Siva Temples of Mylapore by Kalamkriya

Siva Temples of Mylapore

nrd;id kapiyapd; rptd; Nfhtpy;fs;

Siva Temples of Mylapore Temples in south India are known for their architectural splendour. They are characterised by tall gopurams or towers, spacious courtyards and the beauty and symmetry of the sculptures that adorn them. The visitor will marvel at the high levels of skill, craftsmanship, and team spirit behind the massive undertakings. The gopurams and many pillars of the temples have intricately carved figures of gods, goddesses, animals, birds and graceful dancers. Mylapore in Chennai is famous for seven temples of Siva. ‘Mylai’ is also called ‘Kailai’ (Kailas, the abode of Siva). The temples are a mustsee for every devout Hindu. In almost all Siva temples we can see Siva, Parvati, Ganesa, the elephantheaded God, the divine son of Siva, Murugan, the second son of Siva, Dakshinamurti and the navagrahas. Siva is known by a number of names, depending on the legend associated with each temple dedicated to Him, but every name of Siva is suffixed with the term Eswarar. The Goddess Parvati too is worshipped in different names at different temples. This booklet has a brief write-up about each of the seven Siva temples at Mylapore and how to reach them. Somavara Amavasya (New Moon Monday) is considered an auspicious day to visit these temples. Some of these temples are in a state of neglect and need help.

nrd;id> kapiyapd; rptd; Nfhtpy;fs; ‘Nfhtpypy; y h Chpy; FbapUf; f Ntz; l hk; ’ vd; g J gonkhop. ,k;nkhopf;Nfw;g kapiy kf;fs; ehd;F jpirfspYk; Nfhtpy; #o thof;$ba NgW ngw;wpUg;gJ ,iwtd; je;j tuk; vd;Nw $wyhk;. jkpofj;jpYs;s midj;Jf; Nfhtpy;fSNk cynfq;fpYk; thOk; midj; J kf; f isAk; fth; e ; j pOf; F k; rf; j p ngw; w it. Vnddpy; > mitaidj; J k; vz; z w; w fiyEZf; f q; f Sk; > rpj; j pur; r pwg; G k; nfhz;lit. xt;nthU NfhtpYk; jdf;nfd xU jdp rpwg;ig ngw;Ws;sJ. kapiyNa fapiy fapiyNa kapiy vd; g J $w; W . kapiyapy; mike;Js;s VO rptd; Nfhtpy;fSk; kpfTk; ngUik tha;e;jit. gy E}w; w hz; L fshf mit ,q; f pUg; g it. Nrhkthu (jpq; f l; f poik) mkhthir md;W ,e;j VO Nfhtpy;fSf;Fk; nrd;W rptngUkhid jhprpj; J topgLtJ kpfTk; tpNr\khdJ> cj; j kkhdJ vd; W $wg;gLfpwJ. nghJthf> vy;yh rptd; Nfhtpy;fspYNk rptd;> mk;ghs;> gps;isahh;> KUfd;> j~pzh%h;j;jp kw;Wk; etf;fpufq;fSf;nfd re;epjpfisf; fhzyhk;. me;je;j ];jyj;jpd; Guhzj;jpw;F Vw;g rptngUkhd; <];tud; vd;w ngaNuhL ,ize;J gythwhf miof;fg;gLfpwhd;. kapiyapy;> fghyP];tuh;> nts;sP];tuh;> fhuzP];tuh;> tp&gh~P];tuh;> ky;yP];tuh;> thyP];tuh;> jPh;j;jghyP];tuh; vd;W VO rptd; Nfhtpy;fs; cs;sd. ,e;j rpW Gj;jfj;jpy;> ,f;Nfhtpy;fspd; rpwg;G> kw;Wk; tuyhW gw;wpAk;> mtw;iw nrd;wilAk; topfisAk; njhFj;J nfhLj;Js;Nshk;. ,e;j VO Nfhtpy;fSs; mjpfk; gpurpj;jp ngwhj rpy Nfhtpy;fSf;F MjuTk; epjp cjtpAk; Njitg;gLfpwJ.

Kapaleeswarar temple

Kapaleeswarar temple This temple, the ‘Kailas’ (Lord Siva’s heavenly abode) of Mylapore is an example of classic Dravidian architecture with a 120 ft tall gopuram. The temple was built on its present site 300 to 400 years ago, but its beginnings go back to a temple that had been on the shore a thousand years and more. Unwilling to listen to Lord Siva’s discourse on the sacred quality of vibhuti (sacred ash) at Mt. Kailas but keen on watching a passing peacock and admiring its beauty, Goddess Parvati was cursed by Lord Siva to become a peacock. When Goddess Parvati repented and prayed to Lord Siva for “Saapa Vimochanam” (release from the curse), the Lord said that He would grant her wish if She offered prayers as a peacock to Him (in the lingam form). Parvati as a peacock, wandered and saw the punnai vanam (grove of punnai trees) at Mylai and a Linga and offered prayers with flowers. Lord Siva appeared before His consort and relieved Her of the curse. Since Myil means Peacock in Tamil this place was named Mylapuri (the town of Peacocks). An interesting episode involving Saint Tirugnana Sambandar is part of the lore of the temple. He is believed to have come here and resurrected a victim of snake bite, Angampoompaavai, the daughter of Sri Sivanesa Chettiar, a wealthy businessman of Mylapore. Chettiar, a staunch devotee of Siva, prayed to the Lord for mercy. He had safely kept his daughter’s ashes in a pot and when he heard that Thirugnana Sambandar had come to visit the temple, prostrated before him and pleaded with him to bring his 5

daughter back to life. When Sambandar sang a few verses in praise of the Lord, Angampoompaavai got her life back. Like the Karpaga vriksha which grants anything that one asks for, those who visit this temple will get all their wishes fulfilled. Ambal: Karpagambal Vriksham: Punnai tree

fghyP];tuh; jpUf;Nfhtpy; kapiyapd; rpwg;G kpf;f Nfhtpyhd fghyP];tuh; Nfhtpypy; cs;s 120 mb caukhd NfhGuk;> mofpa rpj;jpu Ntiyg;ghLfSilajhFk;. 300-400 Mz; L fSf; F Kd; d h; ,t; t plj; j py; ,e; j Nfhtpy; fl;lg;gl;ljhfTk; mjw;F Kd;Ng fiuNahuj;jpy; Mapuk; tUlq;fSf;F Kd;dNu ,f;Nfhtpy; ,Ue;jjhfTk; nra;jpfs; $Wfpd;wd. fapiyapy; rptngUkhd; tp)jp (jpUePW) gw;wp $wpa tpsf;fq;fisf; Nfshky;> mq;F nrd;W nfhz;bUe;j kapypd; mofpa tbtk; fz;L kaq;fpa ghh;tjp Njtpia rptd;> ‘kapyhff; fltJ’ vd rhgkpl;lhh;. ghh;tjp Njtp jd; jtiw czh;e;J rhg tpNkhrdk; mspf;FkhW rptngUkhdplk; kd; w hba NghJ> “eP kapy; cUtj; j py; vd; i d (rptypqf ; j;ijg;) ) [pjj ; hy;> cdf;F rhg tpNkhrdkspgN ; gd;” vd;W $wpdhh;. NjtpAk; kapyhf te;J kapiyapy; Gd;idkuj;jbapy; rptypq;fj;ijg; )[pjJ ; rhg tpNkhrdk; mile;jjhf ,f;Nfhtpy; gw;wpa Guhzk; $WfpwJ. kapyhf Njtp rptngUkhid tzq; f pajhy; > kapyhg; ) h; vd; W ,t;tplj;jpw;Fg; ngah; te;jjhf $wg;gLfpwJ.

NkYk;> jpUQhd rk;ge;jh; mq;fk;)k;ghit vd;w ngz;iz caph;g;gpj;Jj; je;j rpwg;G ,f;Nfhtpypd; kw;nwhU ngUikahFk;. kapiyapy; tho;e;j rptNdr nrl;bahh;> Mo;e;j rptgf;jh;. mtuJ kfis ghk;G xd;W fbj;J ,we;J tpl;lhs;. mtsJ vYk;G kw;Wk; rhk;giy gj;jpug;gLj;jp itj;jpUe;j nrl;bahh; jpUQhd rk;ge;jh; NfhtpYf;F te;j nra;jp Nfl;L mth; ghjq;fis tzq;fp jd; kfspd; capiu kPz;Lk; mspf;FkhW Ntz; b dhh; . rk; g e; j Uk; <]; t uidg; Nghw; w pg; ghbaJk; )k; g hit caph;j;njOe;jhs;. ,r;nra;jp nka;rpyph;f;Fk; gf;jpia midtUf;Fk; cz;lhf;Fk;. fghyj;ijf; ifapy; jhq;fpf; nfhz;ljhy; fghyP];tud; vd;w ngah; ngw;w rptngUkhDk;> fw;gf tpU~khd fw;gfhk;ghSk;> gf;jh;fs; Nfl;lij vy;yhk; thhp toq;Fk; fz;fz;l nja;tq;fs; vd;gjpy; rpwpjsTk; Iakpy;iy. mk;ghs; - fw;gfhk;ghs; tpU~k; - Gd;id kuk;

Karaneeswarar temple

Karaneeswarar temple The Karaneeswarar temple which belongs to the 12th century, is one of the oldest temples of Mylapore. ‘Karanam’ in Tamil means ‘reason’. He is the reason for all reasons and hence the name ‘Karaneeswarar’. A speciality of this temple are the navagrahas. In a break from tradition, Surya, one of the navagrahas residing in the temple is accompanied by his two consorts Chhaya and Swachalaambal, while only the navagrahas are normally seen in temples. Also, the moolavar or presiding deity is square in shape, a rare feature, seen only in the Siva lingams of Thirukadaiyoor and Kalahasti. Ambal: Porkodi Vriksham: Mango tree

fhuzP];tuh; Nfhtpy; gd;dpuz;lhk; E}w;whz;L Nfhtpy; ,J. fhuzj;jpwN ; f fhuzkha; ,Ug;gth; Mjyhy; fhuzP];tuh; vdg; ngah; ngw;Ws;shh; ,f;Nfhtpy; rptngUkhd;. ,q;F fhzg;gLk; rptypq;fk; rJu tbtkhf fhl;rpaspg;gJ ,f;Nfhtpypd; rpwg;G. ,t;tplky;yhJ NtW ,U ,lq;fspy; kl;LNk (jpUf;fila+h;> fhy`];jp) ,t;tz;zk; rJukhd tbTila rptypqf ; q;fisf; fhzyhk;. NkYk;> nghJthf ehk; etf;fpufq;fisj; jdpahf kl;LNk Nfhtpypy; fhz; g J tof; f k; . ,f; N fhtpypy; #h; a %h; j ; j pia jd; ,U Jiztpahh;fshd rhah kw;Wk; Rtr;ryhk;ghSld; ehk; fhzyhk;. mk;ghs; - nghw;nfhb tpU~k; - khkuk;

Velleeswarar temple

Velleeswarar temple Legend has it that during Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Vamana (one of the Dasavataras), Asura Guru Sukracharya lost one of his eyes, in an attempt to sabotage the carrying out of Mahabali’s promise of land to the Lord. The sage is said to have performed tapas here and regained his vision through Lord Velleeswarar’s mercy. In front of the Saneeswarar Sannidhi, we find the sage Sukracharya performing penance to Lord Velleeswarar under the “Kurunthai” tree for getting back his lost eyesight. It is believed that those who have lost their eyesight have regained it after praying here. Ambal: Kamakshi Tree: Kurunthai tree.

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Vaaleeswarar temple

Vaaleeswarar temple Situated opposite the Arulmigu Kolavizhi Amman temple, the Lord here is said to have got the name Vaaleeswarar because Vali a great warrior, and the brother of Sugriva, performed puja here. The five lingams here are a rare feature, not found elsewhere other than at Kasi. According to the temple lore, those who have a darsan of these five lingams on the auspicious day of Mahasivaratri, will be blessed. There is a beautiful statue of Vali inside the sannidhi. Ambal: Periyanayaki Vriksham: Vanni tree

thyP];tuh; Nfhtpy; mUs;kpF Nfhytpop mk;kd; NfhtpYf;F vjpNu cs;sJ thyP];tuh; Nfhtpy;. thdu tPuh; thyp rptgf;jh;. ,q;F <];tuidg; )[pj;jjhy; thyP];tuh; vd ,f;Nfhtpy; rptdhh; miof;fg;gLfpwhh;. ,q;F> tlf;F Nehf;fp> mofpa Gd;KWtYld;> if$g;gp epd;W nfhz;bUf;Fk; thypapd; rpiyiag; ghh; g ; g th; gutrkilth; vd; g jpy; Iakpy; i y. NkYk; > ,f;Nfhtpypy; fhrpapy; fhzg;gLk; gQ;rypq;fq;fs; NghyNt Ie;J ypq;fq;fs; fhzg;gLfpd;wd. ,tw;iw ehk; k`hrptuhj;jphp md;W jhprdk; nra;jhy; Kf;jp epr;rak; vd;gJ IjPfk;. mk;ghs; - nghpaehafp tpU~k; - td;dp kuk;

Virupaksheeswarar temple

Virupaksheeswarar temple Virupa means ‘not conforming to nature’. Aksham means ‘eyes’. The name Virupaksheeswarar refers to Lord Siva’s three eyes. A distinct feature of this temple is the ‘Rishabam’ in front of the Goddess where a ‘Simham’ should be. There is a separate sannidhi for Nataraja inside this temple. Legend has it that Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram appeared before Saint Sundaramurti Nayanar at this venue. Ambal: Visalakshi Vriksham: Vilva tree

tp&gh~P];tuh; Nfhtpy; ‘tp&gk;’ vd;why; ‘,aw;iff;F NtWgl;lJ> Kuz;ghlhdJ’ vd;gJ nghUs;. ‘m~k;’ ‘mf;fk;’ vd;why; ‘fz;fs;’ vd;gJ nghUs;. nghJthf ,uz;L fz;fspUg;gJ ,aw;if. ,q;F rptngUkhdpd; %d;whtJ> new;wpf;fz; ,aw;iff;F NtWgl;lJ. Mjyhy; Kf;fz;zdhd rptngUkhd;> ,q;F tp&gh~P];tuh; vd;W miof;fg;gLfpwhh;. ,f;Nfhtpypy; mk;kd; re;epjp vjphpy; rpk;kky;yhJ hp\gj;ij ehk; fhzyhk;. ,J ,f;Nfhtpypd; xU rpwg;gk;rk;. ,e;j rptd; Nfhtpypy; Re;ju%h;j;jp ehadhh; topgl;ljhfTk;> rpjk;guj;jpy; fhzg;gLk; eluh[uhf ,q;F rptngUkhd; mtUf;Ff; fhl;rpaspj;jjhfTk;> $wg;gLfpwJ. ,q;F eluh[Uf;F xU re;epjpAk; cs;sJ. mk;ghs; - tprhyh~p tpU~k; - tpy;t kuk;

Malleeswarar temple

Malleeswarar temple The sthalapuranam of this temple goes like this. Prarthan, a king of Ayodhya and an ardent devotee of Lord Siva chose this place full of mallikai (jasmine) bushes to do penance and performed a yagna to invoke the blessings of the Lord, ignoring Indra’s constant efforts to disturb him. Pleased with the king’s unflinching devotion, Lord Siva is said to have appeared before him with His consort Maragathambal. Since the lingam worshipped by the king was amidst mallikai bushes, the deity here came to be known as Malleeswarar. A neem tree and a peepul tree here, so close to each other that they look like one, present an unusual sight. Going round these is said to bring luck and prosperity. Jasmine garlands offered to Lord Malleeswarar on six consecutive Mondays will help fulfil all wishes. Ambal: Maragathambal Vriksham: Jasmine tree

ky;yP];tuh; Nfhtpy; mNahj;jpia Mz;l kd;dh;fSs; xUtdhd gpuhh;j;jd; nghpa rptgf;jd;. ky;ypif tdkhf ,Ue;j ,t;tplj;jpy; rptid kdjpy; nghUj;jp mUs; ngw jtk; Ghpe;jhd;. mtuUs; ngw Nts;tp xd;W nra;jhd;. NjNte;jpud; ,e;j Nts;tpiaf; fiyf;f Kad;whd;. Mapd; gpuhh;j;jd; jtj;jpypUe;J fiyahJ> mauhJ jtk; Ghpe;jhd;. mtdJ gf;jpiaf; fz;L kfpo;e;J rptngUkhd; jd; Njtp kufjhk;ghSld; fhl;rpaspj;J mUs; ghypj;jhh; vd;W ,f;Nfhtpy; Guhzk; njhptpff ; pdw ; J. ky;ypif tdj;jpy; <];tuidg; )[pj;jjhy; ky;y] P ;tuh; vdg; ngah; te;jJ. NkYk;> ,f;Nfhtpypy; Ntk;Gk; murkuKk; ,ize;J xd;WNghy fhzg;gLfpwJ. ,jid tyk; te;jhy; gy ed;ikfs; gf;jh;fSf;Ff; fpl;Lk; vd ek;gg;gLfpwJ. ky;ypif kyh;khiyia MW thuk; jpqf ; l;fpoikfspy; rhh;jj ; p topgl> ehk; epidj;j fhhpak; if$Lk; vd;Wk; gf;jh;fs; $Wfpd;wdh;. mk;ghs; - kufjhk;ghs; tpU~k; - ky;ypif

Teerthapaleeswarar temple

Teerthapaleeswarar temple This temple came to be known as Teerthapaleeswarar because, in the Tamil month of Maasi (February 15-March 15) ‘Teerthavari’ festival is celebrated here when the presiding deity is offered puja, and ‘teertham’ after which the temple festival commences. According to legend, Sage Agastiar offered daily pujas here and was blessed by the Lord. Ambal: Tirupurasundari Vriksham: Vanni tree

jPh;j;jghyP];tuh; Nfhtpy; khrp khjj;jpy; jPhj ; j ; thhp vd;w tpoh vLf;fg;gl;L <];tuDf;F jPhj ; j ; kspjJ ; gpd;dh; ,f;Nfhtpypy; cw;rtk; njhlq;Ftjhy; ,f;Nfhtpy; <];tuDf;F jPh;j;jghyP];tuh; vdg; ngah; te;jJ. mfj;jpa Kdpth; ,q;F te;J rptngUkhid topgl;L mUs;ngw;wjhff; $wg;gLtJ ,f;Nfhtpypd; kw;nwhU rpwg;ghFk;. mk;ghs; - jphpGuRe;jhp tpU~k; - td;dp kuk;

Designed by Kalamkriya Published by Mrs. Chandra Sankar 9, Cathedral Road, Chennai - 600 086. Ph: 2811 8051/52. All rights reserved. No part of this book can be reproduced. For private circulation only. 2002 19