Contents Key to Transliteration vi Prelude vii Acknowledgements ix A spiritual treatise xii A Real Heritage Book xiii The multi-faceted masterpiece xvi Tourist Information xx 1. Land & Legend 1 1.1 Divine Triveni 4 Mokshapuri 5 Prithviksetra 5 Sakti Pitham 7 1.2 Ancient Wisdom 8 Ghatikasthana 10 Literary Heritage 11 2. Religious Harmony 17 2.1 Conflict & Confluence 18 2.2 Buddhism & Jainism 18 2.3 Saivism & Vaishnavism 23 2.4 A Role Model of Harmony 29 3. Saint Philosophers 31 Sri Adi Sankara 32 SriRamanujacarya 45 Sri Upanished Brahmam 50 Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati 51 Sri Jayendra Saraswati 60 Sri Vijayendra Saraswati 68 4. Kamakoti Pitham 72 4.1 Genesis and Growth 73 4.2 Illustrious Sankaracharyas 76 4.3 New Horizons 83 Social Welfare 83 Health Care 83 Education 84 - A Unique University 84 - An International Library 86 5. Temples & Traditions 90 5.1 Why Temples? 91 5.2 The Temple Town 94 5.3 Major Shrines 96 Sri Kailasnath 96 Sri Vaikuntha Perumal 98 Sri Kamaksi Amman 100 Sri Ekamranatha 102 Sri Varadaraja Perumal 105 Sri Ulagalanda Perumal 109 Sri Muruga 109 Sri Kacchapeswar 110 Sri Pandavadoota 110 Sri Chitragupta 111 Sri Vardhamana 111 5.4 Other shrines 112 5.5 Festivals 112 6. Story & History 114 6.1 Story 115 Bhakti Phenomenon 115 6.2 History 117 Changing Perspectives 117 Early Period 119 Dynasties and Destinies 121 - Pallavan Pioneers 121 - Cholan Splendour 126 - Minor Rulers 127 - The Vijayanagara Empire 128 7. The Silken Paradise 132 8. Town Planning : A heritage plan 137 8.1 What is Heritage? 138 8.2 A HolisticApproach 139 8.3 Planning Process 141 8.4 National Planning 143 8.5 Facilities and Services 144 8.6 Heritage Plan Proposals 145 8.7 Problems and Prospects 146 8.8 Corporate Plan 148 9. Cultural Renaissance 149 Glossary 153 Annexures 1. Location of 108 Siva Lingas at Kanchi 156 2. Chronology of Kanchi rulers (Pallavas) 162 3. List of inscriptions 163 4. Comparative chronological table 164 5. Pallavan-genealogy (Lok Vibhag) 166 6. Inscriptions ofChola kings. 167 7. Inscriptions & Genealogy of Vijayanagara Kings 168 7A. List of Vijayanagara Kings 172 7B. The Empire of Vijayanagara 173 Select Bibliography 174 Index 177