Kailasanathar Temple
The Pallava dynasty had established their kingdom in Kanchipuram, which is also known as Kanchi or Shiva Vishnu Kanchi, as their capital city. The kings then expanded their territories within the Tamil, Andhra and Kannada territories and started building many temples of great significance and value under their Emperor Narasimhavarman I. Two of the temples that stand out and are worth mentioning are the Tiru Parameswara Vinnagaram and the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple.
The name of the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple literally means Lord of the Cosmic Mountain and is built in the tradition of the Smartha worship of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Devi, Surya, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. The temple was built during 685 A.D. to 705 A.D. and is the first structural temple to have been built in South India by Narasimhavarman I, who is also known as Rajasimha Pallaveswaram. His son Mahendravarman III, later on, completed the construction of the temple's front facade and tower.
The Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple became the first temple to be built in sandstone and became a trendsetter for all other temples that followed. The grand temple also acted as a safe sanctuary for the rulers during wars in those times. A secret tunnel was built by the kings to use as a safe escape route and is still visible. At present, the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India.
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