The temple stands in an uncongested open space. A small Nandi mandap in front of the enclosure identifies the temple as Shiva' s. The enclosure wall, to become a distinctive feature of later southern Indian temples, forms a high barrier but the shikhara of the temple is so beautifully proportioned that it rears its statuesque crown above it likes a towering mountain of stone. Inside the temple, through a small gateway (a forerunner of the tall gopurams of later temples in the south), the enclosure wall becomes a backdrop for a whole colonnade of tiny shrines. Each one contains an image or manifestation of a deity and on the northern side is some remnants of paintings in original mineral hues of yellow-ochre and reds. The temple was built during the time of Raja simha (some additions, like the gateway were added by his son), as was the Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, but in the brief period that separates the construction of these two, an amazing maturity and confidence is discernible in the Kailashnatha Temple. The bases of the pillars in Mahabalipuram had sedate seated lions but at Kanchipuram the confident grimacing lions stand on theirhind legs, ready to pounce out of the wall at anyone who might cause harm to the temple of god.

By Pradeep Kanakarajan and Kumar Periasamy