Kapaleeshwarar Temple chennai

Kapaleeswarar Temple, located in Kutchery Road, Mylapore near Chennai is the temple of Lord Shiva. Sage Kasyapar worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. This temple is one of the 275 Thevara Padal Petra Sthalams, out of which, this is one of the 40 temples that have west facing Lord Shiva shrines. Parvati, Lord Shiva’s wife is also worshipped here at this temple that is known as Karpagambal.

In 7th century Pallava Nayanmars built this temple in Dravidian style with unique architecture. According to the Puranas, Shakthi worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of Peacock, that’s why, the name Mylai was given to the place around the temple, as Mylai means Peacock in Tamil.

The important feature of the Kapaleeshwarar temple is the 37-meter tall Gopuram. The temple got its name from the words Kapalam (head) and Eeshwarar an alias of Lord Shiva. The temple has 2 entrances marked by the Gopuram on either side. The East Gopuram is about 40 m high, while the smaller western Gopuram faces the sacred tank.  Tirumayilai is the most centrally situated Shivasthalam of the three in (and around) Chennai- Tiruvanmyur, Tirumayilai and Tiruvotriyur. This is the 24th of the 32 Tevara Sthalams in the Tondai region of South India. The huge Temple tank is the site of the popular Teppam festival in the month of Thai (Capricorn). Vayilar Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, was born here and a separate shrine exists for him in the Temple.

The Vahanas (vehicles) at the Temple, in the carving form include the bull, Adhikaranandi, elephant, bandicoot, peacock, goat and parrot, while a golden Chariot is a recent addition. The statues of the God and Goddess are seated on the Vahanas. On every Friday the statue of Goddess Karpagambal is decorated with a garland made out of gold coins (Kaasu Maalai). The famous Tamil hymns Karunai Deivame Karpagame and Karpagavalli Nin Porpadhangal Pidithen were written by poets in praise of the goddess Karpagambal. There is also a peacock and a peahen caged inside the temple, to symbolize the tradition that Karpagambal had come in the form of peahen to plead to Kapaleeshwarar.

Aruvathi Moovar, festival is celebrated during March and April in carnival time. The weeklong festival attracts devotees from far off places to have a rendezvous time with Gods who are taken out in a procession. Shivarathri is celebrated with no indulgence and special pooja’s are done throughout the night.