SSC
The Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram was built during the rule of the:
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Answer: Option C — Pallavas
Detailed Solution
The Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, was built by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II, also known as "Rajasimha", around 700 CE, and completed by his son Mahendravarman III.
About the Kailasanathar Temple:
- It is the oldest surviving structural temple in Kanchipuram.
- It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- It is built of sandstone, with granite used for the foundation.
- It is one of the earliest examples of structural (built, not rock-cut) temples in the Dravidian style.
- It has a pyramidal tower over the sanctum, and is surrounded by a compound wall lined with 58 small shrines (cells) for meditation.
- Its walls have fine sculptures of Shiva in many forms, such as Nataraja (the dancer), and remains of paintings from the Pallava period.
- It has a small gateway, which later developed into the tall gateway towers of South Indian temples.
- It inspired the Kailasa Temple at Ellora (built by the Rashtrakutas) and the Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal (built by the Chalukyas).
About Pallava architecture:
The Pallavas ruled from Kanchipuram from about the 4th to the 9th century CE.
Their architecture developed in stages:
- Mahendra style (Mahendravarman I, 600-630 CE): rock-cut cave temples ("mandapas").
- Mamalla style (Narasimhavarman I "Mamalla", 630-668 CE): monolithic rathas and rock-cut mandapas at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), such as the "Pancha Rathas" (five rathas named after the Pandavas and Draupadi).
- Rajasimha style (Narasimhavarman II, 700-728 CE): structural temples, such as the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram and the Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram.
- Nandivarman style: smaller temples, such as the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram.
- The "Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984).
- Mahabalipuram also has the famous rock relief "Descent of the Ganga" (or "Arjuna's Penance").
About Kanchipuram:
- It is called the "City of a Thousand Temples".
- It is one of the seven sacred cities ("Saptapuri") of Hinduism.
- It is famous for Kanchipuram silk sarees (with a GI tag).
- Other temples: Kamakshi Amman and Varadharaja Perumal temples.
- The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited Kanchipuram in the 7th century.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Cholas built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur.
- ✗The Chalukyas built temples at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
- ✗The Pandyas ruled from Madurai.
Quick tip
Remember: Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram = Pallavas (Narasimhavarman II "Rajasimha", about 700 CE; oldest structural temple in Kanchipuram); Shore Temple = also Rajasimha; Pancha Rathas = Narasimhavarman I "Mamalla"; Kanchipuram = "City of a Thousand Temples".
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.