The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is one of the most important famous temples in Tamil Nadu and Chennai. It is also popularly know as Mylapore Temple and it boasts of exquisite architecture and one of the most celebrated shrine of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati.

According to Hindu legend, Goddess Parvathi did penance at Mylapore, taking the form of a pea-hen, in order to be wedded to Lord Shiva. The name Mylapore is derived from this legend, where “Mayil” in Tamil means a peacock. The famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore and its beautiful temple tank are associated with this legend.

Mylapore Temple was built in the ninth century and the MRTS railway station in this place is called Thirumylai Railway Station and it connects Mylapore to other MRTS areas of Chennai. Kapaleeshwarar temple is a well known landmark located in in the heart of Mylapore and is visited by several thousands, especially during the famed ‘Arupattu Moovar‘ festival in the month of Pisces. The Teppam or float festival in the large temple tank, and the biweekly Pradosham festival also draw huge crowds. Tirumayilai is the most centrally situated Shivastalam of the three Shiva temples in and around Chennai – Tiruvanmyur, Tirumayilai and Tiruvotriyur. This is the 24th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India.

The current temple is a modern structure, built based on the descriptions in the Puranams and the Tevaram. 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.

Visit the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple.