Mylapore Kapaleeswarar

Chennai Mylapore - Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple

Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The form of Shiva's wife Parvati worshipped at this temple is called Karpagambal (Tamil - "Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree"). The temple was built around the 7th century CE in Dravidian architecture.

According to the Puranas, Shakti worshipped Shiva in the form of a peacock, giving the vernacular name Mylai (Mayilai) to the area that developed around the temple - mayil is Tamil for "peacock". Shiva is worshiped as Kapaleeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Karpagambal. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Significance of the temple:

v  Mylai is the 24th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India.

v  The temple is closely associated with the history of Saint Tirugnana Sambandar who restored Poompavai to life from the bones and ashes preserved by her father Sivanesar.

v  The Poompaavai Patikam composed by Sambandar is associated with this temple & he is said to have brought back to life, Poompavai the daughter of a devotee of Shiva - Sivanesa Chettiar.

v  Mother Uma performed penance here on Lord taking the form of a peacock.  Lord Muruga got His Sakthivel from Lord.

v  Vedas worshipped Lord Kapaleeswara, hence the place is known as Vedapuri.

v  It is believed that temple has been built by the Pallava dynasty around the 7th century AD, but may have been destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Vijayanagar kings during the 16th century.

Mylapore - Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple திரு மயிலை - கபாலீச்வரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Kapaleeswarar
Goddess Name	Sri Karpagambal
Location	Mylapore
Historical Name	Kapaleecharam, Tirumayilai
Significance	24th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Tondai Nadu, One of 275 Devaram Padal Petram Sthalams, Arupathumoovar Festivel
Ancient	1500 years old
Travel Base	Chennai

How to Reach :  The Kapaleeswarar Temple is located at the Mylapore Tank bus stop in the R.K Mutt Road, Mylapore, Chennai. Just near the temple is the Ramakrishna Math Ashram.

This temple is well connected by town buses from every part of Chennai city. There is also a suburban railway station known as Thirumayilai on the Chennai Beach - Tiruvanmiyur route which is located near to the temple.

Arulmighu Kabaleeswarar Temple

Mylapore, Chennai - 600004.

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai