Mylapore

Mylapore Kapaleeswarar (Shiva) temple

Mylapore (मायलापुर) is sub-town and a bustling neighborhood, just south of Chennai (formerly Madras) city, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for Kapalishvara Shiva Temple.

Variants

• Tamil:மயிலாப்பூர்
• Mayalapura (मायलापुर) (AS, p.706)
• Mayuranagara (मयूरनगर) (AS, p.706)
• Mayurapuri (मयूरपुरी)

Jat clans

• Mayla (मायला): It is probably associated with Mayla Jat clan which needs further research.
• Mor (मोर): Mylapore literally means Mayurapuri or Mayuranagara which means the city of Mors.

Oldest city

Mylapore's ancient name in Puranas is Mayurapuri (City of peacocks). This page "City of peacocks" says "In Brahmanda Purana, circa 3000 BC, Mylapore is mentioned as "Mayurapuri."

Mylapore is a major commercial center, and one of the oldest residential parts of the city. It is well-connected by roads and Metro railway network, MRTS. It is famous for its tree-lined avenues, the famous 7th century Kapaliswarar Temple, its kutcheri season and Ramakrishna Math.

Mylapore is located a few kilometres to the south of Chennai city. It extends from Triplicane and Teynampet in the west up to the sea-coast. It is bounded by Royapettah and the river Coovum to the north. Its southern frontier corresponds roughly with that of River Adyar. It extends for around 4 kilometres from north to south and 2 kilometres from east to west.

Present-day population of Mylapore is estimated to be around 150,000 to 300,000. Accurate statistics are not available as Mylapore is not a different township by itself but only a part of chennai city. The different neighborhoods within Mylapore have been parcelled out amongst the different wards of the Chennai Corporation.

History

The town of Mylapore predates British rule by several centuries. As per available historical and archaeological evidence, it could well be the oldest part of Chennai; with written records of early settlements going back to the 1st century BC.

The Tamil sage of the Sangam Period Thiruvalluvar, and author of great Tamil work Thirukkural is said to have been born in Mylapore, although this claim is disputed. although this claim is disputed[5]. The temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar is one of the major attractions at Mylapore.

This place is also associated with Ptolemy the Egyptian traveller . He is supposed to have arrived at this place, which was once a thriving port city.

Marco Polo is believed to have visited Mylapore. Marco Polo has left a detailed description of the land, the people and their customs and religion.

Kapaleeswarar temple

Legend has it that Goddess Parvati, the divine consort of Lord Shiva, did penance at Mylapore taking the form of a pea-hen, in order to be wedded to him. The name Mylapore is derived from this legend - "Mayil" in Tamil means a peacock. The famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore and its beautiful temple tank are associated with this legend.

The renowned geographer Ptolemy had described about in his writings about the Mylapore and the famous Kapaleeshwarar temple. The temple boasts of exquisitive architecture and one of the most celebrated shrine of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati.

The Kapaleeshwarar temple is one of the most important temples in the world. The temple has statues of all the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Religion. Built in the 7th century this temple stands as one of the most foremost temples of South India and remains a testimonial to the greatness and unflinching devotion of the Pallava kings.

The temple has other shrines dedicated to Ganesha (a dancing form called Nardana Vinayakar), Muruga (called Singara Velar), with his two consorts Valli and Devayani. Smaller shrines are dedicated to other forms of Shiva (Annamalaiar, Sundareswarar and Jagatheswarar), Muruga (Palani Andavar) and others. In particular, there is a shrine with an image of a peahen, which is where Mylapore derives its name from. Navagraha shrine is also present. There is a separate shrine for Sani Bhagavan and special puja's will be done on Saturday.

The present Kapaleeswarar temple was built 300-400 years ago at a different location.

Other temples

• Kesava Perumal Temple - Mylapore is also famous for the Kesava Perumal Temple constructed in honor of Keshava or Lord Vishnu, a principal God in the Hindu pantheon and the "Savior" in the Hindu trinity. The temple has an idol of Lord Vishnu accompanied by his celestial consort Goddess Lakshmi.

• Srinivasa Temple - Mylapore also boasts of the Srinivasar temple near "Chitra Kulam" in Mylapore, which is administered by the Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam (SVDD)]. It is located just beside the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple, which has an imposing gopuram that can be seen from quite a distance. Apart from the sanctum dedicated to Alameluthayar , there are shrines to Lord Rama, Lord Narasimha and the Azhwars.

• NavaShakti Vinayaka temple, near Luz
• Madhava Perumal Temple
• MundakaKanni Amman temple
• Kozha Vizhi Amman temple
• Velleeswarar Temple (Near Kapaleeswarar temple)
• Veerabhadra Swami temple - This temple has a separate shrine dedicated to Lord Sarabeshwara
• Apparswamy temple
• Shirdi Sai temple

Localities in Mylapore

• Santhome
• Mandaveli
• Luz
• Madhavaperumalpuram
• Othavadi
• Quibble Island
• Raja Annamalaipuram
• Robertsonpet
• Trustpakkam

मद्रास

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...मद्रास (AS, p.706): सन् 1639 ई. में ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी के कर्मचारी फ़्रांसिस डे ने विजयनगर के राजा से कुछ भूमि लेकर इस नगर की स्थापना की थी। उस समय का बना हुआ क़िला अभी तक विद्यमान है। मद्रास के उपनगर मायलापुर में कपालीश्वर शिव का प्राचीन मंदिर है। मायलापुर का शाब्दिक अर्थ मयूरनगर है। पौराणिक जनश्रुति के अनुसार पार्वती ने मयूर का रूप धारण करके शिव जी की इस स्थान पर पूजा की थी। इसी कथा का अंकन इस मंदिर की मूर्तिकारी में है। मंदिर के पीछे एक पवित्र ताल है। ट्रिप्लीकेन में पार्थसारथी का मंदिर भी उल्लेखनीय है। मद्रास के स्थान पर प्राचीन समय में चेन्नापटम नामक ग्राम बसा हुआ था।

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