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Coordinates: 13°02′01″N 80°16′11″E / 13.03371°N 80.26978°E
| Mylai Kapaleashwarar Thirukoil | |
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| Name: | Mylai Kapaleashwarar Thirukoil |
| Primary deity: | Kapaleashwarar(Shiva) |
| Architecture: | Dravidian architecture |
| Location: | Chennai, Tamilnadu, india |
Kapaleashwarar Temple is an abode of God Shiva and Goddess Shakthi, located in Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The temple has hymns sung by the Nayanmars, which would help in knowing how ancient the temple is. According to the Puranas, Goddess Shakthi worshipped God Shiva, taking a form of Peahen, hence the name Mylai was given to the area that developed around the temple, as 'Myil' means Peacock/Peahen in Tamil.
The Vijayanagara kings bulit the majestic 37m gopuram at its gateway after the much older temple was destroyed by the Portuguese[1].
The presiding God of this temple is a form of Shiva called Kapaleashwarar. The form of Shiva's wife Parvati at this temple is called Karpagambal (from the Tamil for "goddess of the wish-yielding tree"). Puranas have it that Lord Shiva was once telling Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, about the creation of the three lokas but Lord Brahma did not agree with what Shiva said. Shiva got angry and plucked out one of Brahma's four heads. Brahma begged for forgiveness and was asked to perform penance at Mayilai (Mylapore) and then he asked Lord Shiva to take the name of Kapaleashwarar as Lord Shiva (eswarar) was wearing a necklace of skulls (kapala).
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Etymolgy
The temple's name is derived from Kapalam(head) and eeshwarar an alias of Lord Shiva. The puranas are based on the meeting of Brahma and Shiva atop Mount Kailash. When Brahma failed to show the respect due to Lord Shiva, God Shiva plucked of one of his kapalams (heads) and threw it down. In an act of regretful penance, Brahma came down to the present site and installed a statue of Lingam to please Shiva[1].
History
The age of the temple is the source of much debate. The commonly held view is that the temple was built in the 7th century CE by the ruling Pallavas, based on references to the temple in the hymns of the Nayanmars (which however place it at the shore). Further, the architecture of the temple 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 more recently. A small minority of people believe that the original temple was indeed on the beach, but that the sea has receded over centuries.
The Vijayanagar Kings rebuilt the temple during the 16th century. The original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese[1].
| Kapaleashwar Temple | |
 Kapaleashwar Temple |
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| Temple Name: | Kapaleashwar Temple |
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| Alias Name: | |
| God Name: | Kapaleashwarar Swamy |
| Goddess Name: | Karpagambal |
| Pushkarni: | |
| Vimanam: | |
| Location: | Chennai |
| State and Country: | TamilNadu, India |
The Temple
Architecture
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 Kapaleeswarar Temple and Theppakulam |
 East Rajagopuram of Kapaleeswarar Temple |
 East Rajagopuram of Kapaleeswarar Temple |
 East Gopuram detail |
 East Gopuram detail |
 East Gopuram at Dawn on the day of the temple car festival |
 East Gopuram at Dawn |
Architecturally, the temple is of typical Dravidian style with the gopuram overpowering the street on which the temple sits. There are two entrances to the temple marked by the gopuram on either side. The east gopuram is about 40m high, while the smaller western gopuram faces the sacred tank.[citation needed]
Shrines
Vahanas
The vahanas at the temple include the bull, elephant, bandicoot, peacock, goat and parrot among others, while a golden chariot is a recent addition. The God and the Goddess is seated on the vahana and brought around the temple with the temple band playing music throughout this occasion. Devotees gather around the vahanas and consider it a privilege to lift the God and the Goddess on the vahana.
Traditions
During Friday worship, Goddess Karpagambal will be decorated with "KAASU MAALA" (Garland with Gold Coins). This was contributed by a group of devotees. It is a boon to worship during this seva. Many Scholars have raised songs on Goddess Karpagambal. "KARUNAI DEIVAME KARPAGAME" and "KARPAGAVALLI NIN PORPADHANGAL PIDITHEN" were famous Tamil Songs written by poets praising Goddess Karpagambal. There is a small peacock and peahen cage inside the temple, inorder to remember that Goddess had come in the form of peahen to plead to the Lord.
During Tamil month 'Aadi' all the nearby Amman temples like Mundakanni Amman and Kolavizhi Amman celebrate 'Pongal' and 'Paal Kudam' (Milk Pots) for Abhisheka. It is done traditionally by the women.
During Navarathri, big idols of Poompavai, Sambanthar (Thirugyanasambandar), history is kept in display. Lot of cultural events take place. During summer, a small water tank with a Mandapam in the center is decorated with flowers are kept inside the temple.
Festivals
There are four daily pujas: the early morning puja, the day puja, the pradosha kaala puja and the night puja.
During the Tamil month of Panguni, the traditional Arupathimoovar festival takes place when the entire neighborhood comes alive with a mela-like atmosphere. In the month of Panguni in the Tamil calendar, corresponding with mid-March to mid-April, the Kapaleashwarar temple celebrates the nine day-long Panguni Peruvizha (Spring festival). This festival involves a therotsavam (Tamil: "ther" - "car/chariot" and "utsavam" - "festival"). Lord KapaleashwararSwamy will be holding a bow, seated in a throne along with his wife Karpagambal. Lord Brahma would be riding the Ther. The Chariot will be decorated with flowers and statues. Huge gathering will be there to pull the Ther.
Therottam or car festival
 The Utsavar deity of Lord Vinayaka being brought out of the temple by youngsters amidst chanting of hymns and music instruments in the early morning |
 The Utsavar deity of Lord Shiva being brought out of the temple amidst chanting of hymns and music instruments in the early morning |
 Lord Vinayaka - Utsavar |
 Lord Kapaleeswarar - Utsavar |
 Lord Muruga with his consorts, Valli & Deivanai |
 Utsavam |
 Utsavam |
 Utsavam |
 The utsava moorthi's being taken to the respective Ther's (temple cars) |
 The utsava moorthi's being taken to the respective Ther's (temple cars) |
 The utsava moorthi's being taken to the respective Ther's (temple cars) |
 The great Temple Car moves out of its shed with the Lord Kapaleeswarar |
 The early morning sunlight creates a glow on the Temple Car |
 Huge throngs of devotees line the streets where the temple car passes on its route around the temple |
 The temple Car is pulled by devotees using huge ropes |
 Details of the Kapaleeswarar Temple Car |
In this festival also called the Brahmotsavam, the idols of Kapaleashwarar and Karpagambal are decorated with clothes and jewels, mounted on a vahanam (Sanskrit for "vehicle"), and then taken around the temple and its water tank in a pradakshinam (a clockwise orbit when seen from above). This is repeated with different vahanams over the next nine days.
In all the ten days of festival "Panchamurthis" go grand procession in all four mada streets called car street or trietheru with drums and other traditional musical instruments playing before them. "Panchamurthis" refer to Sri Vinayagar who always leads the procession followed by Sri Kapaleashwarar the Lord, Sri Karpagaambal the Goddess, Lord Subramanyar with his consorts and finally Sri Chandikeswarar who represents all the devotees. The procession is followed by vedins who chant four vedas and othuvaars who sings Tamil thirumurais.
The more important of the individual pradakshinams are the Athigara Nandhi on the third day, the "Rishaba Vahanam" on the midnight of the fifth day, the real ther itself (about 13 meters in height, pulled by people) on the seventh morning, and the Arupathimoovar festival on the eighth day. The latter is the most important procession. It is named after the 63 Nayanmars, and all 63 Nayanmar idols follow the Kapaleashwarar idol on this procession.
The car festival of 1968 is documented in the documentary film Phantom India by Louis Malle.
Arupathimoovar Festival
This festival is being celebrated in order to honour the Saivaite Devotees namely Nayanmars who are 63 in numbers. The procession is celebrated by taking Nayanmars in a "Pallaq" which is highly decorated with ornaments and flowers, facing Lord Shiva and Parvati and proceeding further. The Moovar "Appar", "Sundarar", "ThirugyanaSambandar" will be carried a unique Pallaq. Goddess Karpagambal and Lord KapaleashwarSwamy will be dressed in beautiful saree decorated with colourful fragance flowers. Lord Ganesha is taken first in the festival followed by Kolavizhi Amman. Kolavizhi Amman will lead the festival because this temple is supposed to be ancient than Kapaleashwar Temple. SingaraVelar Swamy will accompany Lord KapaleashwararSwamy and Karpagambal. Mundakanni Amman will be beautifully decorated with lot of colours and ornaments. People used to keep their kids on the pallaq in order to get blessing from the Goddess. Vairaswamy and Thiruvalluvar will also be participating in this festival.
Huge gathering takes place at Mylapore. Lot of sweets, savouries, juices, buttermilk are served to the pilgrims. At each stage, there is Aarti and offering flowers to the God and Goddess by a small angel flying from top of the decorated shed. Its nice to see the ancient tradition being followed. People from nearby villages will also attend this function.
References
External links
- E-pooja in Kapaleeswarar Temple
- Virtual Lord Shiva Darshan and pilgrimage with videos and images
- Temple home page
- Indian heritage page
- ChennaiOnline article
- Indian temples article
- Temple trust name
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