Monday, September 11, 2017

Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore – The Temple

Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore – The Temple
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 37 m high, while the smaller western gopuram faces the sacred tank. The current temple is a modern structure, built based on the descriptions in the Puranam and the Thevaram; the huge temple tank is the site of the popular Theppam festival in the month of Thai (Capricorn).








As you enter the temple you can view a sculpture of a holy saint known as Gnanasambandhar. Other than this, you can see the bronze carvings of the 63-Shaivate saints, which are carried on the eighth day of the 10-days long procession during the Arupathimoovar festival, which is held in March-April. In the courtyard of the temple there is a holy Punnai tree, which is one of the oldest trees of Chennai city. 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.








The vahanas (Sanskrit for "vehicles") at the temple include the bull, Adhikaranandi, elephantbandicootpeacockgoat and parrot, while a golden chariot is a recent addition. Statues of the god and the goddess are seated on a vaahana or chariot which is brought in a procession around the temple while the temple band plays music. Devotees gather around the vahanas and consider it a privilege to pull / lift the God and the Goddess on the Vahana. Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Nardana Vinayaka-dancing Vinayaka.







Poompavai has her shrine near the west tower. This is also the birth place of Vayilar Nayanar, one among the 63 Nayanmars. He too has his shrine in the temple. The Singaravelar shrine is where Subramanyar is said to have been given the Velayudham (Spear) by his mother - in a legend similar to that at Sikkal.. Lord Muruga as Singaravelan praised by Saint Arunagiriar in ten of his celebrated Thirupugazh hymns. 








The Lingam here is a Swayambu Lingam, one of the 64 in the world. The sanctum sanctorum has the Lingam (Lord Shiva) decorated with flowers, Bilva leaves, rudraksha garland and Vibhuti. The main deity is facing west. To the right of the sanctum sanctorum is the south facing shrine for the female deity Karpagambal. The Karpagambal shrine in this temple attracts huge crowds on Fridays and on all special occasions.








As per the tradition, Goddess Karpagambal is offered a garland made of gold coins named Kasu malai on the ritual of Friday worship. In front of the Goddess, outside, is a Stone sculpture of a Lion, the mount of the Goddess. (Just as Nandi or the Bull is for Lord). Thirumurai concerts are held regularly here, as are Uzhavaarattiruppanigal in the tradition of Appar. Its fragmentary inscriptions exist since 1250 AD, though the architecture and structure of the temple is more related with the culture that prevailed in 16th century, when Vijayanagara kings refurbished it.









There are shrines for Dakshinamurthy, Somaskandar, Durgai, Palani Andavar and Vayilar Nayanar. The bronze idols of 63 Saivite saints (Nayanmars) which adorn the outer courtyard are rare specimens of sculptures. Also in the courtyard under the old Punnai Tree is a small shrine depicting Goddess Parvati in the form of a peacock, worshipping Lord Shiva. It is from this legend that Mylapore derived its name - 'Mayil" meaning peacock and "Oor" meaning town.