Kapaleeshwarar Temple

Kapaleeshwarar Temple Mylapore
Kapaleeshwarar Temple Mylapore Location in Chennai
Name
Proper name	Kapaleeshwarar Thirukovil]
Tamil	மயிலாப்பூர் கபாலீஷ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்,சென்னை
Geography
Coordinates	13°02′N 80°16′E / 13.033°N 80.267°E / 13.033; 80.267Coordinates: 13°02′N 80°16′E / 13.033°N 80.267°E / 13.033; 80.267
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Chennai
Location	Mylapore
Culture
Primary deity	Kapaleeswarar (Shiva)
Consort	Karpagambal
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai (Tamil:கபாலீஷ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்,மயிலாப்பூர்,சென்னை) is a temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The form of Shiva's consort Parvati worshipped at this temple is called Karpagambal (Tamil):கற்பகாம்பாள்) is from Tamil, ("Goddess of the Wish-Yielding Tree"). The temple was built around the 7th century CE in Dravidian architecture.

According to the Puranas, Shakti worshipped Shiva in the form of a peacock, giving the vernacular name Mylai (Mayilāi) to the area that developed around the temple - mayil is Tamil for "peacock". Shiva is worshiped as Kapaleeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Karpagambal. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kapaleeswarar 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 Arubathimooval festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni is the most prominent festival in the temple.

The present masonry structure was built during the Vijayanagar rulers of the Tuluva Dynasty (1491–1570 CE). The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.