third child of a Pallava ruler from Kanchipuram, advanced Zen-Buddhism in China.

It is said that Hinduism practically turned into a minority religion in India, which was likewise cleared by the rush of Buddhism. Later on, Shankaracharyas (starting with Adi Shankara) from Kanchipuram contributed significantly towards the restoration of Hinduism, the country over.

Prior to this Temple, there were others however they didn't have the structure we see today. Rock-cut Temples/Temples made of wood from the Pallava period (more seasoned than this one) do exist, yet the Kailasanadhar Temple was the main Temple to be worked with a Gopuram (tower), a Sanctum Sanitorium (Statue of God situated beneath the tower), pathway for circumbulation, four dividers over the border, and different components that characterize Hindu Temples, until today.

This Temple is thought to be a colossal accomplishment for the general population in those days as its arranging, configuration and development were basically venturesome – a task on this scale was essentially not embraced before (in this district). This Temple later turned into the motivation for the considerably more nervy 'Brihadeeswara Temple' in Tanjore.

Kanchipuram – I ought to have told before – was the capital city of Pallavas (a conspicuous South Indian tradition) and a Pallava King called "Rajasimha" orchestrated building this Temple. The establishment of this Temple was made of Granite and despite the dividers being made of yellow sandstone, a great part of the first Pallava engineering has made due with no significant redesigns. This Temple is in neglect for a long time now – perhaps that is the reason it has survived weathering and wars!

There are excellent stone-molds all over – On the tower, on the dividers, on the columns and all around else. All around the fundamental sanctum, there are 58 littler places of worship with octogonal towers situated beside each other shaping lovely symmetry. Every tower contains carvings of various types of God Shiva, to whom this Temple is devoted.

On the off chance that you deliberately see the photos, you'll discover a lion-headed creature cut on the columns. It's not a lion – it's a legendary creature called "yazhi" with a lion face. The story behind that creature is presently lost – individuals believe it should ensure the Temple. This legendary creature must be found in Temples built in the early Dravidian engineering period in South India. This Temple once in a while served as a fort for Kings amid fights and a mystery passage which permits them to escape somewhere else, has additionally been found.

This Temple is an ASI secured landmark now and there is very little group, which is a consistent component in most Indian Temples. ASI has benefited a vocation presenting greenery surrounding this spot and it's a flawless spot for traveling – for Indians and in addition nonnatives. This landmark is an absolute necessity visit for its history, as well as for it being a living-confirmation to excellent human undertaking, as ahead of schedule as seventh Century.