Kapaleeshwarar Temple

The temple at Mylapore is dedicated to Shiva as Kapaleeshwarar and the present building dates from around the seventeenth century, the earlier one on the shore having been lost; its eastern gopuram rises about forty metres and is covered in stucco figures painted in strong reds, greens and blues, repainted periodically, which is the standard Tamil treatment and here particularly vivid. A tank sits opposite and the temple stands in the middle of Mylapore, one of the oldest quarters of Chennai, surrounded by flower and fruit markets. The Arupathimoovar festival in March or April carries sixty-three saints in procession round the streets.

History

According to the Puranas, Parvati worshipped Shiva here in the form of a peahen, mayil, which gave the area its name, Mylai. The original temple is thought to have been built on the seashore in the 7th century by the Pallavas, as the hymns of the Nayanar saints describe a temple by the sea, and the present temple was built around the 17th century (Wikipedia, Kapaleeshwarar Temple).

Highlights

• The painted gopuram - stucco figures in strong colour on a forty-metre tower.
• The temple tank - the stepped water opposite the eastern entrance.
• The Mylapore streets - flower and fruit markets around the temple.
• The Arupathimoovar procession - sixty-three saints carried through the streets.

When to go

November to February for the coolest weather; the Arupathimoovar festival falls in March or April. Evenings are when the temple and the markets around it are busiest.

Before you go

Photography inside is restricted. The temple closes in the middle of the day between morning and evening sessions. The surrounding streets are congested with no parking.

Nearby

Marina Beach lies east; San Thome basilica is southeast.

Key facts