KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE,MYLAPORE
The
temple's name is derived from the words kapalam (head) and eeshwarar
an alias of Shiva.
According to the Puranas, during the meeting of Brahma and Shiva at top of Mount
Kailash Brahma failed to show the due respect to Shiva. Due to this, Shiva
plucked of one of Brahma's heads (kapalams). In an act of penance,
Brahma came down to the site of Mylapore and installed a Lingam to please
Shiva.This place is known as Sukra puri, Veda puri and has so many other names
including “Kailaye Mayilai and Mayilaye Kayilai “which means this place is
equal to kailash. Goddess Karpagambal due to a curse became a peacock and did
penance here to get back her original personality. Lord Muruga received the
spear (Sakthi vel) for Sura Samharam from goddess Parvathi here. Brahma had
worshipped here to get rid his ego back his power to create. The four Vedas
have Worshipped here. Sukracharya worshiped the Lord here and got back his lost
eye. Lord Sri Rama has worshiped here and won the war against Ravana and
brought back Sita Devi from SriLanka. The daughter of Sivanesa Chettiar Angam
Poompavi got her lost life here. Vaayilar Nayanar a fakir attained salvation
here and mylapore is also the birth place of Thiruvalluvar who wrote
Thirukkural. In Thevaram special mention is made about the beautiful Madaveedhi
as “Malgun Mathri Thavazhum Maada Veedhi Mylappil Ullar”. Thiruganana
Sambandar, Auunagirinathar have sung the Glory of Karpagambal, Singara Velar.
The 10 day festival during March / April is a treat to watch and Arubathu
Moovar festival is attended by lakhs of devotees every year.
History
The commonly held view is that the temple
was built in the 7th century CE by the ruling Pallavas. This
view is based on references to the temple in the hymns of the Nayanmars
(which, however, place it by a sea shore).Thirugnanasambandar's 6th song in
Poompavaipathikam and Arunagirinathar's 697th song in Thirumylai Thirupugazh,
make clear reference to the Kapaleeswarar temple being located on the seashore
in Mylapore. The architecture of the temple, however, appears to be 300–400
years old. The scholarly view that accounts for the discrepancies is that the
original temple was built on the shore at the location of the current Santhome
Church but was destroyed by the Portuguese, and the current temple (which
is 1-1.5 km from the shore) was built by the Vijayanagar kings during the 16th century
Architecture
The Kapaleeshwarar temple is of typical Dravidian architectural style, with the gopuram overpowering the street on which the temple sits. This temple is also a testimonial for the vishwakarmas sthapathis. There are two entrances to the temple marked by the gopuram on either side. The east gopuram is about 40 m high, while the smaller western gopuram faces the sacred tank
Arupathimoovar festival
This
festival is celebrated in order to honor the Saivaite
devotees, namely the sixty-three Nayanmars. The procession is celebrated by
taking the Nayanmars in a palanquin
that is decorated with ornaments and flowers. The Moovar Appar, Sundarar,
Thirugyana Sambandar are carried in a separate palanquin. Idols of
Kapaleeshwarar and Karpagambal are decorated with colorful and fragrant
flowers.
The
festival results in a huge gathering of devotees in Mylapore. Lot of sweets, savories, juices and buttermilk are served
to the pilgrims. At each stage of the festival an Aarti is performed
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