Guide In Kancheepuram

genesis

Can anyone recommend a good guide (person not book in Kancheepuram.
Someone who can explain more about the temples, history, knows knooks and crannies...

Am mostly self sufficient but am increasingly finding that a good guide opens up different facets of a city

Any recommendations appreciated.

n kumar

Hi,
I normally tip the priest.

snonymous

We visited four temples in Kancheepuram last Thursday.

The guide we engaged at the Kamakshi Amman temple was pretty useless and more interested in offering us an out of turn darshan than in explaining the history etc of the place.

At the Ekambareswarar temple we did not come across any guides.

At the Kailasanathar temple, the elderly and very erudite priest was the best guide. There are also some ASI employees who can be engaged as guides. This place is extraordinary.

At the Varadaraja Perumal temple, a youngish priest, also very well spoken, offered his services as a guide and opened the locked 100 pillar mandapam where we had a field day, marvelling at the masterpieces in stone. The priest also recommended the Vaikuntha Perumal temple for its sculpted panels and frescoes.

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genesis

I was there last Wed!

Bharadwaj temple...we found an old priest who approached us. All of 87 years old...hard of hearing. He was decent...started with his own agenda then warmed up later and started showing more stuff. Saw the carvings.

Kamakshi Amman we ignored a young punk dressed up as a pandit and saw on own.

Ekambaranath, the priests at each spot would see the camera and overall demeanor and give a lecture about that particular spot, before trying to get you to do an abhishek.

Did not visit the Kailasanathar temple for lack of time (spent way too much time in pondicherry)

overall i found the 'temple experience' slightly irritating despite the amazing architecture if one is not the deeply religious kind (separate from spiritual) because of the tendency of the priests to try and get you to perform ceremonies.

As i remarked to a friend...they have dynamic pricing algorithms to convey your message to an idol 5 feet away from you.

snonymous

Missed you by a day Genesis!

Which one is the Bharadwaj temple?

I liked the Kailasanathar and Varadaraja Perumal temples best for their architecture, sculpture etc.

I know exactly what you mean by an irritating temple experience, that is why we never go to temples for worship, the priests and "guides" do their utmost to put one off with their mercenary behaviour. Actually, the worst experience we had was in Pandharpur, those priests can teach any of these big temple priests a thing or too - in the touting department!

genesis

I think Bharadwaj = Varadaraja. Fantastic Architecture

Guess I was using the phonetic spelling my driver used. Speaking of which now have the contact of a great driver (comes with an innova though) from Chennai. Speaks english and 'fundamentally gets it'.

Else saying 'Tamil Illa' and giving my cellphone to random passerby's to speak to the guy on the other end could take me only so far.

Nick-H

Tamil illai!

And me too .

I cannot get fixed in my head which of the Kanchipuram temples is which, but I have only been there twice, and the first time was over ten years ago.

My favourites, though, are the very big one, with the many pillars and the 3,000-year-old mango tree, and the tiny one that is now a monument, but still has a resident priest who will show you around and, of course, do a puja for you.

There is one where there is very little in the outer court, and unless you are Hindu (Indian) you cannot go inside. Unless one is a Hindu, going there for religious purposes, it is a complete waste of time. It also has the hottest slabs I have ever experienced and I burnt my feet .

delhiwala

About which they tell you that three types of mangoes grow on this tree... Sweet Sour & Bitter........

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genesis

The Varadraja temple also had this golden lizard. You buy a 2 rupee ticket. Step into an area cordoned off with plywood. Climb on a ladder. Rub your hand against this big gold plated lizard bas relief on the ceiling. And all your sins are washed away.

Very cool. Very convenient!

@Nick-H. The one with the mango tree is the ekambaranath temple.

snonymous

Reportedly:

Four types on four different branches.

More than 3500 years old.

Wonder how accurate this is.

theyyamdancer

Beautiful photos in your gallery, snonymous!

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snonymous

Thanks Theyyam. I love those ancient Dravidian temples.
More on Flickr if you are interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42225834@N07/sets/

theyyamdancer

Excellent! I have bookmarked it.

ganeshs_16

I have seen this tree many times in my younger days. But the last time i visited (2007), it was no longer there and they said it had died. Have they replaced or something?

Also, on a side note, I'm not sure how the name Ekambaranatha crept into tamil. To go with the original sanskrit name that venerates this tree, it should be Ekamranatha (eka-one & amra- mango, ambara gives a totally different meaning, not apt here) - the lord of the lone mango tree (under which the goddess performed penance to propitiate him)

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genesis

I missed that part...Guess I was trying to figure out my exit strategy for when he would launch into his 'abhishek puja here will give you all that you desire speech'!

What was also interesting were the toy cradles tied to the tree by childless couples. Very colorful wood ones. Nicely painted.