Site Name: Kilaiyur/Keelaiyur
Date: ca 876-899 CE
Subject: Superstructure of sikhara
CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
The Colisvara temple is the smaller of the two shrines of the Avani-Kandrapa-Isvaram temple built at Kilaiyur under Aditya I (871-907 CE). The other one is the Agastisvara shrine. Colisvara is a double storied stone shrine. The crowning cupola (shikhara) is circular and bell-shaped with a fine finial (stupi) over it unlike the square shikhara and stupi of its twin shrine making this a unique feature of the Avani-Kandrapa-Isvaram temple at Kilaiyur. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1963, pp. 20-25, M. Boothalingam, 1971, 64-66
