Mylapore
Encyclopedia
Mylapore is a cultural hub and neighborhood in the southern part of the city of Chennai
, the capital of Tamil Nadu
, India
. Earlier, Mylapore used to be called Vedapuri.
Mylapore is a major commercial center, and one of the oldest residential parts of the city. It is well-connected by roads and Metro railway network, MRTS
. It is famous for its tree-lined avenues, the famous 7th century Kapaleeshwarar Temple
, its katcheri
season and Ramakrishna Math
. Mylapore is regarded in history as the birthplace of Tamil poet and saint, Thiruvalluvar. The Bollywood Actor of yesteryears Mr. Ranjan (Chandralekha fame) was born in this part of Chennai. Probably, he was the first actor from Tamil Nadu to succeed in the North of India.
god Muruga. Earlier Peacocks used to thrive here, it is evident as the Portuguese
preachers who built the Santhome Church
embraced the peacock in the church's emblem. This part of Chennai is also called Thirumayilai (திருமயிலை) embracing religious sanctity.
and Teynampet
in the west up to the sea-coast. It is bounded by Royapettah
and the river Coovum to the north. Its southern frontier corresponds roughly with that of River Adyar
. It extends for around 4 kilometres from north to south and 2 kilometres from east to west.
city. The different neighborhoods within Mylapore have been parcelled out amongst the different wards of the Chennai Corporation.
The town of Mylapore predates British rule by several centuries. As per available historical and archaeological evidence, it could well be the oldest part of Chennai; with written records of early settlements going back to the 1st century BC.
The Tamil sage of the Sangam Period Thiruvalluvar, and author of great Tamil work Thirukkural is said to have been born in Mylapore, The temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar is one of the major attractions at Mylapore.
This place is also associated with Ptolemy
the Egyptian traveller. He is supposed to have arrived at this place, which was once a thriving port city. Marco Polo
is also believed to have visited Mylapore. Marco Polo has left a detailed description of the land, the people and their customs and religion.
Christians regard Mylapore as the original burial site of St. Thomas the Apostle
, before his body was moved to Edessa
. The San Thome Basilica stands on this site.
Mylapore was occupied by the Portuguese
in 1523 who established the viceroyalty of 'São Tomé de Meliapore
' or 'Saint Thomas of Mylapore'. Portuguese rule lasted until 1749, except for a brief interrum between 1662 and 1687 when it was occupied by the French
.
Portuguese rule eventually came to an end in 1749 when the town fell into the hands of the British East India Company
who took possession of the settlement in the name of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot. In that same year, Mylapore was incorporated into the administration of the Presidency of Madras
. The settlement known as "Luz" developed during this period. As early as 1760, an English writer James Taylor applied for land in the region known as "Luce".
Mylapore began to capture the limelight in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it rose as the commercial and intellectual hub of Madras city and home to a vast array of British-educated lawyers and statesmen. Some of the luminaries based in Mylapore included Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar, Sir S. Subramania Iyer, Sir T. Madhava Rao, Eardley Norton
, Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer, Pennathur Subramania Iyer
, V. Krishnaswamy Iyer
, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
, H Bhimasena Rau, C S Rama Rao Sahib, Subanthore Vasudeva Rao, CR Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib and the famous civil engineer C R Narayana Rao.Subanthore Vasudeva Rao's descendents are residing in his 100 year old house near Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
In recent times, increasing commercialization has changed its looks. Today, Mylapore is known for its residential colonies, temples, shopping malls, kutcheri halls and sabhas and old 19th century residential buildings and houses.
, , P.S Higher Secondary School, which is over a hundred years old.
India's First Digital Media College - The Image College of Arts, Animation, and Technology is also based in Mylapore.
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buses connect Mylapore to important areas like Chennai Central
, T. Nagar
, Tambaram
, Broadway
railway station, called Thirumylai Railway Station, connects it to other MRTS areas of Chennai. Mylapore station is one of few stations which are not affected by passengers patronage as it is covered by many tourist places.
and his companion. It was built in the ninth century.
, the divine consort of Lord Shiva
, did penance at Mylapore taking the form of a pea-hen, in order to be wedded to him. The name Mylapore is derived from this legend - "Mayil" in Tamil
means a peacock. The famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore and its beautiful temple tank are associated with this legend.
The renowned geographer Ptolemy
had described about in his writings about the Mylapore and the famous Kapaleeshwarar temple . The temple boasts of exquisitive architecture and one of the most celebrated shrine of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati.
The Kapaleeshwarar temple is one of the most important temples in the world. The temple has statues of all the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Religion. Built in the 9th century this temple stands as one of the most foremost temples of South India
and remains a testimonial
to the greatness and unflinching devotion of the Pallava
kings.
The temple has other shrines dedicated to Ganesha
(a dancing form called Nardana Vinayakar), Muruga (called Singara Velar), with his two consorts Valli and Devayani
. Smaller shrines are dedicated to other forms of Shiva
(Annamalaiar, Sundareswarar and Jagatheswarar), Muruga (Palani Andavar) and others. In particular, there is a shrine with an image of a peahen, which is where Mylapore derives its name from. Navagraha
shrine is also present. There is a separate shrine for Sani Bhagavan and special puja's will be done on Saturday.
The present Kapaleeswarar temple was built 300–400 years ago at a different location.(See external links).
It has sannathis for the thayar mayuravalli ,chakkarathazhvar,sri andal,sri rama,& anjaneya.
It is the avathara sthalam(birth place) of peyazhvar & has a separate sannithi for the azhvar.
During the bhramotsavam the utsavar goes in a procession accompanied by sridevi & bhudevi in the mada streets and also gives us the chance to see the theppam festival in the centuries old kulam(tank).
Every Friday vilva archana takes place for the thayar and the thayar goes in a small procession inside the temple.
Every year the parthasarathy perumal comes to the kesava perumal temple & and kesavaperumal too goes to triplicane along with peyazhvar.
The Srinivasa temple has a history of over 350 years. A vigraha of Sri Vedanta Desika was brought from the adjacent Kesavaperumal temple and installed here. Since elders felt that the Acharya should not preside alone, a vigraha of Lakshmi Hayagriva modelled on the idol of the Mysore Parakala mutt was brought and installed. The Parakala mutt is also located in Mylapore (opposite road to Mylai railway station). The shrine of the great teacher Vedantha Desika is the one that faces north and it is the first shrine one sees in the temple. Sri Vedantha Desika lived over 830 years ago in South India. He wrote erudite commentaries on Ramanuja's Sribhashyam, Gita Bhashyam and was a great exponent of Visishtadvaita.
Hayagriva was the "upasana daivam" of Vedantha Desika and therefore worshipping him here is considered doubly beneficial. He is said to have performed penance in Sivanasamudram on the banks of the Cauvery river for 10 years. He lived on this earth for 120 years, which is the prescribed lifespan of a human being according to ancient texts. He left behind five noted disciples (Jeers). Apart from the sanctum dedicated to Alameluthayar , there are shrines to Lord Rama, Lord Narasimha and the Azhwars.
Throughout the year, a number of festivals are celebrated in the temple. Srinivasa Perumal Brahmothsavam, Desikar Uthsavam, Pavithra Uthsavam, Sri Rama Navami are the more prominent ones.
Mylapore is widely regarded as the cultural hub of the city. Mylapore is the home of a number of music sabhas (cultural organizations) and distinguished musicians. December is often set aside as Music Season when regular and continuous kutcheris are organized by the different Sabhas in Mylapore. There are performances by leading Carnatic Music
vocalists and artists during this period. The Parthasarathy Swami Sabha
in Mylapore is the oldest Sabha (Assembly) in Tamil Nadu. The Madras Music Academy
, Mylapore is also an important nucleus of Art events in the city. Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan Auditorium is also known for conducting cultural events.
Nageshwara Rao Garden is known for its play area, shrubs and also cultural events.
Mylapore Times, a weekly neighbourhood newspaper, covers relevant issues relating to the neighbourhood of Mylapore.
There are a number of shops and exhibition halls in Mylapore. Nilgiris 1905
is the most prominent departmental store in Mylapore. Some prominent industries which are based at Mylapore include Amrutanjan Limited. Chennai Citi Centre is a popular shopping mall
in Mylapore. There are also halls such as Sankara Hall where book fairs and handloom and art exhibitions are held. Khadims famous footwear store is also one of the best branded footwear showroom in Mylapore located on Venkatesha Agraharam Road. Most of the Marina beach
is located within Mylapore thereby making up a fine weekend recreation destination.
The latest attraction to shopping is the City Center, which boats a multiplex, an elaborate food court and the best of brand owning a shop space in the mall. Also there is a huge rise in number of Retail Shops pertaining to handicrafts, fashion accessories, etc.Near Kapaleeswarar Temple there is a Stall where best Rose Milk is sold. This service is going on for decades. Abirami Juice Centre serves fresh juices at affordable price.There are ebo's of prominent brands like derby,reebok,nike etc as well.
Mylapore is Well Known For its Classical Dance Shopping. You can Find Costumes, Jewellery and Other Dance accessories around the Kapaleeswar Temple.
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, the capital of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Earlier, Mylapore used to be called Vedapuri.
Mylapore is a major commercial center, and one of the oldest residential parts of the city. It is well-connected by roads and Metro railway network, MRTS
Mass Rapid Transit System (Chennai)
The Chennai MRTS is an elevated line of the urban mass rapid transit system in Chennai , India. The line currently runs within the city from Chennai Beach to Velachery, covering a distance of 25 km with 21 stations...
. It is famous for its tree-lined avenues, the famous 7th century Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Kapaleeshwarar temple
Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, a suburb of Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The form of Shiva's wife Parvati worshipped at this temple is called Karpagambal...
, its katcheri
Katcheri
A katcheri is a gathering. In the context of Carnatic Music it is a place where people gather to listen to classical music concerts of vidwans. It is commonly used to refer to carnatic music concerts....
season and Ramakrishna Math
Ramakrishna Math
Ramakrishna Math is a religious monastic order, considered part of the Hindu reform movements. It was set up by Swami Vivekananda to follow the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna...
. Mylapore is regarded in history as the birthplace of Tamil poet and saint, Thiruvalluvar. The Bollywood Actor of yesteryears Mr. Ranjan (Chandralekha fame) was born in this part of Chennai. Probably, he was the first actor from Tamil Nadu to succeed in the North of India.
Etymology
The word Mylapore is expanded as "Mayil arparikum oor" which means 'Land of the peacock scream'. The word mayil, meaning peacock, which was the traditional vehicle of the HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
god Muruga. Earlier Peacocks used to thrive here, it is evident as the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
preachers who built the Santhome Church
Santhome Church
San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai , India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893. The British version still stands today...
embraced the peacock in the church's emblem. This part of Chennai is also called Thirumayilai (திருமயிலை) embracing religious sanctity.
Location
Mylapore is located a few kilometres to the south of the British-built area of Chennai city. It extends from TriplicaneTriplicane
Triplicane also has the famous powerful Ellamman temple in SMV Koil street. A beautiful Sundaramurthy Vinayagar temple is right opposite to the Ellamman Temple....
and Teynampet
Teynampet
Teynampet is one of the busiest commercial localities of the city of Chennai, India. Neighbouring localities include Alwarpet, T. Nagar, Nandanam, and Nungambakkam. Teynampet is along Anna Salai, the arterial road of Chennai...
in the west up to the sea-coast. It is bounded by Royapettah
Royapettah
Royapettah is a centrally located suburb in the city of Chennai, India. It is situated to the west of the famous Marina Beach of Chennai. The locality features one of the developed commercial centres lying adjacent to the Chennai city center....
and the river Coovum to the north. Its southern frontier corresponds roughly with that of River Adyar
Adyar River
Adyar or Adayar, originating near the Chembarambakkam Lake in Chengalpattu district, is one of the two rivers which winds through Chennai , South India, and joins the Bay of Bengal at the Adyar Estuary. The 42.5 km-long river contributes to the estuarine ecosystem of Chennai. Despite the high...
. It extends for around 4 kilometres from north to south and 2 kilometres from east to west.
Demographics
The present-day population of Mylapore is estimated to be around 150,000 to 300,000. It has long been a site of cultural production for Brahmins due to Mylapore's early role as a temple center. Smartha Brahmins, a subsect were one of the first people to settle in this township. Accurate statistics are not available as Mylapore is not a different township by itself but only a part of ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
city. The different neighborhoods within Mylapore have been parcelled out amongst the different wards of the Chennai Corporation.
History
The Tamil sage of the Sangam Period Thiruvalluvar, and author of great Tamil work Thirukkural is said to have been born in Mylapore, The temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar is one of the major attractions at Mylapore.
This place is also associated with Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
the Egyptian traveller. He is supposed to have arrived at this place, which was once a thriving port city. Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
is also believed to have visited Mylapore. Marco Polo has left a detailed description of the land, the people and their customs and religion.
Christians regard Mylapore as the original burial site of St. Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
, before his body was moved to Edessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
. The San Thome Basilica stands on this site.
Mylapore was occupied by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1523 who established the viceroyalty of 'São Tomé de Meliapore
Portuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
' or 'Saint Thomas of Mylapore'. Portuguese rule lasted until 1749, except for a brief interrum between 1662 and 1687 when it was occupied by the French
French India
French India is a general name for the former French possessions in India These included Pondichéry , Karikal and Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast, and Chandannagar in Bengal...
.
Portuguese rule eventually came to an end in 1749 when the town fell into the hands of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
who took possession of the settlement in the name of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot. In that same year, Mylapore was incorporated into the administration of the Presidency of Madras
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. The settlement known as "Luz" developed during this period. As early as 1760, an English writer James Taylor applied for land in the region known as "Luce".
Mylapore began to capture the limelight in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it rose as the commercial and intellectual hub of Madras city and home to a vast array of British-educated lawyers and statesmen. Some of the luminaries based in Mylapore included Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar, Sir S. Subramania Iyer, Sir T. Madhava Rao, Eardley Norton
Eardley Norton
John Eardley Norton was a Madras barrister, judge and politician of British origin. He was also one of the founders of the Indian National Congress and a participant in the Indian independence movement.- Early life :...
, Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer, Pennathur Subramania Iyer
Pennathur Subramania Iyer
Pennathur Subramania Iyer was an Indian lawyer and philanthropist who is best known as the founder of the P. S. Charities.-Early life:...
, V. Krishnaswamy Iyer
V. Krishnaswamy Iyer
Venkatarama Iyer Krishnaswamy Iyer was an Indian lawyer and High Court judge of Madras. He was involved in the prosecution of a partner of the British banking Company Arbuthnot & Co after the bank crashed on 22 October 1906...
, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer
Sachivottama Sir Chetpat Pattabhirama Ramaswami Iyer, KCSI, KCIE , also called "C. P.", was an Indian lawyer, administrator and politician who served as the Advocate-General of Madras Presidency from 1920 to 1923, Law member of the Executive council of the Governor of Madras from 1923 to 1928,...
, H Bhimasena Rau, C S Rama Rao Sahib, Subanthore Vasudeva Rao, CR Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib and the famous civil engineer C R Narayana Rao.Subanthore Vasudeva Rao's descendents are residing in his 100 year old house near Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
In recent times, increasing commercialization has changed its looks. Today, Mylapore is known for its residential colonies, temples, shopping malls, kutcheri halls and sabhas and old 19th century residential buildings and houses.
Education
Mylapore boasts of renowned educational institutions such as Vivekananda College, Lady Sivaswamy Ayyar Girls Hr.Sec.School St., Sir Sivaswami Kalalaya Senior Sec School , Sir Sivaswami kalalaya Higher Sec School, Raphael's Girls Hr.Sec.School, Rosary matriculation Higher secondary school, St Bede's Anglo Indian Higher secondary school, Santhome Higher Sec. School,Monfort Academy, Dominic Savio School, St. John's Schools, P. S. Senior Secondary School, Vidya Mandir Secondary SchoolVidya mandir
Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School is a school in India, situated in the southern city of Chennai. Founded in 1956 by M. Subbaraya Aiyar, Smt. Subbalakshmi Ammal and Mrs. Padmini Chari, the school recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. It follows the Central Board of Secondary Education...
, , P.S Higher Secondary School, which is over a hundred years old.
India's First Digital Media College - The Image College of Arts, Animation, and Technology is also based in Mylapore.
Transportation
Buses
MTCMetropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai)
- External links :* * * *...
buses connect Mylapore to important areas like Chennai Central
Chennai Central
Chennai Central , erstwhile Madras Central, is the main railway terminus in the city of Chennai . It is the home of the Southern Railway and the most important rail hub in South India. The other major railway hub stations in the city are Chennai Egmore and Tambaram...
, T. Nagar
T. Nagar
Theagaraya Nagar , popularly known by its abbreviated form T. Nagar, is a neighbourhood in the city of Chennai, India. Though originally conceived as a residential locality, it is presently one of the principal shopping districts of the city....
, Tambaram
Tambaram
Tambaram is a suburb of Chennai situated 27 km south of the city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an urban node. Tambaram is a hub to all major destinations in south Tamil Nadu as it lies on the busy Chennai–Trichy national highway. The highway and the railway line from Chennai Egmore to...
, Broadway
MRTS
Mylapore's MRTSMass Rapid Transit System (Chennai)
The Chennai MRTS is an elevated line of the urban mass rapid transit system in Chennai , India. The line currently runs within the city from Chennai Beach to Velachery, covering a distance of 25 km with 21 stations...
railway station, called Thirumylai Railway Station, connects it to other MRTS areas of Chennai. Mylapore station is one of few stations which are not affected by passengers patronage as it is covered by many tourist places.
Temples
Mylapore is home to hundreds of temples, churchers and mosques. One of the most religious sites is the Kapaleeshwarar Karpagambal temple dedicated to Lord ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and his companion. It was built in the ninth century.
Kapaleeswarar temple
Legend has it that Goddess ParvathiParvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
, the divine consort of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, did penance at Mylapore taking the form of a pea-hen, in order to be wedded to him. The name Mylapore is derived from this legend - "Mayil" in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
means a peacock. The famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore and its beautiful temple tank are associated with this legend.
The renowned geographer Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
had described about in his writings about the Mylapore and the famous Kapaleeshwarar temple . The temple boasts of exquisitive architecture and one of the most celebrated shrine of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati.
The Kapaleeshwarar temple is one of the most important temples in the world. The temple has statues of all the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Religion. Built in the 9th century this temple stands as one of the most foremost temples of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
and remains a testimonial
Testimonial
In promotion and of advertising, a testimonial or show consists of a written or spoken statement, sometimes from a person figure, sometimes from a private citizen, extolling the virtue of some product. The term "testimonial" most commonly applies to the sales-pitches attributed to ordinary...
to the greatness and unflinching devotion of the Pallava
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
kings.
The temple has other shrines dedicated to Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
(a dancing form called Nardana Vinayakar), Muruga (called Singara Velar), with his two consorts Valli and Devayani
Devayani
Devayani is an Indian film actress. She starred in numerous Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, along with a few Hindi films and one Bengali film. She received the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for her performances in the films Kadhal Kottai and Surya Vamsam...
. Smaller shrines are dedicated to other forms of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
(Annamalaiar, Sundareswarar and Jagatheswarar), Muruga (Palani Andavar) and others. In particular, there is a shrine with an image of a peahen, which is where Mylapore derives its name from. Navagraha
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
shrine is also present. There is a separate shrine for Sani Bhagavan and special puja's will be done on Saturday.
The present Kapaleeswarar temple was built 300–400 years ago at a different location.(See external links).
AdiKesava Perumal Temple
Mylapore is also famous for the AdiKesava Perumal Temple constructed in honor of Keshava or Lord Vishnu, a principal God in the Hindu pantheon and the "Savior" in the Hindu trinity. The temple has an idol of Lord Vishnu accompanied by his celestial consort Goddess Lakshmi.It has sannathis for the thayar mayuravalli ,chakkarathazhvar,sri andal,sri rama,& anjaneya.
It is the avathara sthalam(birth place) of peyazhvar & has a separate sannithi for the azhvar.
During the bhramotsavam the utsavar goes in a procession accompanied by sridevi & bhudevi in the mada streets and also gives us the chance to see the theppam festival in the centuries old kulam(tank).
Every Friday vilva archana takes place for the thayar and the thayar goes in a small procession inside the temple.
Every year the parthasarathy perumal comes to the kesava perumal temple & and kesavaperumal too goes to triplicane along with peyazhvar.
Sri Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam / Sri Srinivasar Koil
Mylapore also boasts of the Srinivasar temple near "Chitra Kulam" in Mylapore, which is administered by the Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam (SVDD)]. It is located just beside the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple, which has an imposing gopuram that can be seen from quite a distance.The Srinivasa temple has a history of over 350 years. A vigraha of Sri Vedanta Desika was brought from the adjacent Kesavaperumal temple and installed here. Since elders felt that the Acharya should not preside alone, a vigraha of Lakshmi Hayagriva modelled on the idol of the Mysore Parakala mutt was brought and installed. The Parakala mutt is also located in Mylapore (opposite road to Mylai railway station). The shrine of the great teacher Vedantha Desika is the one that faces north and it is the first shrine one sees in the temple. Sri Vedantha Desika lived over 830 years ago in South India. He wrote erudite commentaries on Ramanuja's Sribhashyam, Gita Bhashyam and was a great exponent of Visishtadvaita.
Hayagriva was the "upasana daivam" of Vedantha Desika and therefore worshipping him here is considered doubly beneficial. He is said to have performed penance in Sivanasamudram on the banks of the Cauvery river for 10 years. He lived on this earth for 120 years, which is the prescribed lifespan of a human being according to ancient texts. He left behind five noted disciples (Jeers). Apart from the sanctum dedicated to Alameluthayar , there are shrines to Lord Rama, Lord Narasimha and the Azhwars.
Throughout the year, a number of festivals are celebrated in the temple. Srinivasa Perumal Brahmothsavam, Desikar Uthsavam, Pavithra Uthsavam, Sri Rama Navami are the more prominent ones.
Other Temples
- NavaShakti Vinayaka temple, near Luz
- Veera Anjaneyar Temple at Chennai (Mylapore)Anjaneyar Temple at Chennai (Mylapore)In Mylapore there are three temples for Lord Anjaneya.The oldest of the three is in Luz near "thaneer thurai" market and is known as Veera Anjaneya Temple. The temple is about 350 old, one of the oldest Anjaneya temples in Chennai city. The west-facing temple with a small rajagopuram attracts...
, near Luz - Madhava Perumal Temple
- MundakaKanni Amman temple
- Kolavizhi Amman temple
- Vaaleeswarar Temple
- Velleeswarar Temple (Near Kapaleeswarar temple)
- Virupaaksheeshwarar Temple
- Malleshwarar Temple
- Kaaraneeshwarar temple
- Veerabadra Swami temple - This temple has a separate shrine dedicated to Lord Sarabeshwara
- Apparswamy temple - Appar attained samadhi here
- Shirdi Sai temple
- Nandalala temple at Dr.Ranga Road - This temple's main deity, krishna, is made out of touch stone. (stone used to test the quality of gold)
- Thiruvalluvar Temple
- Sangalneer Pillayar Kovil (temple)
Culture
Mylapore is widely regarded as the cultural hub of the city. Mylapore is the home of a number of music sabhas (cultural organizations) and distinguished musicians. December is often set aside as Music Season when regular and continuous kutcheris are organized by the different Sabhas in Mylapore. There are performances by leading Carnatic Music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
vocalists and artists during this period. The Parthasarathy Swami Sabha
Parthasarathy Swami Sabha
Parthasarathy Swami Sabha is a Carnatic music Sabha in the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest of its kind in existence.-History:...
in Mylapore is the oldest Sabha (Assembly) in Tamil Nadu. The Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
, Mylapore is also an important nucleus of Art events in the city. Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan Auditorium is also known for conducting cultural events.
Nageshwara Rao Garden is known for its play area, shrubs and also cultural events.
Mylapore Times, a weekly neighbourhood newspaper, covers relevant issues relating to the neighbourhood of Mylapore.
Shopping
Nilgiris (supermarket)
Nilgiris is a supermarket chain in South India. It is also one of the oldest supermarket chains in India with origins dating back to 1905 and hence its products are sold under the brand name of "Nilgiris 1905"...
is the most prominent departmental store in Mylapore. Some prominent industries which are based at Mylapore include Amrutanjan Limited. Chennai Citi Centre is a popular shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in Mylapore. There are also halls such as Sankara Hall where book fairs and handloom and art exhibitions are held. Khadims famous footwear store is also one of the best branded footwear showroom in Mylapore located on Venkatesha Agraharam Road. Most of the Marina beach
Marina Beach
Marina Beach is a beach in the city of Chennai , India, along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean. The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Besant Nagar in the south, a distance of , making it the longest urban beach in the country and the world's second longest...
is located within Mylapore thereby making up a fine weekend recreation destination.
The latest attraction to shopping is the City Center, which boats a multiplex, an elaborate food court and the best of brand owning a shop space in the mall. Also there is a huge rise in number of Retail Shops pertaining to handicrafts, fashion accessories, etc.Near Kapaleeswarar Temple there is a Stall where best Rose Milk is sold. This service is going on for decades. Abirami Juice Centre serves fresh juices at affordable price.There are ebo's of prominent brands like derby,reebok,nike etc as well.
Mylapore is Well Known For its Classical Dance Shopping. You can Find Costumes, Jewellery and Other Dance accessories around the Kapaleeswar Temple.
Localities in Mylapore
Some of the noted localities in Mylapore include- Foreshore EstateForeshore EstateForeshore Estate is a neighbourhood in Chennai, India.It is one of the primary sites in the city for the immersion of the Ganesh idols during the annual Ganesh festival. The idols are first paraded down South Marina Beach before being bought to Foreshore Estate for immersion in the sea. The...
- LuzLuzLuz is the name of two places in the Bible.Luz is the ancient name of a royal Canaanite city, connected with Bethel . It is debated among scholars whether Luz and Bethel represent one and the same town - the former the Canaanite name, and the latter the Hebrew name - or whether they were distinct...
- Mandaveli
- Quibble IslandQuibble IslandQuibble Island is a river island in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is formed by the Adyar River and one of its tributaries. It is situated between the Chennai neighbourhoods of Mylapore and Adyar. During British rule, a European cemetery was located here....
- Raja Annamalaipuram
- Mayor Ramanathan Chettiar Nagar
- Karpagam Avenue
- SanthomeSanthome-History:The word Santhome or San Thome is derived from Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. The local Christian belief is that the apostle came to India in A.D.52, was martyred in A.D.72 at St.Thomas Mount in the City and was interred in Mylapore. A church was built over his...
Places of importance in Mylapore
- Mandavallipakkam
- Sri Ramakrishna MathRamakrishna MathRamakrishna Math is a religious monastic order, considered part of the Hindu reform movements. It was set up by Swami Vivekananda to follow the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna...
& Universal Temple - Thiruvalluvar Temple
- Madras Music AcademyMadras Music AcademyMadras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
- Nageswara Rao Park
- Luz Church
- Kapaleeshwar TempleKapaleeshwarar templeKapaleeshwarar Temple is a temple of Shiva located in Mylapore, a suburb of Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The form of Shiva's wife Parvati worshipped at this temple is called Karpagambal...
- Madras Sanskrit CollegeSanskrit CollegeSanskrit College is a specialized state-government administered liberal arts college offering an undergraduate degree in Sanskrit language, Pali language, linguistics, and ancient Indian and world history. It is one of the affiliated colleges of the University of Calcutta. Founded on 1 January...
- Vivekananda CollegeVivekananda CollegeRamakrisna Mission Vivekananda College, named after Swami Vivekananda, was inaugurated on 21 June 1946 by professor, philosopher, and politician, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. It is in Mylapore, the centre of Chennai, India on 20 acres . The principal of is Dr. S...
- San Thome Basilica
- Lighthouse, Chennai
- All India RadioAll India RadioAll India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
External links
- Mylapore page on Metblogs
- Mylapore page on Rediff
- Website of Kapaleeswarar Temple
- Website of Srinivasar Koil
- Official Website of the Madras Musical Academy
- Official Website of Ramakrishna Mutt, Chennai
- Official blog of the Member of Legislative Assembly(MLA) from Mylapore
- Website of Santhome church Mylapore
- Website of Santhome Cathedral Mylapore
See also
- ChennaiChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
- History of ChennaiHistory of ChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is India's fourth largest city. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal...
- Thiruvalluvar
- Christianity in IndiaChristianity in IndiaChristianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...
- S. Ve. ShekherS. Ve. ShekherSattanathapuram Venkataraman Shekhar is a Tamil playwright and film actor known best for his slapstick humor and for his public welfare initiatives...
- Karaikudi ManiKaraikudi ManiKaraikudi Mani is an Indian percussionist, primarily adept in the mridangam, a south Indian drum instrument. He is a renowned mridangist around the world....