The Kailasanatha temple located in Kanchipuram in southeastern India is an outstanding example of early medieval architecture. Built primarily in the eighth century for the worship of the Hindu god Shiva through the patronage of select Pallava rulers, the temple has long been noted for its contributions in shaping architectural and sculptural developments in this region. Close examination of the temple’s layout, imagery, and inscriptional evidence reveals sophisticated, yet comprehensible, thematic programs that address the worlds of gods and kings. In Opening Kailasanatha, Padma Kaimal leads the reader through this temple complex and uncovers the many patterns and pathways available for experiencing Shiva and Pallava worldviews.

The Kailasanatha temple complex consists of many structures. Kaimal focuses on the earliest: the main temple (vimāna) enclosing a shrine to Shiva commissioned by Pallava king Rajasimha, an earlier pillared hall (maṇḍapam) likely built in the seventh century, Rajasimha’s...

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