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Arulmigu Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Mylapore is in a busy place of Chennai. Sri Kabaleeswarar Temple is a well known landmark to many in Chennai. Mylapore is also called as Mayilai or Thirumayilai due to the fact that Goddess Sakthi worshipped Shivan in the form of a Peacock or Mayil and hence the name. The full name of the Temple is Sri Karpagambal Samedha Sri Kabaleeswarar Temple. It is said that this Temple is an ancient one having been built in the year around 7th century. The original Temple that was built earlier is believed to have been ravaged by the Portuguese and the present Temple is said to have been built by the Vijayanagara Kings. The Temple has an East facing 7 tiered Rajagopuram and another West facing Rajagopuram comprising of 3 tiers. Likewise there are dual entrances too. There is a four pillared Mandapam before the Rajagopuram and the area around it has a lot of shops and is used for parking vehicles.

On entering the Rajagopuram there is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Narthana Vinayagar and another East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Annamalaiyar who is seen in the form of a Shiva Lingam. Close to this is a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Unnamalai Ambal who is seen in a standing posture. The Temple has a huge East facing Thirukalyana Mandapam with a well decorated colourful Gopuram. Even the ceiling of this place is coloured with gorgeous paints. This multi pillared Thirukalyana Mandapam is being used for holding various Divine Rituals such as Murugan Thirukalyanam, Shivan Parvathy Thirukalyanam etc. Close to the Thirukalyana Mandapam is a North facing Sub Shrine before which two Dwara Baalakas are seen. This Sub Shrine belongs to Sri Palani Andavar. Then there is another North facing Sub Shrine of Sri Vaayalar Naayanar, whose Idol of Sri Vayalaar Naayanar is in a seated posture. Then is the West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Singaravelar and on either side of this Sub Shrine are two Dwara Baalalaka Idols. In this Sub Shrine Sri Singaravelar is seen in a standing posture flanked by His Consorts Valli and Devasena. Facing this Sub Shrine is a small Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram, a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a East facing Mayil or Peacock Vaahanam. Facing this Sub Shrine is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Arunagirinathar.

Though the East facing Rajagopuram looks important with seven tiers the actual Shrine of the Presiding Deity is West facing. As told earlier the West side entrance is much smaller and has a three tiered Rajagopuram. There is a huge Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram, and a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam which are gold plated and looks dazzling. Then there is an East facing Nandhi Vaahanam within a four pillared Mandapam. There is a huge multi pillared Mandapam and each of these pillars are skillfully carved and one of the pillars is embossed with an Idol of Sri Hanuman who is seen fully smeared with Sendhuram. The Ambal of this Temple is known as Goddess Karpagambal who is the Consort of the Presiding Deity, Sri Kapaleeswarar. There are two Dwara Baalaki Idols who stand guard on either side. Facin the Ambal's Sub Shrine is a Neivedhya Peedam and a Simha Vaahanam. The Temple's Sub Shrine has huge wooden doors and beyond this Sri Karpagambal is seen South facing and in a standing posture in Her Moolasthanam. There is an East facing Palliyarai which has gold platings all around. In the Moolasthana Mandapam there are several pillars lending beauty to it. In the Sanctum Sanctorum the Presiding Deity is known as Sri Kapaleeswarar and He is seen West facing in the form of a Swayambhu Shiva Lingam. He is said to be Omnipotent and ever listening to the voes of His Devotees. There are two huge Dwara Baalaka Idols who stand guard before His threshold. Facing this Shrine of Sri Kabaleeswarar is a small Nandhi Vaahanam. His Koshtam has almost similar Idols of other Shivan Temples but slightly in an unusual manner. First is the Sri Durgai Amman and Sri Brahmma who are North facing, Sri Chandikeshwarar Idol is seen South facing, then the Idol of Sri Lingothbhavar is seen East facing, the Idols of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy and Sri Narthana Vinayagar are seen South facing.

The inner peripheral has an East facing Urchavamoorthy Idol of Sri Singaravelar who is seen along with Valli and Devasena. The Urchavamoorthy Idol of Sri Natarajar is seen along with Sri Sivagami Ambal and Manikavasagar who are all South facing. The 63 Urchavamoorthy Idols of all the Naayanmaars are seen South facing. The Idols of Sri Saraswathi, Sri Durgai and Sri Lakshmi are seen East facing. The Idols of Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Visalakshi, Sri Kaala Bhairavar and a few Naaga Devathas are seen South facing. Then a few Naagar Idols are seen intermittently along with a few Shiva Lingams. The Idols of Sri Veerabadrar and Sri Polla Pillaiyar are seen West facing. Sri Sundarar, Sri Appar, Sri Thirugnana Sammadhar and Sri Manikavasagar are seen as West facing. The 63 Naayanmar Idols are even divided as West and North facing. There is an East facing Idol of Sri Sekkizhar and close to this are the North facing Idols of Sri Umapathy Sivan, Sri Maraignana Sivam, Sri Arunandhi Sivan and Sri Meikanda Sivam. The East facing Urchavamoorthy Idols of Sri Karpagambal and Sri Somaskandar are seen adjacent to each in the subsequent Sub Shrines.

Close to the West facing smaller Rajagopuram is an East facing Sub Shrine in which the Idol of Sri Thirugnana Sammadhar is North facing and that of Sri Angampoompaavai is seen East facing. The Vaahanams of the Temple are neatly stacked and kept in shuttered enclosures. The Temple has a well maintained Ghoshala or Pasumadam and close to this is a Punnai Maram beneath which is a West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Punnaivananathar who is seen in the form of a small Shiva Lingam. Facing the Sub Shrine of Sri Punnaivananathar is a Nandhi Vaahanam. The Temple has a West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Saneeswara Bhagwan who is seen in a standing posture. Beyond this is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Sundareshwarar who is in the form of an Shiva Lingam. Facing the Sub Shrine of Sri Sundareswarar is a small Nandhi Vaahanam and a Neivedhya Peedam. The Temple has a Navagraha Sannadhi which has been designed and built on a squarish podium. Close to this is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Jagadeeswarar who is seen in the form of a Shiva Lingam.

The Temple has a modern Book Stall seeling all types of spiritual books. It also has facilities for Mothers to feed their babies. A Temple Kitchen or Madapalli and a huge Annadhana Koodam is seen within the Temple. This Annadhana Koodam has been built in an exquisite manner. The Temple has two Offices for it and there is a Yaaga Saalai too. The Temple has facilities within its premises where a Kalyana Mandapam has been built. The Temple has a massive Sacred Tank or Pushkarani which is known as Kabali Theertham. The Sthala Viruksham of the Temple is a Punnai Maram. Two Temple Chariots which are smaller in size are stationed within the Temple premises whereas the bigger of the three Temple Chariots is safely parked outside the Temple premises. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri, 63 Naayanmaar Thiruvizha are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner.

Contact Details: Balaji Gurukkal 94447 22594, Kabali Gurukkal 94447 75859, Venkata Subramaniya Gurukkal 98401 66701 and 044 24641670

Temple Timings: 5 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 9 PM

Distance from Porur to Mylapore is 18 Kms

Distance from Triplicane to Mylapore is 5 Kms

Distance from Madhavaram to Mylapore is 20 Kms

Distance from Tambaram to Mylapore is 27 Kms

Distance from Guduvanchery to Mylapore is 37 Kms

Distance from Singaperumal Koil to Mylapore is 49 Kms

Distance from Chengalpattu to Mylapore is 57 Kms

Distance from Poonamallee to Mylapore is 24 Kms

Distance from Mangadu to Mylapore is 22 Kms

Distance from Adyar to Mylapore is 5 Kms