Kapaleeshwarar temple

Infobox Mandir

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creator =
proper_name = Mylai Kapaleashwarar Thirukoil
date_built =
primary_deity = Kapaleashwarar(Shiva)
architecture = Dravidian architecture
location = Chennai

Kapaleashwarar temple is a Hindu temple located in Mylapore, Chennai, India. The original 8th century Shiva temple was built by the Pallavas and located on the shore but it was destroyed by the Portuguese and was re-built as a church 300 years later. [http://hamsa.org/]

The presiding deity 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"). Legend has 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. Fact|date=February 2007

History

It is believed and proven by the name of the area "Mylapore" where the temple is situated, and "architecture", "statues" inside the temple that it is indeed based on the story of shiva(kapaleashwarar) turning parvati(karpagambal)into peahen. One day as lord Shiva was telling something important to his wife Parvathi, she was admiring a peacock dancing beautifully besides them. Knowing that she was not listening to him, shiva got angry and turned her into a peahen and sent her to earth. After realising her mistake, parvathi as a peahen started doing pooja to shiva and prayed to take her back as his wife. Impressed with her sincere prayer and devotion, he changed her back and accepted her as his wife. Statues and arts depicting this story can be seen throughout the temple including Temple Tower(Gopuram).

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.

Mythology

The Temple

Architecture

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. Fact|date=February 2007

hrines

The temple has other shrines dedicated to Ganesha (a dancing form called "Nardana Vinayakar"), Muruga (called "Singara Velar"), with his two consorts Valli and Deivayani. 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.

Sambanthar (Thirugyanasambandar), is said to have brought back to life the maiden Poompavai, daughter of Sivanesa Chettiar (a Siva devotee) who was desirous of marrying him, at Mylapore. The saint poet Tiruvalluvar lived here. The bronze idols of the 63 Nayanmars, the saints who were devotees of Lord Siva are placed in the h Sannadhi. Every year the Arupathumoovar festival is conducted & the 63 nayanmars (Nayanmar) are taken in procession.

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), story 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.

Easy Paasuram to Learn(Tamil)

சொற்றுணை வேதியன் ஜோதி வானவன்

பொற்றுணை திருந்தடி பொருந்த கைதொழ

கற்றுணை பூட்டியோர் கடலிற் பாய்ச்சினும்

நற்றுணையாவது நம சிவாயமே!

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.

Therotsavam or car festival

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 supposed to be celebrated in order to honor 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

* [http://www.jyotirlinga.com Virtual Lord Shiva Darshan and pilgrimage with videos and images]
* [http://www.mylaikapaleeswarar.com/English/Index.htm Temple home page]
* [http://www.indian-heritage.org/temple/kapali.html Indian heritage page]
* [http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/kapaleeswarar.asp ChennaiOnline article]
* [http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/s225.html Indian temples article]
* [http://www.kapaleeswaram.in/ Temple trust name]
* [http://www.willpearson.co.uk/virtual_tours/chennai/index.php/ Virtual tours of Kapaleeshwarar Temple]