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Demographics

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As of 2001 India census, Kanchipuram had a population of 153,140 at a density of 13,428 persons per km2.[1] Males constitute 50.37% of the population and females 49.63%.[2] Kanchipuram has an average literacy rate of 74.8%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%.[1] 10% of the city population is under 6 years of age. According to the 2011 provisional totals b, Kanchipuram had a population of 164,265, constituting 81,987 males and 82,275 females covering an area of 36.14 km2.[1][3]During the British census of 1901, Kanchipuram had a population of 46,164 constituting 44,684 Hindus, 1,313 Muslims, 49 Christians and 118 Jains.[4]

Art and architecture

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During the reign of Narasimhavarman I, Kanchipuram had an area of four square miles and an estimated population of 10,000.[5] With a substantial rise in population in the following years, the city developed cross patterned links with rectangular streets.[6] The residential areas in the city were arranged on caste-lines.[6] During the period of the Pallava king Nandivarman II, houses were built on raised platforms and burned bricks.[6] The houses had verandahs in front and gardens in the rear. [6] The heart of the city was occupied by Brahmins, while the Tiruvekka temple and houses of agricultural labourers were situated outside the city.[7] There were provisions in the outskirts of the city for training the cavalry and infantry.[7]

Ekambareswarar Temple is the largest temple in the city, dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. It is located in the northern part of the city.[8] The temple gopuram, the gateway tower, is 59 m tall, making it one the tallest temple towers in India.[9] The temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams, the five temples each representing the manifestation of the five prime elements of nature namely land, water, air, sky, and fire.[10] Ekambareswarar temple temple represents the element Earth.[10] Kailasanathar Temple, dedicated to Shiva and built by the Pallavas, is the oldest temple still in existence and is declared an archeological monument by Archaeological Survey of India. The temple has a series of cells with sculptures inside.[11] In the Kamakshi Amman Temple, goddess Parvati is depicted in the form of an yantra, Chakra or peetam (basement). In this temple, the yantra is placed in front of the deity.[12] Adi Sankara is closely associated with this temple and believed to have established the Kanchi matha after this temple. Muktheeswarar Temple, built by Nandivarman II (720–796 CE)[13] and Iravatanesvara Temple built by Narasimhavarman Pallava II (720–728 CE) are the other Shiva temples from the Pallava period. Kachi Metrali – Karchapeswarar Temple,[11] Onakanthan Tali,[13] Kachi Anekatangapadam,[13] Kuranganilmuttam,[14] and Karaithirunathar Temple in Tirukalimedu are the Shiva temples in the city reverred in Tevaram, the Tamil Saiva canonical work of the 7th-8th century.

Two pillars with hanging stone chain
Sculpted pillars and stone chain in Varadarajar temple

Kumarakottam is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Muruga, the son of Shiva and Parvathi. It is located between the Ekambareswarar temple and Kamakshi Amman temple, leading to the cult of Somaskanda (Skanda, the child between Shiva and Parvati). Kandapuranam, the Tamil religious work on Muruga, translated from Sanskrit Skandapurana, was composed in 1625 CE by Kachiappa Shivacharya in the temple.[15]


Varadharaja Perumal Temple, covering an area of 23-acre (93,000 m2), is the largest Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. It was originally built by the Cholas in 1053 CE and was expanded during the reigns of the Kulottunga Chola I (1079–1120 CE) and Vikrama Chola (1118–1135 CE). It is an ancient temple and one of the divyadesams, the 108 holy abodes of Vishnu. The temple has carved lizards, one platted with gold and another with silver, over the sanctum.[16]Clive, who played a major role in the establishment of British rule in India is said to have presented an emerald necklace to the temple. It is called the Clive Makarakandi and is still used to decorate the deity on ceremonial occasions.[17]Tiruparamechura Vinnagaram – Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple is the birthplace of the azhwar saint, Poigai Alvar.[18] The central shrine has a 3 tier shrine, one over the other, with Vishnu depicted in each of them.[18] The corridor round the sanctum has a series of sculptures depicting the Pallava rule and conquer.[18] The temple is the oldest Vishnu temple in the city built by the Pallava king Paramesvaravarman II (728–731 CE).[18] Ashtabujakaram, Tiruvekkaa, Tiruththanka, Tiruvelukkai, Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tiru pavla vannam, Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple are among the divyadesam, the 108 famous temples of Vishnu in the city.[19] There are a five other divyadesams, 3 inside the Ulagalantha Perumal temple, one each in Kamakshi Amman Temple and Ekambareswarar Temple.[20]

The mosque near Ekambareswarar temple was built during the rule of Nawab of Arcot in the 17th century. There is another mosque near the Vaikunta Perumal temple that shares a common tank with the Hindu temple. Muslims take part in the festivals of the Varadarajaswamy temple.[21] Christ Church is the oldest church in the city built by a Britisher named Mclean in 1921. The church is built in Scottish style brick structure with arches and pillars.[21]

Society and culture

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Kanchipuram is considered to be one of the seven holiest cities for Hindus in India. According to Hinduism, a kṣetra is a sacred ground, a field of active power, a place where moksha, final attainment, can be obtained. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven cities as providers of moksha, namely Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Avantikā, Dvārakā and Kanchipuram.[7] The city is considered a pilgrimage site for both Saivites and Vaishnavites.[7]About 8 lakh pilgrims visit the city every year as of 2001.[22]

Drawing depicting a saint in a background of trees
Bodhidharma is believed to have spread Zen school of Buddhism from India to China

Buddhism is believed to have flourished in Kanchipuram between the 1st and 5th centuries CE.[23] Some notable Buddhists associated with Kanchipuram are Arya Deva (2–3rd century CE) – a successor of Nagarjuna of Nalanda University, Dignaga and the Pali commentators Buddhaghosa and Dhammapala.[24] According to a popular tradition, the 5th-6th century CE Buddhist monk and founder of Shaolin Kung Fu, Bodhidharma, was the third son of a Pallava king from Kanchipuram.[25] However, other traditions ascribe his origins to other places in Asia.[26] Jainism is believed to have been initiated into Kanchipuram by Kunda Kundacharya (1st century CE).[24] Jainism spread in Kanchipuram after the defeat of Buddhists at the hands of Akalanka (3rd Century CE) after prolonged debates. Kalbhras, the rulers of Kanchipuram before Pallavas followed Jainism and with royal patronage, Jainism grew in the region.[24] The Pallava kings, Simhavishnu, Mahendra Varman and Simhavarman (550–60 CE) followed Jainism, until the advent of Nayanmars and Azhwars during the 6th −7th century.[24] Conversion of Mahendravarman I from Jainism to Hinduism under the influence of the Naynamar, Appar, was the turning point in the religious geography.[24] The two sects of Hinduism, namely Saivism and Vaishnavism revived under the influence of Adi Sankara and Ramanuja respectively.[7][27] Later Cholas and Vijayanagara kings were tolerant towards Jainism, leaving traces of Jainism in Kanchi.[24] Trilokyanatha/Chandraprabha temple is a twin Jain temple having inscriptions from Pallava king, Narasimhavarman II and the Chola kings Rajendra Chola I, Kulothunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola, and the Kanarese inscriptions of Krishnadevaraya. The temple is maintained by Tamil Nadu archaeological department.[28]

Kanchipuram is a traditional centre of silk weaving and handloom industries for producing Kanchipuram Sari. According to Hindu legend, Kanchipuram weavers are descendants of Sage Markanda, the celestial weaver for Hindu gods.[29] While cotton is the favourite for Hindu god Shiva, silk is favoured by Vishnu.[29] The existence of all the silk weavers around Vishnu Kanchi where most of the Vishnu temples are located, is attributed to the legend.[29] Historically, the Chola king, Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014 CE) invited the weavers to migrate to Kanchi.[29] The craft picked up with the mass migration from Andhra Pradesh in the 15th century during the Vijayanagara rule.[29] During the French siege of 1757 CE, the city was burnt with the art, but the art reemerged in the late 18th century.[29]

The Kanchi Matha is a Hindu monastic institution, whose official history states that it was founded by Adi Sankara of Kaladi, tracing its history back to the fifth century BCE.[30][31][32] A related claim is that Adi Sankara came to Kanchipuram, and that he established the Kanchi mutt named "Dakshina Moolamnaya Sarvagnya Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam" in a position of supremacy, namely Sarvagnya Peetha, over the other mathas (religious institutions) of the subcontinent, before his death there.[32][33] Other historical accounts state that the mutt was established probably in the 18th century in Kumbakonam, as a branch of the Sringeri Matha, and that it declared itself independent.[31]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Kanchipuram population 2012.
  2. ^ Kanchipuram : Census 2011.
  3. ^ Kanchipuram about municipality 2011.
  4. ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908, pp. 544–546.
  5. ^ Rao 2008, p. 142.
  6. ^ a b c d Rao 2008, p. 143.
  7. ^ a b c d e Ayyar 1991, p. 69.
  8. ^ Let's Go 2004, p. 584.
  9. ^ Sajnani 2001, pp. 305.
  10. ^ a b Ramaswamy 2007, pp. 301–302.
  11. ^ a b Ayyar 1991, p. 73.
  12. ^ Ayyar 1991, pp. 70–71.
  13. ^ a b c Ayyar 1991, p. 86.
  14. ^ Soundara Rajan 2001, p. 27.
  15. ^ Rao 2008, p. 110.
  16. ^ Gateway to Kanchipuram district – Varadaraja Temple 2011.
  17. ^ K.V. 1975, pp. 26–39.
  18. ^ a b c d Ayyar 1991, p. 80.
  19. ^ Ayyar 1991, p. 539.
  20. ^ Rao 2008, p. 109.
  21. ^ a b Religious places in Kanchipuram 2011.
  22. ^ Rao 2008, p. 145.
  23. ^ Trainor 2001, p. 13.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Rao 2008, p. 20.
  25. ^ Zvelebil 1987, p. 125-126.
  26. ^ McRae 2000, p. 26.
  27. ^ Smith 1914, p. 468.
  28. ^ The Hindu & 23 June 2011.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Rao 2008, pp. 134–135.
  30. ^ Saraswati 2001, p. 492.
  31. ^ a b Dalal 2006, p. 186.
  32. ^ a b Kuttan 2009, pp. 244–245.
  33. ^ Sharma 1987, pp. 44–46.
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