KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE

Located in the district of Mylapore, this temple dating from the 8th century and built under the Pallava dynasty is characteristic of the Dravidian architecture with its massive and colored gopuram (tower portal). It is dedicated to the god Shiva and his wife Parvati. A legend claims that Shiva would have torn off one of the heads of his brother Brahma after this one disrespected him, at the time of a meeting at the top of the Mount Kailash. Brahma would have gone to Mylapore to make an act of repentance and would have made erect a lingam in the honor of his brother. Thus, this place has the same importance as Mount Kailash for the Hindu Tamils. Parvati, transformed into a peacock, after having been cast a spell, would also have come here to find her original aspect. She would also have given Murugan, the son of Shiva, a spear to defeat a demon. These multiple mythological legends give the Kapaleeswarar temple a sacred character and it is the most important temple of Chennai.

The temple has two entrances surmounted by a gopuram. The taller one, in the east, rises to 40 meters, while the second one, in the west, faces the sacred pool. During festivals, the statues of Shiva and Parvati are placed on a chariot that is carried in procession around the temple. The poojas (or daily prayers) are celebrated 6 times a day and include an identical ritual in 4 stages:abhisheka (holy bath),alangaram (ornamentation), neivethanam (offerings) and deepa aradanai (raising of lamps).