Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore

கபாலீசுவரர் கோயில், மயிலாப்பூர்

Shiva · Kapaleeswarar · with Karpagambal

Swayambhu linga

Mylapore, Chennai district, Tamil Nadu · Shaiva tradition

It is the setting of Tirujnanasambandar's Poompavai patikam, sung over the ashes of a Mylapore girl, which the temple re-enacts every year at the Arupathumoovar festival.

The story begins: “In Mylapore lived a devotee named Sivanesan Chettiar.”

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Darshan hours
  • 5:00 am – 12:30 pm · Morning
  • 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm · Evening
Darshan times are not published separately.
Getting there
Train: Chennai Central / Chennai EgmoreAir: Chennai International Airport (MAA)

Not yet confirmed: dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

2 accounts are recorded. Each is told separately, in the words of its own tradition — they are never merged.

Family note: this story includes violence or death.
Told in: The Tevaram tradition as kept at Mylapore; account published in Madras Musings (2026) and Hindu Press International (2015)

Poompavai and the pot of ashes

In Mylapore lived a devotee named Sivanesan Chettiar. He had settled in his own mind that his daughter, Angam Poompavai, would marry the Saiva saint Tirujnanasambandar.

The girl died of a snakebite. Her father did not let the matter end there. He kept her ashes in a pot and waited for the saint.

When Sambandar came to Mylapore, the pot was put before him. He sang a set of ten verses in praise of the Lord of Mylapore — the hymn now known as the Poompavai patikam — and Poompavai was brought back to life.

The marriage her father had hoped for did not follow. Sambandar declined her hand: having given her life, he regarded himself as her father.

The episode is not only remembered at Mylapore; it is performed. On the morning of the Arupathumoovar day, the eighth day of the temple's annual festival, the images of the saint and of Sivanesan Chettiar are placed in pandals on the western bank of the temple tank. The temple's odhuvar sings the Poompavai patikam. A pot of jaggery covered with cloth stands in for the urn of ashes, and at the end the jaggery is shared out as prasadam. A matha on Adam Street, the Kunnakudi Tiruvannamalai Mutt, arranges the offerings for the saint's abhishekam and the gifts for Poompavai.

Later the same day Shiva comes out in procession to give darshan to the sixty-three Nayanmars, Sambandar among them — a procession that begins around three in the afternoon and runs for seven to eight hours.

The story explains three things a visitor sees: the image of Sambandar at the temple entrance, the ceremony at the tank on Arupathumoovar morning, and why a pot of jaggery is handed round as prasadam that day.

Where this account comes from

  • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Hindu Press International, "Hundreds of Thousands Throng Chennai's Kapaleeswarar Temple for Festival", 7 April 2015 (report from Express News) hinduismtoday.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page (idol of Gnanasambandar at the entrance) tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
Told in: The Mylapore sthala purana as given in the Dinamalar temple directory

Uma as a peahen under the punnai tree

While Shiva was teaching Uma the meaning of the Panchakshara mantra, her attention strayed, and she was cursed to become a peahen. She did penance before a Shiva linga under the punnai tree at this place. Shiva released her from the curse and named her Karpagavalli. At her request the place was called Mayilai — the place of the peacock — which became Mylapore. The same directory explains the name Kapaleeswarar by Shiva holding the skull of Brahma's fifth head.

Read this account

Shiva is teaching Uma the meaning of the Panchakshara, the five-syllable mantra. Her attention wanders, and for that lapse she is cursed to become a peahen.

She comes to this place as a peahen and does penance before a Shiva linga standing under a punnai tree. Shiva releases her from the curse and gives her a new name, Karpagavalli — the form in which the goddess of this temple, Karpagambal, is worshipped. At her request the place is named Mayilai, from mayil, peacock; Mayilai becomes Mylapore.

The same account gives the reason for the god's name. Brahma, five-headed like Shiva, thought himself Shiva's equal. Shiva removed one of Brahma's heads and held the skull — kapalam — in his hand, and the place became Kapaleeshwaram, the god Kapaleeswarar.

Two things in the temple carry this story: the punnai tree, kept as the sthala vriksha, and the goddess's name.

This telling comes from an undated temple directory published by a newspaper. We have not yet been able to read the temple's own sthala purana page, archived from the HR&CE site, to check it.

Where this account comes from

  • Press: Dinamalar Temples directory, "Sri Kapaleeshwarar temple" (undated web page) temple.dinamalar.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page (Kapalam = head; punnai tree) tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

In one minute

Why Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. The temple is sung in the Tevaram hymns of Tirujnanasambandar and Appar, which makes it a Paadal Petra Sthalam of the Tamil Saiva canon.

    Source for: The temple is sung in the Tevaram hymns of Tirujnanasambandar and Appar, which m
    • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. It is the setting of Tirujnanasambandar's Poompavai patikam, sung over the ashes of a Mylapore girl, which the temple re-enacts every year at the Arupathumoovar festival.

    Source for: It is the setting of Tirujnanasambandar's Poompavai patikam, sung over the ashes
    • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09

  3. On the eighth day of its annual festival Shiva is taken in procession with the 63 Nayanmars, a procession of seven to eight hours that draws lakhs of people into Mylapore.

    2 sources for: On the eighth day of its annual festival Shiva is taken in procession with the 6
    • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: Hindu Press International, "Hundreds of Thousands Throng Chennai's Kapaleeswarar Temple for Festival", 7 April 2015 (report from Express News) hinduismtoday.com · seen 2026-10-09

  4. The place is also called Vedapuri, where the four Vedas worshipped, and Sukrapuri, where Sukracharya prayed to regain his eyesight.

    Source for: The place is also called Vedapuri, where the four Vedas worshipped, and Sukrapur
    • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Dravida

Described by the Ministry of Tourism as a classic example of Dravidian architecture. No construction date for the present buildings has been traced to an acceptable source.

  • Gateway tower

    The east gopuram

    The entrance tower and the west gopuram, both crowded with mythological figures.

    Where to stand: On the street before the eastern entrance.

    gopuram height: 37 m
    • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Incredible India, "Kapaleeswarar Temple", Chennai destination page prod.incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  • Sculpture

    Sambandar at the entrance

    The image of Tirujnanasambandar at the entrance — the saint of the Poompavai story.

  • Sculpture

    Bronzes of the 63 Nayanmars

    The bronze images of the sixty-three Saiva saints, which go out in procession on Arupathumoovar day.

  • Sacred tree

    The punnai tree

    The punnai tree in the courtyard, described by Tamil Nadu Tourism as believed to be among the oldest trees in Chennai.

  • Detail

    Karpagambal's shrine

    The goddess's shrine with the lion image before it; on Fridays she is offered a garland of gold coins, the kaasu mala.

  • Temple tank

    The temple tank

    The tank on whose western bank the Poompavai episode is re-enacted on Arupathumoovar morning.

  • Sacred tree

    Punnai

    Named as the thala virutcham by the Dinamalar directory and as the temple's sacred tree by Tamil Nadu Tourism.

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

Morning5:00 am – 12:30 pm
Evening4:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Confirm on the day. Times change on festival days and without notice. These times are not from the temple’s own notice.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Crowds: Arupathumoovar day draws an estimated four to five lakh visitors; traffic in Mylapore stops from around 2 p.m., and water, buttermilk and paanakam stalls line the streets. New moon, full moon and Pradosham days are also crowded.

Getting there

  • By air: Chennai International Airport (MAA)
  • By train: Chennai Central / Chennai EgmoreMylapore is also served by local trains and city buses.
  • By road: Mylapore, central Chennai

Routes are general guidance and not yet checked against an official source.

PIN 600004 (not yet checked with India Post)

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

  • Panguni Peruvizha (Brahmotsavam)பங்குனிப் பெருவிழா

    Mar–Apr · Panguni · 10 days

    The ten-day annual festival opens with an offering to the guardian deity Kolavizhi Amman; the Rishabha vahanam, the chariot (ther) and Adhikara Nandi days draw the largest crowds.

  • Arupathumoovarஅறுபத்து மூவர்

    Mar–Apr, eighth day of the Panguni festival · Panguni · 1 day

    The culmination of the Panguni festival: the Poompavai episode is re-enacted at the tank in the morning, and from about 3 p.m. Shiva goes in procession with the 63 Nayanmars for seven to eight hours.

  • Thai Poosam and float festival

    Jan–Feb · Thai, Pushya

    Commemorates Shiva's dance darshan; a float festival on the temple tank follows on the full moon after it.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

  1. Uma worships as a peahen; the place becomes Mayilai

    The sthala purana account of the place-name, as published in the Dinamalar temple directory. No yuga is given.

    Source for: Uma worships as a peahen; the place becomes Mayilai
    • Press: Dinamalar Temples directory, "Sri Kapaleeshwarar temple" (undated web page) temple.dinamalar.com · seen 2026-10-09

In the historical record

  1. c. 1800–1840

    Festival funded by the Collector of Madras

    In the early 19th century the annual festival was funded by the Collector of Madras. A dispute between the left-hand and right-hand castes over it was settled by ordering the flag of St. George placed atop the canopies around the temple.

    Source for: Festival funded by the Collector of Madras
    • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09

  2. c. 1905

    Tiruvalluvar joins the Arupathumoovar procession

    Since about 1905 the image of Tiruvalluvar has joined the procession of the 63 Nayanmars.

    Source for: Tiruvalluvar joins the Arupathumoovar procession
    • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09

  3. Sung in the Tevaram by Sambandar and Appar

    The temple is mentioned in the Tevaram hymns of Tirujnanasambandar and Appar, including Sambandar's Poompavai patikam. No date for the hymns is given.

    2 sources for: Sung in the Tevaram by Sambandar and Appar
    • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09

Around here

Worth the detour

  • Temple

    Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

    Pallava World Heritage temple south of Chennai along the coast.

  • Place

    Sivagnanasambandar Thaneer Pandal, Ramakrishna Math

    Water-service stall set up in 1860 and still active on Arupathumoovar day (Madras Musings).

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "The Kapaleeshwarar Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Incredible India, "Kapaleeswarar Temple", Chennai destination page prod.incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Madras Musings, Vol. XXXV No. 24, Karthik Bhatt, "Arupathumoovar – 116 years ago", 1–15 April 2026 madrasmusings.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Hindu Press International, "Hundreds of Thousands Throng Chennai's Kapaleeswarar Temple for Festival", 7 April 2015 (report from Express News) hinduismtoday.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Dinamalar Temples directory, "Sri Kapaleeshwarar temple" (undated web page) temple.dinamalar.com · seen 2026-10-09

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/kapaleeshwarar-mylapore (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence