The Most Famous Temple In Chennai||Mylapore,Kapileshwar Temple,Chennai||--India.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple was built around the 7th century CE in Dravidian architecture. This information is taken from the page of Tamil Nadu Tourism Kapaleeshwarar T Kaaleeswarar temple is one of the prominent Shiva temples in India situated in Mylapore, Chennai. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kapaleeswar [self-manifested] and Goddess Shakthi [Uma] as Karpagambal. There is a story behind how the place got the name Mylapore and the same story is the root of this magnificent pilgrim center. According to the legend, Goddess Karpagambal [Uma] wished to know the meaning of the five lettered divine mantra “Na Ma Shi Va Ya”. She pleaded to Lord Shiva to teach her the true meaning of the mantra along with the significance of sacred ash. He agreed and once while he was teaching the same to Uma Devi, her eyes fall upon a beautiful peahen dancing and lost her concentration. Lord Shiva displeased by her, cursed her to become a peahen. In order to free herself from the curse she was asked to go to Earth and do penance on him. Therefore Goddess Karpagambal worshipped the Shivalinga under the Punnai tree here where the temple stands. Pleased by her devotion, Lord Shiva freed the Goddess from the curse and she regained her original form. This is how the place came to be known as Mylapore [Mail - Peahen] where Goddess Karpagambal in her peahen form worshipped the Shivalinga and freed herself from the curse. There are many tales that proves the significance of this Kapaleeswarar Temple. Lord Muruga, son of Lord Shiva visited this temple and worshipped him and his mother Goddess Uma [Karpagambal] before heading to a war with an Asura [demon] named Surapadman. He received the Shaktivel here at this temple, a divine powerful weapon his mother gave to fight the Asura. Now there is another fascinating legend of why Lord Shiva is known as Kapaleeshwarar. Once Lord Brahma, the creator as per Hindu mythology, considered him greater than Lord Shiva as he too had five heads and then Lord Shiva inorder to teach Brahmma a lesson of humility, nipped one of the five heads of Brahma and held his skull in his hand, earning himself the name Kapaleeswarar for Kapalam in Sanskrit means Skull. Now moving on the architecture of the temple, it is another great piece of Dravidian art, but it is not the original structure of the temple which is long gone or washed ashore. Even the great historians are not able to date the construction of the original temple building. The temple authorities claim that the original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese. The current structure is more than 300 years old. There are two entrances to the temple. The Shiva Lingam worshipped here is a Swayambhu Lingam, which means it is a self-manifested lingam. It is one among the 64 Swayambhu Lingams in the world. Other than the main deities Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal, there are various other shrines of Natana Vinayakar, Palani Andavar, Vaayilar Nayanar, Singara Velar, Dakshinamurthy, Somaskandar and Durgai. There is another small shrine outside, at the courtyard of the temple and under the old Punnai tree depicting Goddess Uma in the form of a peahen worshipping Lord Shiva, which remind us the legend of how this place got its name “Mylapore”. Major Festivals The annual festival Brahmotsavam is celebrated during the Panguni month [mid-March to mid-April], when thousands of devotees visit Kapaleeswarar Temple to get a glimpse of their Lord and Goddess Karpagambal. It is a 9 day festival, which starts with flag hoisting. Arubathimoovar festival conducted on the 7th day is considered as the most auspicious day of the Brahmotsavam. “Arubathimoovar” signifies 63 Nayanmars [saints] who with their dedication and devotion attained liberation from the omnipresent Lord Shiva. The idols of these 63 Nayanmars come in procession after the Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal idols during this glorious day. The festival concludes with Tirukalyanam [Holy marriage] of the Lord Kapaleeswarar and Goddess Karpagambal. Another great spiritual gathering is during the Maha Shiv Ratri, the day when Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvathy. Also a huge crowd visits the temple on the New Moon days, Full Moon days and during the Pradosha Days. Temple Timings The temple is open every day except on Mondays, during morning 5am - 12pm, and evening 5pm - 9pm. Below are the pooja timings POOJA DETAILSTIMINGSPOOJA DETAILSTIMINGSPOOJA DETAILSTIMINGSKo Pooja-05.00 A.MVaikarai Pooja-06.00 A.MKala Sandhi Pooja-08.00 A.MUchi Kala Pooja --12.00 P.MArdhajama Pooja-09.00 P.M Kushal The Bengal Travellers Please Subscribe My Channel And Like,Share,Comment. Find me on: INSTAGRAM:   / kushal_gain729   FACEBOOK:   / kushal.gain.77