KANCHIPURAM

Sri Sankaracharya; it is this place that was visited by Bhagawan Buddha and has the honour of listening to his amogha Dharma; it is this city that enjoyed the status of capital city of Tondaimandalam for centuries; it was here during the Sangam period, literatures thrilled the scholars with royal banquets; it is here Dharmapala Bodhisatya was born and Buddist logician Dinnaga lived; it is to this city the imperial monarchs vied with one another to empty their treasures to building of temples for both Siva and Vishnu; it is this city that was visited by foreign travelers, like Hieun Tsang, who recorded its eminence, with rich,Tributes, it is this city that gave asylum to several religions like Jainism, Buddhism, Vaishanavism, Saivism that flourished with unenviable amity; it was here the reputed Poet Bharavi, the Sanskrit luminary lived and authored the renowned Kiratarjuniyam, and also the well-known Sanskrit scholar Dandi lived; it is the city that was ruled by the illustrious monarchs from every celebrated dynasty like Pallavas, Cholas, Rastrakutas, Vijayanagara Nayaks; Pandyas; Kakatiyas, Marathas together with Muslims and Britishers; it is to this town's chief temple Robert Clive presented a necklace, when convinced with its divine power; it is this city despite divided geographically into two parts called Vishnu Kanchi and Siva Kanchi, is enjoying religious tolerance of supreme adorable type. Its very name has a ring of imperial majesty and spiritual aroma.   Endowed with such merits and achievements, this holy city has been attracting pilgrims, tourists since the Satyayuga.  Very few cities of India claim such spirit of catholicity as this holy city, now contented with the status of a District Headquarters town of some little importance.

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