The Kailasanathar Temple of Kanchipuram

The Kailasanathar temple, also written Kailasanatha, is the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, a Shiva temple built in sandstone by the Pallava king Rajasimha, also known as Narasimhavarman II, in the early eighth century. One of the finest surviving works of the Pallava dynasty, it is noted for its ring of small sub-shrines around the sanctum, its Somaskanda panels showing Shiva with Parvati and the child Skanda, and its early Pallava Dravidian style. Built before the great flowering of later South Indian temple building, it marks a key stage in the development of the Dravidian tradition surveyed in the guide to Dravidian temple architecture. This article explains its location, history, architecture, sculpture and living significance within the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu.

Key Takeaways

• The Kailasanathar temple is the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
• It is a Shiva temple built in sandstone by the Pallava king Rajasimha, also known as Narasimhavarman II.
• It is generally dated to the early eighth century, in the Pallava period.
• The temple is noted for its ring of small sub-shrines around the main sanctum.
• Its Somaskanda panels show Shiva with Parvati and the child Skanda.
• It is a prime example of the early Pallava Dravidian style and a protected monument.

The sections below explain where the temple stands, how it was built and what a visitor can still see today.

Quick Facts

What Is the Kailasanathar Temple of Kanchipuram?

The Kailasanathar temple of Kanchipuram is the oldest major temple of the city, a sandstone Shiva temple built by the Pallava king Rajasimha in the early eighth century. It is counted among the finest surviving works of the Pallava dynasty and is prized for its ring of small sub-shrines around the sanctum, its carved panels and its early Pallava Dravidian style. What distinguishes the temple is its antiquity and its place at the beginning of the great tradition of South Indian stone temple building, before the monumental temples of later dynasties. Dedicated to Shiva, worshipped here as Kailasanatha, lord of Mount Kailasa, it remains a cherished shrine as well as a key monument of art history. The Kailasanathar temple is therefore best understood as a foundational work of Dravidian architecture, where the Pallavas developed in sandstone the forms that would shape the temples of southern India for centuries to come.

Where Is Kanchipuram Located?

Kanchipuram is located in the northern part of Tamil Nadu, in southern India, within reach of the state capital, Chennai. One of the most ancient and revered cities of the south, Kanchipuram is celebrated as a city of temples and as a centre of learning, pilgrimage and the famous Kanchipuram silk weaving. It was a capital of the Pallava dynasty, and later powers also left their mark on its many shrines. The Kailasanathar temple stands within this historic city, among a wealth of temples of different periods. Roads and rail connect Kanchipuram with Chennai and the surrounding region, making it readily accessible. The city has long held a special place in the sacred geography of the south. The location of Kanchipuram therefore sets the Kailasanathar temple within one of India’s great temple cities, a place of deep antiquity and continuing devotion, where the Pallava past is preserved among the shrines of a living religious centre.

Who Was the Pallava King Rajasimha?

Rajasimha, also known as Narasimhavarman II, was a king of the Pallava dynasty who ruled in southern India in the early eighth century and is credited with building the Kailasanathar temple. The Pallavas were great patrons of art and architecture, and under Rajasimha the dynasty produced some of its finest temples, including works at Kanchipuram and on the coast. He is associated with a phase of confident stone building that helped establish the Dravidian temple form. As with historical figures of this period, knowledge of Rajasimha rests on inscriptions and the evidence of the monuments, and should keep to well-established facts rather than contested detail. His patronage reflects the close bond between Pallava kingship and temple building. The role of Rajasimha in the Kailasanathar temple therefore links the shrine to one of the notable rulers of the Pallava dynasty, under whom the art of the stone temple in southern India took a decisive step forward.

When Was the Temple Built?

The Kailasanathar temple is generally dated to the early eighth century, in the reign of the Pallava king Rajasimha, making it the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram. This was a formative period in the history of South Indian architecture, when the Pallavas were developing the stone temple from earlier rock-cut and structural experiments toward the mature Dravidian form. Precise dating rests on inscriptions and the evidence of style, so the early eighth-century date is a well-established general anchor rather than an exact single year. The temple belongs to a creative age that laid foundations for later temple building. Its forms influenced the shrines that followed in the south. The building of the Kailasanathar temple in the early eighth century therefore places it at a crucial moment in the growth of Dravidian architecture, when the Pallavas gave lasting shape in sandstone to the South Indian temple at their capital of Kanchipuram.

Why Is It the Oldest Major Temple of Kanchipuram?

The Kailasanathar temple is described as the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram because it was built in the early eighth century, before the many later temples that fill the city. Kanchipuram is renowned for shrines of several periods, including large temples raised under later dynasties, but the Kailasanathar temple belongs to the earlier Pallava age and so stands among the first of the city’s great structural temples. Its antiquity gives it a special importance for understanding the development of temple building at Kanchipuram and in the south more widely. Being older and built of sandstone, it has a distinct character compared with the granite temples of later centuries. Its early date is central to its historical value. The Kailasanathar temple is therefore rightly regarded as the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram, a Pallava foundation that predates the later shrines and offers a window into the earliest great phase of the city’s temple architecture.

What Is the Ring of Sub-Shrines?

The ring of sub-shrines is one of the most distinctive features of the Kailasanathar temple, a series of small cells arranged around the main sanctum within the temple enclosure. Each of these little shrines houses sacred imagery and contributes to the overall design, surrounding the central sanctum with a circle of subsidiary chapels. This arrangement gives the temple a rich and layered plan and provides many surfaces for sculpture. The sub-shrines are characteristic of the Pallava approach and add greatly to the interest of the monument, allowing a visitor to move around the sanctum among a sequence of small sacred spaces. Their imagery reflects the devotional world of the temple. The ring of sub-shrines of the Kailasanathar temple therefore forms a key part of its character, encircling the central shrine with an array of smaller chapels that enrich both the architecture and the religious experience of this early Pallava masterpiece.

What Are the Somaskanda Panels?

The Somaskanda panels are carved reliefs found in the Kailasanathar temple that depict Shiva together with his consort Parvati and their child Skanda, a composition especially favoured in Pallava art. The name Somaskanda refers to this grouping of Shiva with Uma, or Parvati, and Skanda, the child god, shown together in a single sacred image. Such panels were a characteristic feature of Pallava temples and express the family of Shiva as an object of devotion. At the Kailasanathar temple these reliefs are counted among its notable sculptures, reflecting the religious themes and artistic conventions of the early eighth century. They provide valuable evidence for the iconography of the period. The Somaskanda panels of the Kailasanathar temple therefore add to its importance as a record of Pallava devotion and art, presenting the divine family of Shiva in a form that was cherished by the dynasty and carved into the fabric of its temples.

Why Is the Temple Built of Sandstone?

The Kailasanathar temple is built of sandstone, a feature that distinguishes it from the granite temples of later South Indian dynasties and reflects the practices of the Pallava age. The Pallavas worked in the stone available and suited to their methods, and sandstone, being relatively soft and easy to carve, allowed detailed sculpture while posing its own challenges of durability. The choice of sandstone gives the temple a particular texture and colour and has affected how it has weathered over the centuries. Later dynasties in the south favoured the harder granite for their great temples, so the use of sandstone marks the Kailasanathar temple as a work of an earlier phase. The material is part of its distinctive identity. The use of sandstone at the Kailasanathar temple therefore situates it clearly within the Pallava period, before the widespread adoption of granite, and contributes both to its appearance and to the care needed to preserve its delicate carving.

What Is the Early Pallava Dravidian Style?

The early Pallava Dravidian style is the formative phase of South Indian temple architecture represented by the Kailasanathar temple, in which the characteristic forms of the Dravidian tradition were being worked out. Pallava temples of this period feature a sanctum crowned by a pyramidal vimana rising in storeys, pillared halls, and walls enriched with sculpture, together with distinctive details such as the lion motif associated with the dynasty. The Kailasanathar temple shows these features in an early and highly accomplished form, before the greater scale and elaboration of later centuries. The style marks the transition from earlier rock-cut work toward fully structural stone temples. It laid the groundwork for the whole later Dravidian tradition. The early Pallava Dravidian style of the Kailasanathar temple therefore gives it great importance in the history of Indian architecture, for here can be seen the early shaping of the forms that would come to define the temples of southern India.

What Is the Layout of the Temple?

The layout of the Kailasanathar temple centres on a sanctum housing the linga, crowned by a pyramidal vimana and surrounded by the distinctive ring of small sub-shrines, all set within a rectangular enclosure. Before the sanctum stands a pillared hall, and the enclosing wall is lined on its inner face with the subsidiary shrines that encircle the main shrine. This arrangement creates a rich and compact plan, offering a sequence of sacred spaces and abundant surfaces for sculpture. A separate small shrine is also associated with the complex. The design leads a worshipper from the entrance toward the sanctum, past the many sub-shrines and carved panels. The whole is modest in scale compared with later temples but intricate in conception. The layout of the Kailasanathar temple therefore embodies the early Pallava approach to temple design, combining sanctum, vimana, hall and encircling sub-shrines into a harmonious and richly sculptured whole at the heart of ancient Kanchipuram.

What Sculpture and Imagery Does the Temple Show?

The sculpture and imagery of the Kailasanathar temple are among its chief treasures, covering the walls, sub-shrines and panels with figures drawn from the devotional world of early Shaiva worship. Besides the Somaskanda panels showing Shiva with Parvati and Skanda, the temple displays a range of divine figures, attendants and mythological themes, as well as the lion motif characteristic of Pallava art. The carving reflects the early Pallava style, with its own grace and vigour, offering valuable evidence for the religion and art of the eighth century. Some surfaces have suffered from the weathering of the soft sandstone, yet much detail survives. The imagery repays close and patient looking. The sculpture and imagery of the Kailasanathar temple therefore make it a key monument for the study of Pallava art, preserving in stone the deities, legends and artistic conventions of an early and creative age of South Indian temple building.

How Does It Compare With Other Pallava Monuments?

The Kailasanathar temple compares with the other great Pallava monuments as one of the finest structural temples of the dynasty, complementing the famous rock-cut and shore monuments associated with the Pallavas. The Pallavas are celebrated for their monuments at Mahabalipuram on the coast, including rock-cut shrines and the shore temple, as well as for temples at their capital of Kanchipuram. The Kailasanathar temple belongs to the structural stone tradition and shows the mature early Pallava style in a Shiva temple of exceptional interest. Comparing it with the coastal monuments reveals the range of Pallava achievement, from rock-cut experiments to fully built temples. It also underlines the importance of Kanchipuram as a Pallava centre. The Kailasanathar temple therefore holds a distinguished place among Pallava monuments, standing alongside the works at Mahabalipuram as evidence of the dynasty’s foundational role in the history of South Indian temple architecture.

What Materials and Techniques Were Used?

The Kailasanathar temple was built of sandstone, assembled and carved in the manner of the Pallava builders who pioneered structural stone temples in the south. The sanctum, its pyramidal vimana and the surrounding sub-shrines were constructed by shaping and placing blocks of sandstone, a stone soft enough to allow detailed carving. Sculptors worked the walls and panels with chisels to produce the figures, reliefs and ornament for which the temple is admired. Building in sandstone demanded care, since the material, though workable, is less durable than the granite used later. The techniques reflect an early and creative phase of temple building, when the forms of the Dravidian tradition were being established. The relative softness of the stone has made conservation important over the centuries. The materials and techniques of the Kailasanathar temple therefore illustrate the Pallava mastery of sandstone, through which the dynasty gave early and lasting shape to the South Indian stone temple at Kanchipuram.

How Is the Temple Protected and Preserved?

The Kailasanathar temple is preserved as a protected heritage monument, cared for by the Archaeological Survey of India and valued as one of the finest early Pallava temples. The authorities responsible document, conserve and protect the sanctum, sub-shrines and sculpture, which are important both as a living shrine and as a monument of art history. A particular challenge is the weathering of the soft sandstone, along with the effects of the climate and the wear caused by visitors and worshippers. Conservation aims to stabilise and protect the fragile stone and its carving without altering the historic character of the temple. Because arrangements and access can change, visitors are advised to consult current information from official heritage bodies. Respectful behaviour, including not touching the delicate carvings, helps protect the monument. The preservation of the Kailasanathar temple therefore depends on cooperation between heritage authorities, temple custodians and the visitors who value this ancient Pallava masterpiece at Kanchipuram.

How Can Visitors Plan a Visit to the Temple?

Visitors can plan a visit to the Kailasanathar temple most easily by travelling to Kanchipuram, which is readily reached by road or rail from Chennai and the surrounding region. The cooler, drier months, broadly from about November to February, are generally the most comfortable, since the area is hot for much of the year. Modest clothing is appropriate, and the customs of the shrine should be respected. Allowing unhurried time rewards the visitor, for the temple’s interest lies in its ring of sub-shrines, its panels and its early Pallava carving, which repay close looking. Combining the temple with the many other shrines of Kanchipuram makes for a rich itinerary. Checking current timings and arrangements in advance is sensible. A well prepared visit allows the Kailasanathar temple, the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram, to be appreciated calmly and with the respect due to both an ancient monument and a place of worship.

The Kailasanathar Temple Today

The Kailasanathar temple of Kanchipuram today remains both a cherished shrine and a monument of the first importance for the history of Indian architecture. As the oldest major temple of the city, built in sandstone by the Pallava king Rajasimha, it preserves the early Pallava Dravidian style in its ring of sub-shrines, its Somaskanda panels and its carved walls. It continues to draw pilgrims, art historians and travellers exploring the temple heritage of Tamil Nadu. Continued conservation, respectful tourism and scholarly study help ensure that this delicate sandstone monument endures for future generations. For those visiting the great temple city of Kanchipuram, it offers a window into the earliest flowering of South Indian temple building. The Kailasanathar temple thus stands as a lasting witness to the artistry of the Pallava dynasty, a foundational work of Dravidian architecture where the forms of the southern temple were given early and enduring shape in stone.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu (tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Kailasanathar temple located?

The Kailasanathar temple is located in the ancient temple city of Kanchipuram in northern Tamil Nadu, within reach of Chennai. Kanchipuram was a capital of the Pallava dynasty and is famous as a city of temples.

Who built the Kailasanathar temple?

The Kailasanathar temple was built by the Pallava king Rajasimha, also known as Narasimhavarman II, in the early eighth century. He is remembered as a great patron of Pallava art and architecture.

Why is the Kailasanathar temple important?

It is the oldest major temple of Kanchipuram and one of the finest early Pallava temples, marking a key stage in the development of South Indian temple architecture. It is noted for its ring of sub-shrines and Somaskanda panels.

What are the Somaskanda panels?

The Somaskanda panels are carved reliefs showing Shiva together with Parvati and the child Skanda, a composition favoured in Pallava art. They are among the notable sculptures of the Kailasanathar temple.

What is the temple built of?

The Kailasanathar temple is built of sandstone, which distinguishes it from the granite temples of later South Indian dynasties. The soft stone allowed detailed carving but requires careful conservation.

What is the best time to visit the temple?

The best time is the cooler, drier season from about November to February, since Kanchipuram is hot for much of the year. Allowing unhurried time rewards the visitor, as the temple’s beauty lies in its fine detail.