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Book Review
Temples of Kanchi
KANCHIYIN KAVINMIGU KOVILGAL: T.V.R. Chari; Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam Sarada Navarathri Kalai Nigazhchigal Trust, 15-A, Kalaandar Street, Kancheepuram-631502. Rs. 50.
KNOWN AS the ``City of Temples,'' Kancheepuram is one of the seven great holy centres of ancient India. It was a royal capital once, a flourishing Buddhist and Jain centre mentioned in the Tamil epic Manimekalai, was intimately associated with Pallava and Chola kings and was connected with the lives of saints.
The author, in the book under review, has provided details of the main temples — those of Ekambareswara, Varadaraja, Kamakshi Amman, Kumarakkottam and Kailasanatha. During the rule of the Vijayanagar kings, some of the temples were renovated and expanded. Built during the eighth century by Rajasimha, the Kailasanatha temple has been praised for its plan and it is a storehouse of sculpture and painting.
Facts centred on Kamakshi Amman, Varadaraja, Ekambareswarar, Vaikunta Perumal and Yadoktakari temples, besides other numerous edifices, including the Ulagalanda Perumal and Paandava Thoothar shrines have been provided.
As one patronised by the previous Sankaracharya (Mahaswami) of Kamakoti Peetam, the author has given details about Adi Sankara and the Math and has included some hymns.
DVV
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