Kapaleeswara temple,mylapore

Mylapore,known as the Town of Peacocks, lies in the suburban area of Chennai.It is a reilgious and cultural centre for the people of Tamil Nadu.It is said to have been established on the coast of Coromandel only to have been pushed towards the interiors after the Portugese conquest in the 16th century. Kapaleeswara temple is an 8th century Shiva temple built by the Pallavas.The original temple was located on the shore but was destroyed by the Portugese and was re-built 300 years later.

The main diety Shiva,Hindu God of Destruction,is worshipped as 'Kapaleeswara' and Goddess Parvati as 'Katpahavalli'.There are many legends which tell us how the temple got its name. Lord Shiva was once telling Lord Bramha, the Hindu God of Creation,about the creation of the three lokas but Lord Bramha did not agree to what he said,so in rage in plucked out one of his four heads .Bramha begged for forgiveness and was asked to perform penance at Mayilai(Mylapore) and then he asked Lord Shiva to take the name of Kapaleeswara.

Architecturally, the temple is of typical Dravidian style with the Gopuram overpowering the street on which the temple sits.There are two entrances to the temple marked by the 'Gopuram' on either side.The east gopuram is about 40m high which appears to be the main entrance.The entrance to the west faces the sacred tank of the temple and is the main entrance to the temple leading to 'Kapaleeswara'.More about its architecture can be found in[1]