Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Kapaleeshwarar Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Chennai |
Deity | Kapaleeshwarar (Shiva), Karpagambal (Parvati) |
Location | |
Location | Mylapore |
State | Tamil Nadu |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 13°02′01″N 80°16′12″E / 13.0337°N 80.2699°E[1] |
Architecture | |
Type | Dravidian architecture |
Elevation | 54 m (177 ft) |
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a
According to the
The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kapaleeshwarar and Karpagambal being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Aṟupatimūvar festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni as part of the brahmotsava is the most prominent festival in the temple.
The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[4]
Legend
The temple's name is derived from the words
History
The temple is generally thought to be built in the 7th century CE by the ruling
The Temple
The Kapaleeshwarar temple is of typical
The vahanas ("vehicles") at the temple include the bull, adhikaranandi, elephant, bandicoot, peacock, goat and parrot, while a golden chariot is a recent addition. Statues of the presiding divine couple are seated on a vahana or chariot which is brought in a procession around the temple while the temple band plays music. Devotees gather around the vahanas and consider it a privilege to pull / lift the deities on the vahana. There is also a peacock and a peahen caged inside the temple, to symbolize the tradition that Karpagambal had come in the form of peahen to plead to Kapaleeshwarar.
Sapta Sthana Shiva temples
This temple is one of the Sapta Sthana Shiva temples in Mylapore area. (one of the seven sacred Shiva temples in Mylapore).[12] They are:
- Karaneeswarar Temple
- Tirttapaleeswarar Temple
- Velleeswarar Temple
- Virupakshiswarar Temple
- Valeeswarar Temple
- Malleeswarar Temple
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple
In addition to these "Sapta Sthana Shiva sthalas", the
The tank
The theppakulam or the temple tank lies to the west of the temple. Known as the Kapaleeshwarar Tank or the Mylapore Tank, it is one of the oldest and well-maintained theppakulams in the city, measuring about 190 m in length and 143 m in breadth.[14] The tank has a storage capacity of 119,000 cubic metre and has water all through the year.[14] The 16-pillared, granite-roofed structure, known as the mandapam at the centre of this tank is known for its significance during the three-day annual float festival, when idols of Kapaleeshwarar and other deities are taken around the tank to the chanting of Vedic hymns.[14]
In 2014, ₹ 56.5 million was allotted to build a 2,150-meter-long pavement around the tank.[14]
Religious practises
The temple priests perform the During Friday worship, Karpagambal is decorated with a kasu mala, a garland made of gold coins.
Festivals
During the Tamil month of
The Arupathimoovar festival is the most important procession.[7] It is named after the sixty-three Nayanar saints. All sixty-three Nayanar idols follow the Kapaleeshwarar idol on this procession. During the car festival, Kapaleeshwarar is depicted holding a bow while seated on a throne, with Karpagambal alongside.[18] Brahma is depicted as driving the ther. The chariot is decorated with flowers and statues; there are huge gatherings of devotees to pull the ther. The car festival of 1968 is documented in the documentary film Phantom India by Louis Malle.[citation needed]
Religious work and saints
There is a reference to the temple in
See also
Notes
- ^ Silas 2007, p. 114
- ^ a b c Kamath 2002, pp.28-31
- ^ Hurd 2010, p. 36
- ^ Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
- ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 46.
- ^ "Kapaleeshwarar Temple". Lankapradeepa. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b c V. 2006, p. 13
- ^ a b c "Sri Kapaleeswarar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ a b de Bruyn 2010, p. 320
- ^ "Administration details". Mylapore, Chennai: Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Temple. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "About the Temple". Mylapore, Chennai: Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Temple. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ ஆரூர்.சுந்தரசேகர், பெருமைமிக்க மயிலாப்பூரில் சப்த சிவஸ்தலங்கள்!! விகடகவி, 16 மே 2020
- ^ Muthukumaran, M. (6 November 2019). "மயிலாப்பூர் திருவள்ளுவர் கோயிலில் என்ன நடக்கிறது? - ஸ்பாட் விசிட் #Video". Vikatan.com. Vikatan. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Take a stroll along Kapali tank". The Deccan Chronicle. Chennai: Deccan Chronicle. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "Pooja details". Mylapore, Chennai: Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Temple. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ Bhargava 2006, p. 451
- ^ "Festival details". Mylapore, Chennai: Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Temple. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ Hurd 2010, p. 43
- ^ a b Narasiah 2008, pp. 220-223
References
- Bhargava, Gopal K. (2006). Land and people of Indian states and union territories. 25. Tamil Nadu. USA: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 8178353814.
- Hurd, James (2010). Temples of Tamilnad. USA: Xilbris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4134-3843-7.
- Narasiah, KRA (2008). Madras : Tracing the Growth of the City Since 1639. Chennai: New Horizon Media Private Limited. ISBN 978-81-8368-789-8.
- Silas, Sandeep (2007). Discover India by Rail. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers. ISBN 978-81-207-2939-1.
- V., Subburaj (2006). Tourist Guide to Chennai. Chennai: Sura Books. ISBN 81-7478-040-8.
- Kamath, Rina (2000). Chennai. Chennai: Orient Longman Limited. ISBN 81-7835-014-9.
- de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David (2010). Frommer's India. Frommer's. ISBN 978-0-470-55610-8. Alt URL