Lord Shiva was imparting wisdom to Goddess Parvathy. Parvathy was
distracted by a beautiful peacock and lost her concentration to the
subject detailed by Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva cursed Parvathy that she
would take birth as a peacock. She visited several places and finally
reached Mylapore. Here she performed penance and Shiva Pooja under
Punnai Maram/Tree. Hence this place is known as 'Mayilapur' which is
colloquially known as Mylapore today (Mayil in Tamil means peacock and Mylapore refers to an Abode of Peacocks).
Lord Shiva was pleased with Parvathy's penance and the celestial wedding ceremony of Shiva and Parvathy took place in Uthiram Nakshatra/Star in Panguni tamil month. Every year Brahmotsavam is held in the month of Panguni and kalyana utsavam is held on Uthiram Nakshatra star day.
Singara Velan
Kapaleeswarar Temple
Parvathy Worshipping Lord Shiva in the form of Peacock
Punnai Maram-Sthala Vriksham under which Karpagambal performed Penance
There is saying in Tamil that 'Kailaye Mayilai, Mayilaye Kailai'. It means that Kailash in Sanskrit or Kayilai in Tamil, the celestial abode of Lord Shiva is the same as Mylapore and Mylapore is the same as Kailash to Lord Shiva.
Agasthiar.org details that Mylapore is Kailash itself owing to the 7 Shiva Temples in Mylapore in their website link below,
The Seven Shiva Temples in and around Mylapore are as follows,
1) Karaneeswarar
2) Theerthapaleeswarar
3) Velleswarar
4) Virupaksheeswarar
5) Valeeswarar
6) Malleswarar
7) Kapaleeswarar
Kapaleeswarar
Brahma Deva was proud that he had five faces and Lord Shiva wanted to
teach him a lesson. Lord Shiva plucked the Fifth Head of Lord Brahma.
The Fifth head stuck to Lord Shiva's hand as Skull which is known as
Kapalam in Sanskrit/Tamil. Hence Lord Shiva here is known as Kapaleeswarar.
Karpagambal: Karpaga Vriksham
Agasthiar.org details that there is an invisible Karpaga Vriksham in front of Karpagambal Devi and Vayilar Nayanar in the Temple. Karpaga Vriksham in Tamil or Kalpataru/Kalpa Vriksham in Sanskrit refers to the divine wish yielding tree in heaven which grants all wishes of people under its shade. Karpagambal also grants all the wishes of her devotees who approach her.
Kola Vizhi Amman-Kaval Deivam of Mylapore
Kolavizhi Amman is the Kaval Devatha or
the Deity who is incharge of the Mylapore Region. There is a separate
temple for her in Mylapore. 'Kolam' means round shape and 'Vizhi' means
eyesight/vision. Truly the Eyes of the Goddess are beautiful as seen in
this photo below. Kolavizhi Amman is a form of Bhadrakali.
It is to be noted that even today first pooja even in Brahmotsavam in
Mylapore is performed to kolavizhi amman before performing pooja to
Kapaleeswarar. The Utsava Murthy of Kolavizhi Amman is taken out in
procession first before 63 Nayanmargal procession in Brahmotsavam. Kola Vizhi Amman Temple is located near Santhome High Road in Chennai and the Google Map Location of the same is as follows,
Kola Vizhi Amman
Poompavai Brought Back to Life
Sivanesan was a trader and his daughter Poompavai died after a snake bit her while plucking Flowers. After completion of her funeral, Sivanesan kept the ashes and bones in a jar. Tirugnanasambandar came to the place and sung Pathigam in Tamil praising Lord Kabaleeswara. Poompavai was brought back to life after he sung the pathigam. The Tamil Lyrics of the Pathigam are in the link below,
Pradosha Utsavam of Mylapore
Karpagambal Kabali Kalyana Utsavam: Panguni Uthiram
There is a Goshala with around 15-20 cows inside the Temple Premises near the Punnai Maram Sthala Vriksham.
Goshala
Kodimaram/Dwaja Sthambam
Other Highlights
Vinyaka here is known as Nardana Vinayaka. Here Saneeswarar is looking westwards and hence is powerful in a separate sannidhi. Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy are seated together in the Prakara of Kapaleeswarar which is rare.
