northern India. Its existence is docu-
mented as early as the sixth century
B.C.E. The city was an important stop on
the trade route running through the
Ganges basin. It is referenced in
Ptolemy’s Geography, written around
150 C.E. Kanauj was also an important
political center; in the early seventh
century it was the capital of the
Pushyabhuti dynasty, ruled by the
emperor Harsha. In later centuries the
Pala, Rashtrakuta, and Gurjara-
Pratiharadynasties fought over the city,
with the Gurjara-Pratihara eventually
gaining control. After suffering an attack
by Mahmud of Ghazniin 1017 C.E.,
Kanauj seems to have gone into perma-
nent decline. Its modern legacy is being
the location of the dominant branch of
brahminsin the Gangetic Plain. They
call themselves Kanaujiabrahmins.
Kanaujia
One of the five northern brahmincom-
munities (Pancha Gauda); the other
four are Gauda, Maithila, Utkala, and
Saraswat. Kanaujia brahmins trace their
origin to the city of Kanauj. Kanaujia
brahmins are found in greatest density
in the eastern section of the state of
Uttar Pradesh, near the city of Kanauj;
subgroups can be found throughout
Bihar, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and
the inland regions of Orissa.
Kanchipuram
Temple-town and sacred site (tirtha)
about forty miles southwest of the city of
Madras in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Kanchipuram is important as one of
India’s Seven Sacred Cities. Dying in
one of these cities is believed to bring
final liberation of the soul (moksha).
At differing times Kanchipuram served
as a capital for the Pallava, Chola,
and Vijayanagarkings; each of these
dynasties left its mark in the city’s
architecture. Kanchipuram is filled
with temples, many of them
magnificent examples of the southern
Indian Dravida architectural style.
Kanchipuram’s importance as a political
center and its concentration of temples,
brahmins, and scholars made it one of
the greatest centers of Hindu life, learn-
ing, and religion.
Kanchipuram is also noted for its
temples to each of the three major
Hindu deities—Vishnu, Shiva, and the
Goddess. The Vaikuntaperumal Temple
is dedicated to Vishnu in his form as
“Lord of Vaikuntha,” his celestial realm.
The Goddess is worshiped as Kamakshi
(“desiring eyes”). Kamakshi is identified
with the goddess Kamakhya, whose
temple in Assamis the most powerful of
all the Shakti Pithas.
Shiva is worshiped at the
Kailasanatha temple, in his manifesta-
tion as the “Lord of Mt. Kailas,” and at
the Ekambareshvar temple. The image
of Shiva at the former site is one of the
bhutalingas(“elemental lingas”), a net-
work of five southern Indian sites sacred
to the god Shiva. In each of these sites
Shiva is worshiped as a linga, the pillar-
shaped object that is his symbolic form.
At each site the linga is believed to be
formed from one of the five primordial
elements (bhuta)—earth, wind, fire,
water, and space (akasha). The
Kanchipuram linga is associated with
the element of earth, the humblest but
most essential of all.
Another reason for Kanchipuram’s
prominence is its long tradition as a
center for asceticism. Kanchipuram’s
Kamakotipithis an ancient center for
the Dashanamisect. Its leader is consid-
ered to be one of the Shankaracharyas,
the most important contemporary
Hindu leaders. According to local tradi-
tion the Kamakotipith was the first and
most important of the maths, or monas-
tic centers, established by the philoso-
pher Shankaracharya, who later
established four other centers at
Joshimath, Puri, Shringeri, and
Dwaraka. This claim to primacy has
generated fierce controversy, with oppo-
nents not only denying Kamakotipith’s
place as the first of the maths, but also
asserting that Kamakotipith is only a
branch of the Shringeri math. SomeKanchipuram