Kanchipuram
76 kms from Chennai
The Small Temple Town of Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, as it is popularly
known is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus. From the
6th to the 8th centuries, it was the capital of the pallavas who
built numerous temples here and founded universities for higher
learning. Roayal Patronage from the succeeding Chola, Pandya and
Vijayanagar dynasties further consolidated the city's reputation
as a religious and commercial centre.
Kanchipuram is sacred to Shaivites( devotees of Shiva) as well
as to vaishnavites ( Worshippers of Vishnu). The town is thus
divided into two distinct zones, with the Shaivite temples to
the north and the vaishnavite temples to the Southeast.
It also has an important Devi (goddess) temple the Kamakshi Temple
situated north east of the bus stand. Dedicated to kamakshi or
the "loving-eyed" Parvati, the temple was rebuilt in
the 14th Century, during the Vijayanagar Period. It has four colourful
gopuras and the main sanctum has a gold-plated roof.
The Kailasanatha Temple to the west of the bus
stand, is the oldest and greatest structure in the town. Built
in the early 8th century by rajasimha the last great Pallava King,
this Shiva temple is surrounded by 58 smaller shrines, each with
splendid carvings of the various representations of Shiva. The
recently discovered frescose here are the earlist in South India.
The Sanctum has a circumambulatory passage with great symbolic
meaning seven steps ( indicating seven births) lead to a dark
passage and a narow outlet
The
Great Ekambaresh vara Temple on car Street, constructed
originally by the pallavas, has a 16-pillared mandapa in front
of it, was added later by the Vijayanagar Kings. This is one of
the five Panchalinga Shrines and houses a linga made of earth
legend saya that the goddess Kamakshi as part of her penance for
disturbing shiva's meditation created this linga with earth taken
from under a mango tree. Lingas abound in the corridors of the
temple complex, while on the western side of the shrine standes
the sacred mango tree, said to be 3,000 years old.
The
Vaikuntha Perumal temple near the railway station, is
one of the 18 temples dedicated to Vishnu, erected by Varman II
( 731-96). This unique structure has three main sanctums, built
one on top of the other. Each of them enshrines an image of Vishnu
in a different form - standing, sitting and reclining. The hall
in the lower shrine has panels depicting the genealogy, coronations
and martial conquest of the Pallava Kings.
The
Varadaraja Temple on Gandhi Road, is the town's main
Vishnu temple. The chief deity in the form of Vishnu is known
as varadaraja (The "King who Bestows Benediction").
It is believed that the temple stands on the site where Brahma
performed a Yagna ( Sacrifice) to invoke Vishnu's presence. Among
the temple's jewels, the valuable gold necklace is said to have
been presented by Robert Clive. It adorns the deity during the
Garuda Festival. Kanchipuram, famous for its silk is also the
seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas. They belong to the long
line of head priests of the matha (religious centre) founded by
the 9th century philosopher-saint Adi Shankaracharya.
