Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 24th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 24th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
Goddess Parvathi wanted
to understand the full meaning of the five lettered Mantra (“Na Ma Shi Va Ya”)
and the significance of the sacred ash. She requested Lord Shiva to explain it
to her. While Lord Shiva was teaching her, she was attracted by the
beauty of a peacock dancing there. For her lack of attention, Lord Shiva cursed
her to become a peacock. For relief from this curse, he advised her to go to
Earth and perform penance. She worshiped Lord Shiva under a “Punnai” tree in
this place in the form of Peacock. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva
appeared before her, relieved her from the curse and named her
“Karpagambal”.
Hence the lord here is
known as Sri Punnaivana Nathar (“Punnai vanam” means a forest of Punnai trees).
The idol of Goddess Parvathi in a peacock form can be seen. Lord Punnaivana
Nathar’s shrine under a Punnai tree (Sthala Vriksham) can be seen. The name
Mayilai or Mylapore is derived from the legend that the Goddess Parvathi
worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a peacock. The historical name of this
place is Kapaleecharam.Mylapore is on the sea coast and the shore is just one
kilometre away.There are three places where Goddess Parvathy took the form of
peacock (“Mayil” in Tamil) and worshiped Lord Shiva – they are Mayiladuthurai
(Mayuram), Thirumayiladi and Mylapore. The original temple was located near the
sea but was believed to have been submerged in the sea. The current temple was
built around 350 years ago. The temple’s towers are very beautiful. There is a
big tank opposite to the temple’s western tower.
Lord
Brahma’s worshiped the lord here:
Lord Brahma worshiped
the lord here and got relieved from his sins. Once, it is believed that he was
arrogant and thought himself to be the equal of Lord Shiva. To teach him a
lesson and to rein in his pride, Lord Shiva nipped one of Brahma’s head and
held the skull in his hand. “Kapala” in Sanskrit means skull, hence Lord Shiva
here is also praised as “Sri Kapaleeswarar” and this place is called
“Kapaleeswaram”.
Lord
Murugan’s Penance:
Before waging his war
on the demon Surapadma, Lord Murugan performed penance in this temple. Lord
Shiva and Goddess Parvathy blessed their son and gifted him the weapon “Vel”
(spear) to conquer the demon. Lord Murugan returned triumphantly as
Singaravelan. After the demon Surapadman’s defeat, he took the form of a
peacock and became Lord Murugan’s mount (Vahanam).
After Lord Murugan’s
return, Lord Indiran gave his daughter Deivanai’s hand to Lord Murugan for
marriage. Iravadham, Lord Indiran’s elephant could not bear the separation of
Deivanai and chose to stay with her. In this temple, Lord Murugan gives darshan
to his devotees with his consorts Valli and Deivanai sitting on the Iravadham.
Seeing Lord Murugan in such a form is very rare.
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar and Pumpavay:
The temple is closely
associated with the history of Saint Thirugnanasambanthar who restored Pumpavay
to life from the bones and ashes preserved by her father Sivanesar. The father
was intending to give his daughter to the saint in marriage. But fate had it
that she died of a snake bite. Yet, the father preserved her bones in a pot to
be handed over to the saint whenever he visited this place. When Sambandar came
to this place, Sivanesar told him the sad story and placed the pot before the
saint.
Sambandar rendered a
pathigam containing 10 verses, beginning with the line, ‘Mattitta Punnai’. In
his pathigam, he listed the various festivals celebrated in this temple before
asking Pumpavay how she could miss all of these festivals. After he finished his
pathigam, the pot broke off and Pumpavay came out of it alive in her beautiful
form. Everyone was amazed to see the power of the saint’s songs.
Pumpavay’s father urged Sambanthar to accept his daughter’s hand in
marriage. However, Sambandar told him that he had now become her father as he
had given her life again. For this reason, he could only see her as his
daughter. Pumpavay spent the rest of her life worshiping Lord Shiva before
attaining salvation.
Kadalattu
Vizha:
In his hymn, Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar narrated the greatness of this temple and the festivals
celebrated here while reinstating the soul of devotee Pumpavay. He also
mentioned about the festival “Kadalattu Vizha” (Lord Shiva give Theerthavari in
the sea) that is celebrated in the Tamil month of Maasi. This pathigam is
unlike the others where the greatness of the lord is highlighted instead of the
festivals celebrated at each place.
Saint
Thiruvalluvar Temple:
Saint Thiruvalluvar the
celebrated author of Thirukkural, the world-famous ethical treatise, was born
and lived in Mylapore nearly 2,000 years ago. Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural is
honoured with translations in many other languages of the world. There is an
old temple in his birth place that is located very near to the Mundakkanni Amman
temple. There is an old “Iluppai” tree there which is believed to be more than
2000 years old. It is believed that Thiruvalluvar was born under this tree. In
the year 1935, the tree got damaged and its base is being protected with a
cover. It is believed that once when Thiruvalluvar’s wife was fetching water
from a well, Thiruvalluvar called her inside. She dropped the pot that she was
using to haul water and instantly went to answer her husband’s call. When she
returned, she was astonished to find the pot hanging halfway in the well. The
well from this famous incident can still be seen here.
Vayilar
Nayanar:
This is the birth place
of Vayilar Nayanar, one among the 63 Nayanmars.He was a staunch devotee of Lord
Shiva. It is believed that he constructed a temple inside his mind
(“manaseekamaka”) and worshiped Lord Shiva there. He had transcended the stage
of idol worship. He had attained such purity of heart and clarity of vision
that he did not need the aid of symbols or rituals. He was able to raise his mind
to the sublime heights of the abstract before attaining salvation. The
inclusion of Vayilar Nayanar among the 63 Nayanmars highlights the facts that
devotion is of many types. Whatever be the path one chooses, ultimately, the
goal is to be united with Lord Shiva. Hindu mythology has often emphasised that
there is no stereotyped spiritual path and idol worship is not the only way to
attain salvation.
Saptha
Sthaana temples:
In the Cauvery river,
there are a group of seven temples called the “Saptha Sthaana temples”. These
are - Thiruvaiyaru, Thirupazhanam, Thiruchotruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi,
Thirukandiyur, Thirupoonthuruthi and Thiruneithanam. Similarly, near Mylapore
there are seven (Saptha Sthaana) Shiva temples. These includes –
(1) Sri Karaneeswarar
Temple,
(2) Sri
Theerthapaleeswarar Temple,
(3) Sri Velleeswarar
Temple,
(4) Sri
Virupaksheeswarar Temple,
(5) Sri Valeeswarar
Temple,
(6) Sri Malleeswarar
Temple, and
(7) Sri Kapaleeswarar
Temple.
Devotees should keep in
mind that practice of worshiping these seven Shiva temples predates to Thiru
Gnanasambanthar's time. It is significant to note that when he visited
Mylapore, he visited these temples in that order.
People Worshipped
lord shiva here:
Lord Ram visited this
sacred place and worshiped Lord Shiva here. It is also believed that the Vedas,
Planet Sukran and Sage Kasyapar have worshiped the lord of this temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is the most
popular of the “Sapthasthana” temples in Chennai.
·
This is the
birth place of Vayilar Nayanar- one of the 63 Nayanmars.
·
This is the
birth place of Thiruvalluvar.
·
This east facing
temple has a 7-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram). The 3-tiered west facing tower
is facing the temple’s sacred tank.
·
There is a famous saying "Mylai is
Kylai" which means that Mylapore is Mount Kailash itself.
·
There is a beautiful hall called
“Navratri Mandapam” in the western side of the outer corridor.
·
On 8th day of Brahmotsavam, the
event of Sambanthar giving rebirth to Pumpavay is celebrated.
·
The 63 Nayanmars festival is very
popular in this temple and draws a large number of devotees.
·
This temple attracts a large number of
devotees on new moon and full moon days and during Pradosham.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Kapaleeswarar, Punnaivana Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Karpakambikai |
|
Theertham |
Kapali Theertham, Kadavul Theertham, Veda
Theertham, Vali Theertham, Ganga Theertham, Velli Theertham and Rama
Theertham. |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Punnai tree |
BELIEF:
This temple is
considered to be a significant place to conduct one’s 61st and
81st birth days.
It is believed that
those seeking “santhana prapthi” (child boon) can pray to Goddess Karpakambikai
here. Also, devotees believe that worshiping Goddess Karpakambikai here will
remove obstacles from their marriage proposals.
It is also strongly
believed by devotees that their prayers here will bring them relief from any
illness.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
10 days Brahmotsavam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maasi Maham), the “Kadalattu Vizha”
(Theerthavari) |
HOW
TO REACH:
Mylapore
is situated in the heart of Chennai at a distance of about 14 kms from
Koyambedu. There is a railway station in Mylapore on the Beach to Velachery
MRTS train route.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple,
Vadaku Mada Veethi,
Mylapore,
Chennai,
Tamil Nadu – 600 004.
LOCATION:
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