Tiruparuttikunram (Kanchipuram)    

Tri-kūṭa Basti and Vardhamāna Basti

A complex case of a twin temple building is presented by the temple structures in the walled complex at Tiruparuttikunram, better known as Kanchipuram. It consists of the Tri-kūṭa Basti section to the south (12th century CE) and the Vardhamāna Basti to the north (16th century CE). It is fascinating to note that both halves are in themselves triple temples, exhibiting the extent of complexity which such combinations of shrines can reach. Remarkable with respect to the triple-shrined segment to the north is the diversity of the three roof shapes, exhibiting the presence of the three shrines below. The Tri-kūṭa Basti has two major shrines dedicated to Padmaprabhu and Vāsupūjyasvāmī and a smaller chamber dedicated to Pārśvanātha placed inbetween. The Vardhamāna Basti half consists of shrines to Dharma Devī, Vardhamāna and Puṣpadanta.