Thonda Nadu Temple 24. Thirumayilapore

 SIVAYA NAMA

 

 

THIRUMAYILAPURE

Eastern side Rajakopuram



Kapaleeswarar Temple: Kapaleeswarar Kovil is situated in Mylapore, Chennai. About 2 KM from the sea. This temple one of the oldest. It was first built on the sea shore,  when the Portuguese captured Mylapore in 1566 AD they demolished the temple.Tiruvalluvar and Peyalwar lived Mylapore. Mylapore was a seaport and a trade centre is supposedly more than 200 years old. Centuries later the temple was built in the present place in Vijaya Nagar tradition indicates the present structure could have been built by king of Vijaya Nagram. The temple is famous for its sculptures

 

 

• Swamy: Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar
• Ambal: Arulmigu Karpagambal
• Sthala Viruksham : Punnai Maram
• Theertham: Kapali Theertham

 

Sthala Puranam:
 
 

Lord Siva and Karpagambal :
As per Hindu mythology, Parvathi the consort of Siva performed penance and worshipped Kapaleeswarar in the form of a Peacock ( மயில் ) – and hence the name of the place Mylapore. Kapaleeswarer is the presiding deity. In the Puranas, Lord Shiva is the guru of his divine consort, Parvati Devi. The legend says that the Ambal here, Karpagambal wanted to know the full meaning of the five lettered Mantra – Na Ma Si Va Ya – ( ஐந்தெழுத்து மந்திரம் - நமசிவாய ) and the glory of the sacred ash ( திருநீர் / விபூதி ). While Lord Siva teaching her, Ambal was attracted by a peacock dancing before her.Lord Siva was upset and cursed her to become a peahen. To get relief from this curse, she would join her after she worshipped him in the form of a Shiva Lingam3under a Punnai tree ( Alexandrian laurel ). After many years of searching, the peahen finally found such a Shiva Lingam in Mylapore (Southern Chennai). She then worshipped her Lord in this form, offering him flowers that she carried in her beak. Fulfilling his promise, Lord Siva released her from the curse and accepted her as his consort. He named her as Karpagavalli.As requested by Karpagavalli Ambal, Lord approved the name of the place as Mayilai, Later it becomes Thirumayilai and Mylapore.
 
Brahma and Siva :
Kapaleswarar (kapala + Eswarar) literally means "The Lord with the skull-bowl." Here, Shiva is depicted standing with an ascetic's bowl in the form of a skull in his hand. The skull is supposed that of the fifth head of Lord Brahma. Shiva is said to have plucked off Brahma's fifth head to teach him a lesson and to check his pride . Brahma represents the creation principle, and Siva represents destruction. The story symbolises how everything that is created must one day be destroyed. Furthermore, Siva's kapalam represents how the universe at end of a cosmic cycle is resolved into seed form. Then, from this kapalam, eventually springs forth the next creation.Kapalam in Tamil means skull, hence Lord Siva was praised as Kapaleeshwarar and the place is called KAPALEESWARAM.
 

 

Lord Murugan and Surapadman:
Lord Murugan performed penance in this temple before waging his war against Surapadhman. Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal blessed their son and gifted him the weapon Vel (வேல்). Lord Murugan defeated the demon and made him as peacock. He used the peacock as his vahanam. He returned triumphantly as Singaravelan. Lord Singaravelan grant dharshan with his consorts Valli and Deivanai sitting on Iravadham. This is a rare darshan.

Poompavai and Thirugnanasambandar:
The first Tamil literature on this holy soil was the sung by the Saint Tirugnana Sambandar beginning with the line ‘Mattitta Punnayam Kanal’. These are the lines that brought Poompavai, daughter Sivanesar back to life who died of snake bite while plucking flowers for Siva Puja.

The story goes that one day a girl by the name of Poompavai was gathering flowers in a garden for the daily worship when she was bitten by a poisonous snake and died. Her father, a merchant named Shivanesan Chettiar, had deep faith in Tiru Gnanasambandar.

After her cremation, Shivanesan Chettiar placed his daughter's ashes in a pot with the firm conviction that the saint would resurrect her when he came to through the area in the near future. Indeed, when Tiru Gnanasambandar to the Kapaleswarar Temple, Sivanesan Chettiar approached him with his daughter's ashes. Hearing the man's sad tale, Tiru Gnanasambandar heart overflowed with compassion. He then broke out in a spontaneous 10-versed hymn in praise of Siva in the form of Kapaleswarar. When he reached the final verse, Poompavai emerged from the pot alive and well.
Tiru Gnanasambandar did not cast even a glance at Poompavai, the beautiful young lady he had brought back to life. Instead, he attributed the miracle to the grace of Lord Siva, claiming no responsibility of his own. Sivanesan Chettiar offered Poompavai's hand in marriage to the saint. However, Sambandar could not accept Poompavai for his wife as requested by her 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 Siva and attained the feet of Lord Siva.


It is also believed that Lod Brahmma, Vedas, Sukkiran and Ramar worshipped Lord Siva here.

 

 

Moolavar Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar

 

                   

 

About the Temple:

The Kapaleeshwarar temple is of typical  Dravidian Architecture  style, with the Kopuram 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 Kopuram on either side. The east Kopuram has nine tiers and about 40 m hight, while the smaller western gopuram faces the sacred tank. The temple is surrounded by four Mada Streets.There is a large tank on the western side of the temple.

 

While entering through the eastern side one can get the darshan of Vinayakar. All the Uthsava Murthys decorated on the Mandapam on the northern side of the eastern kopuram and all festivals are conducted through the eastern enterance. After worshiping Vinayagar while proceeding on the pragaram Singaravelar shrine is there facing west. Further on the left side Veda mandapam is there. On the left side of the mandapam Palani Andavar shrine and Vayilar Nayanar shrine are there.

 

In front of the Swamy Sannathi the gold plated Flag Mast (கொடிமரம்), Bali Peedams and Maha Nandhi  are there. From the mahamandapam one can see both Karpagambal and Kapalleeswarar from one place. Swamy facing west and Ambal facing south. Both Swamy and Ambal shrines have separate inner pragarams.

 

Kapaleeswarar Swaymy is a Syuambu Lingam in a raised position and visible to a wide spectrum. The Lingam is  big and majestic. In the inner pragaram Natarajar, Chandrashekar, Dakshanamurthy, 63 Nayanmars and Somaskandar with Ambal uthsava murtys and parivara gods are there. All are clean and beautiful.  

 

Karpagambal Ambal blessing all the devoties in the standing posture. The beauty of her is such one may not willing to go away from her shrine. When coming out next to the inner side of the western entrance Poombavai shrine is there. On the northern pragaram Navagraha shrine and Sthala viruksham Punnai Maram are there.

 

 

Uthsavar Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar




Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar - Vasantha Uthsavam

This photograph was taken from the web

 

Vayilar Nayanar:

Vayilar Nayanar was a Vellala by caste. He belonged to Mylapore. He was a devout Siva bhakta. He constructed temples mentally and did manasa puja (mental worship). Vayilar built the temple of non-forgetfulness, lit the shining lamp of self-illumination, bathed the Lord in the waters of immortal ananda (bliss) and worshipped Siva with the elixir of supreme love. Thus, Vayilar obtained salvation.

Here is the life of a para bhakta — a supreme devotee. He had transcended the stage of idol worship. He had attained great purity of heart and clarity of inner psychic vision so that, without the aid of a symbol and without the help of rituals, he could raise his mind to the sublime heights of the Abstract.

The inclusion of this wonderfully simple life of Vayilar Nayanar is to point out that devotion is of many types, to suit the taste and temperament of different individuals. Whatever be the path the devotee chooses, ultimately they reach the same goal — union with Lord Siva. The Hindu sages have always declared that the spiritual path is not a stereotyped one. The Hindu spiritual path is not the same drug for all diseases; it is not the same food for all people at all ages (from infancy to old age!), but rather, the Hindu path is spiritual life adapted (within broad limits) to the needs of each individual. Everyone pursues the path (or the combination of paths) suited to him and ultimately reaches the same goal.

References:

Sekkilaar, and G. Vanmikanathan. Periya Puranam — A Tamil Classic On The Great Saiva Saints of South India. Ed. Dr. N. Mahalingam. Chennai: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 2000.

Sivananda, Swami. Sixty-Three Nayanar Saints. World Wide Web edition. India: Divine Life Society, 1999.

Pathigams:

Great Saiva Saint Tirugnana Sambandar had sung the glory of Lord Kapaleeswarar in his Thevara Pathigams. Arunagirinathar sung about Myilai in his Thiruppugazh. Vallalar Ramalinga Swamy mentioned in his Thiruvarutpa.

மட்டிட்ட புன்னையங் கானல் மடமயிலைக் கட்டிட்டங் கொண்டான் கபாலீச்சரம் அமர்ந்தான் ஒட்டிட்ட பண்பின் உருத்திர பல்கணத்தார்க் கட்டிட்டல் காணாதே போதியோ பூம்பாவாய்.     மைப்பயந்த ஒண்கண் மடநல்லார் மாமயிலைக் கைப்பயந்த நீற்றான் கபாலீச்சரம் அமர்ந்தான் ஐப்பசி ஓண விழாவும் அருந்தவர்கள் துய்ப்பனவுங் காணாதே போதியோ பூம்பாவாய் ஊர்திரை வேலை உலாவும் உயர் மயிலைக் கூர்தரு வேல் வல்லார் கொற்றங் கொள் சேரிதனில் கார்தரு சோலைக் கபாலீச்சரம் அமர்ந்தான் ஆர்திரை நாள் காணாதே போதியோ பூம்பாவாய்.

---- திருஞானசம்பந்தர்   2nd  திருமுறை  The Tank and the western enterance Adhikara Nandhi    Arubaththumoovar Festival   Arubaththumoovar Festival   Fetivals: Bramhamotsvam and ‘Arupathumoovar’ Festival during April May, Theppa Thiruviza (Float Festival) in January, Navaratri Festival in September /October and Vasanta Utsavam in May/June are the major festival. Timings: 5.00 AM to 12.30 PM                        4.00 PM to 9.00 PM  Contact:   The Executive Officer, Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004. +91- 44 - 2464 1670 THIRUCHITRAMBALAM