Tamilmanam International Research Journal of Tamil Studies

As described in the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam, while Pusalar conceived the idea of building a temple in his mind and constructed it for Lord Shiva, the Pallava King Rajasimha began constructing the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. The outer surrounding walls of this temple, along with all the sculptures within it, are crafted as if narrating a devotional epic. The revelation brought out through this study is the event recorded by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, stating that the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) of the holy temple built by Rajasimha and that of Pusalar's temple—which he built tirelessly day and night within his mind—occurred on the exact same day.

Based on the aforementioned core narrative, this research paper systematically categorizes and analyzes the poetic descriptions from the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam. Furthermore, it compares the similarities and differences between the mind-built temple and the royal temple constructed of stone and brick using tables and explanatory figures. The central theme of this study focuses on how this puranic section establishes the Saiva Siddhanta principle that devotion relies primarily on internal devotion and thought rather than external wealth.