Kanchipuram
Also called: Kanchi · Topic: Southern Dynasties: Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 7 "The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity"; Class 7, Ch 3 "Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries"; Class 7, Ch 4 "Turning Tides: The 11th and 12th Centuries"
Meaning
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a city in Tamil Nadu. It was the capital of the Pallavas. It was a major centre of trade in spices, textiles (including silk) and ivory. It was also a centre of learning and religion, with Buddhist, Jain and Hindu shrines side by side. The city stayed important under the Cholas, who also used it as a capital.
Example
The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited Kanchi in the 7th century. He wrote of 100 Buddhist monasteries with 10,000 priests (probably an exaggeration), 80 Hindu temples and many Jains. The Pallava Kailasanatha temple (c. 700 CE) still stands there.
Related concepts
- Pallava dynasty
- Mahendravarman I
- Mandagapattu inscription
- Narasimhavarman I
- Kailasanatha temple, Kanchipuram
- Mamallapuram
- Pancha Rathas
- Shore Temple