Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore – Legends
Mother performed penance in the form of peacock here:
Mother Uma wanted to know the full meaning of the five lettered Mantra – Na Ma Shi Va Ya – and the glory of the sacred ash. She begged Lord Shiva to teach her on these topics. While Lord was teaching her, Mother Uma was attracted by the beauty of a peacock dancing before her. Lord, for her inattention, cursed her to become a peacock. For relief from the curse, He advised her to go to Earth and perform penance on him.
Mother Uma worshipped the Shivalinga under the Punnai tree in this place. Moved by her penance, Lord appeared before her and confirmed her release from the curse and named her Karpagavalli. As requested by Mother Karpagavalli, Lord approved the name of the place Mayilai-now Mylapore. We can see a representation of this legend on stone in a small Shrine under a Punnai tree (Sthala Vriksha) in the Courtyard of the temple.
Thirugnana Sambandar restoring the life of Poompavai, daughter of Sivanesar:
The first piece of literature on this holy soil was the song of Saint Thirugnana Sambandar beginning with the line ‘Mattitta Punnayam Kanal’. These are the lines that brought Poompavai, daughter of Sivanesar back to life who died of snake bite while plucking flowers for Shiva Puja. After cremating her body, Sivanesar preserved the bones and ashes in a pot. After the visit of Sambandar to the place, as required by the Saint Sivanesar placed the ash-bone pot before him.
One of such songs addressed to Poompavai then in ash pot said that by her death she was the loser missing the Thai Poosam festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. The girl came alive after this song. However, Sambandar could not accept Poompavai for his wife as requested by the father, as he himself had now become her father by restoring her to life back. Poompavai spent the rest of her life as a virgin serving Lord Shiva and attained salvation then.
Lord Muruga got his Vel Weapon from Mother Parvathi here:
Before waging his war on demon Soorapadman, Lord Muruga performed penance in this temple. Lord Shiva and Mother Uma blessed the Son and gifted the weapon Vel to conquer the demon. Muruga returned triumphantly as Singaravela on the demon peacock – demon Soorapadman was changed to peacock vaahana of Muruga. Indira gave his daughter Deivanai to Lord Muruga in marriage. Iravadham elephant belonging to Indira could not bear the separation of Deivanai and chose to stay with her. Both consorts of Lord Muruga, Valli and Deivanai grant darshan to devotees sitting on Iravadham. This is a rare darshan.
Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva here to get rid of his ego:
The temple's name is derived from the words Kapalam (head) and Eswarar an alias of lord 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. Brahma had worshipped here to get rid of his ego and get back his power to create.
Other Names:
This place is known as Sukra Puri, Veda Puri, among many other names including “Kailaye Mayilai and Mayilaye Kayilai “which means this place is equal to kailash.
Sukracharya worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Sukracharya worshipped the Lord here and got back his lost eye.
Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Rama has worshipped here and won the war against Ravana and brought back Sita from Lanka.
Vayilar Nayanar attained Salvation here:
Vayilar Nayanar, a Saiva saint, attained salvation here.
Birthplace of Thiruvalluvar:
Mylapore is also the birth place of Thiruvalluvar who wrote Thirukkural.
Vedas worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Vedas worshipped Lord Kapaleeshwarar, hence the place is known as Vedapuri.
Shukran worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is also known as Shukra Puri as planet Shukra-Venus worshipped Lord here.
Etymology:
Thalami, a researcher from Greece, visited this place 2000 years ago, and had mentioned the name of the place as Malliarpa. This was the habitat of peacocks. As they made sounds – Arpu in Tamil – the place was known as Mayil (peacock) – Arpu, changed as Mayilappu and finally stayed with the name Mylapore.