Kapālīśvara of Mylapore
Tradition
Hindu / Shaiva / Tamil
The Place
- Location: Mylapore (Chennai), Chennai, Tamil Nadu (13.0338°N, 80.2619°E)
Sacred Narrative
Kapālīśvara Temple of Mylapore is one of Chennai's oldest and principal Shiva shrines — a Paadal Petra Sthalam sung by the 3 Tēvāram saints. Original shrine at the shore was destroyed by Portuguese 16th c. and relocated 500m inland. The 37-m rājagopura (Nāyak, 16th c.) dominates Mylapore. The Arubathumūvar Peragotsavam (a 63-Nayanmar festival procession, March–April) is famed. The Sambandar-amrita-chelladi (first-meal rite) of Tamil Brahmin boys is traditionally done here.
Why This Entry Matters
India's sacred landscape embraces Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian, tribal, regional-folk traditions — each with its own cosmology and priestly lineage. This entry honours Hindu on its own terms.
Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations
MantraTradition-specific invocations
- Offerings
- tradition-specific
- Sacred colours
- tradition-specific
🪔 Worship Procedures
- Daily rites
- • tradition-specific daily observances
- Puja sequence
- tradition-specific
🛕 Principal Temples
- Main shrine of Kapālīśvara of MylaporeMedieval-modern📍 Mylapore (Chennai), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaFestivals: Annual festival · Weekly/seasonal special-day worshipKapālīśvara — Shiva of Mylapore, Chennai
🎊 Festivals
- Annual Kapālīśvara of Mylapore festivalSeasonally determined · 1–15 days
📜 Primary Scriptural Sources
- Primary texts of Hinduscriptural / devotional / folk
