The Kanchipuram Kailasanatha temple was built during the reign of

The correct answer is Rajasimha.

Key Points

• Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II)
  • The Kailasanatha Temple in Kanchipuram was built by Pallava king Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II).
  • He ruled from 690–728 CE and was a great patron of art and architecture.
  • This temple is one of the finest examples of Dravidian temple architecture under the Pallavas.
  • Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it features intricate carvings, pyramidal towers (vimanas), and a sandstone structure.
  • Unlike later Chola temples, it represents the mature phase of Pallava temple-building.

Additional Information

• Mahendra Varman I
  • Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE) was an earlier Pallava king known for pioneering rock-cut architecture.
  • He built famous cave temples like Mandagapattu and Mahabalipuram’s early monuments.
  • The Kailasanatha Temple is not his work, as it was constructed much later under Rajasimha.
  • Mahendravarman was also a playwright and scholar, credited with the Sanskrit play Mattavilasa Prahasana.
  • His reign marked the beginning of large-scale Pallava temple construction but not structural temples like Kailasanatha.
• Narasimhavarman I
  • Narasimhavarman I (630–668 CE), son of Mahendravarman, was a powerful Pallava ruler.
  • He is best known for defeating Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas and earning the title Mamalla ("great warrior").
  • His reign saw the development of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), including the Shore Temple and monolithic rathas.
  • However, the Kailasanatha Temple was built later by his descendant, Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha).
  • His contributions were more focused on rock-cut monuments rather than structural temples.
• Nandivarman II
  • Nandivarman II (731–796 CE) was a later Pallava king who ruled after Rajasimha.
  • He belonged to a different branch of the Pallava dynasty and revived their power after a period of decline.
  • His reign saw the construction of the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, dedicated to Vishnu.
  • The Kailasanatha Temple was already built by then, so he was not involved in its construction.
  • Nandivarman II’s rule marked the transition towards later Chola and Pandya influences in temple architecture.