Mylai Karaneeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai
I am going to introduce you to an unusual temple in Chennai in this post. All of us know (in fact, including even those who have not been to Chennai) about the famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore. However, only a few in Chennai would have visited Karaneeswarar temple in the same Mylapore area.Karaneeswarar temple is located at a distance of 0.5 km from the famous Kapaleeswarar temple. It is located at Bazaar road in the middle stretch of the popular Kutcheri road in Mylapore.
This temple is one of the Sapta Sthana Shiva temples in Mylapore (one of the seven sacred Shiva temples in Mylapore).
Legend
As per the legend, there was a young priest who lived in Mylapore, regularly did poojas to a Shiv Linga. Through his penance, he found out that Lord Shiva is the cause of creation, protection and destruction of this universe. Hence, he named his Shiv Linga (the presiding deity of this temple) as Karaneeswara. (Karaneeswara means one who has caused).
History
This temple belongs to the 12th century CE (Vikrama Chola period). However, the current structure has been completely rebuilt and renovated recently.
Temple Layout
The presiding deity of the temple is Karaneeswara. He is found in the form of a Shiv Linga in the east-facing sanctum. The bali peetha, flagstaff and Nandi are found facing towards the main shrine.
Porkodi Amman, the Goddess, is found in a separate south facing shrine.
The entrance of the main shrine has the small icons of Ganesha and Dandayudhapani (Subramanya).
The outer wall around the main shrine has Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga as the Koshta (niche) idols. Chandikeshwara is found in the usual place near the image of Durga.
The temple also has sub-shrines for few deities such as:
1) Natraja with Sivakami
2) Hanuman
3) Bhairava
4) Arunachaleswarar in the form of a big Linga with Unnamulai
5) Subramanya-Valli-Devasena
6) Ganesha called Sarva Mangala Vinayakar along with his consorts Siddhi and Buddhi
7) Shaneeswarara
8) Navagraha
9) Shrine for all the movable (utsava) images
Besides, there are a few more Murtis found in the temple:
1) Ganesha
2) Nalvar - the four great devotees of Shiva
3) Sekkilar
4) Surya
5) 3-4 Shiv Lingas under the holy tree
The belief is that a visit to this temple would cure you of all your diseases. Come to Mylapore and do visit this temple. The temple is worth visiting for its calm atmosphere.
Happy travelling.
The entrance of the main shrine has the small icons of Ganesha and Dandayudhapani (Subramanya).
The outer wall around the main shrine has Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga as the Koshta (niche) idols. Chandikeshwara is found in the usual place near the image of Durga.
The temple also has sub-shrines for few deities such as:
1) Natraja with Sivakami
2) Hanuman
3) Bhairava
4) Arunachaleswarar in the form of a big Linga with Unnamulai
5) Subramanya-Valli-Devasena
6) Ganesha called Sarva Mangala Vinayakar along with his consorts Siddhi and Buddhi
7) Shaneeswarara
8) Navagraha
9) Shrine for all the movable (utsava) images
Besides, there are a few more Murtis found in the temple:
1) Ganesha
2) Nalvar - the four great devotees of Shiva
3) Sekkilar
4) Surya
5) 3-4 Shiv Lingas under the holy tree
The belief is that a visit to this temple would cure you of all your diseases. Come to Mylapore and do visit this temple. The temple is worth visiting for its calm atmosphere.
Happy travelling.
Visit my site, krishnakumartk.com, to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.
.JPG)
Please pardon me and allow me to express my ignorance about some names and words in Tamil bhoomi . I am unable to understand the word, Kapaleeswarar. How do you add the letters 'ar' after Kapalees(h)war?
ReplyDeleteMany times, I don't understand the addition of h to t to many words, such as Geetha instead of Geeta. But, then how do you say Tamil, and not Thamil?
With warm regards.
Mangesh Nabar
What is the meaning of Kapaleeswara? pl. enlighten. Very interesting narration!
ReplyDeleteRajagopala Sir,
DeleteWell, as all Sanskrit words, this has different meanings on various levels. Though this would take quite a number of posts to even explain properly, I'll try with my minimal intellect and lord's grace to explain it to you.
As rightly said by Suhasini, the word, "Kapâlîśvara" means the lord who bears Kapâla. Kapâla means a skull used as a cup. There is a famous legend about Śiva plucking off Brahmâ's fifth head with his nail and it being gotten stuck to his hand. He roamed about all over the Universe to get it off his hands and finally did get it off at Avimukta and the place came to be known as Kapâlamocana tîrtha (Sŗshţikhaņďa of Padma Purâņa; of course many other Purâņas speak about this legend as well). This is the background to the name for the lord.
As far as this temple is concerned, it is said (I haven't yet read this myself so I can't give you the chapter in which this incident occurs) that Brahmâ worshipped Śiva in this placed called Vedapuri (present day Mylapore - later named Mayûrapuri) as Kapâlîśvara (I read somewhere that this is mentioned in Brahmâņďa Purâņa but as I mentioned, I haven't read the Purâņa yet so, I can't tell you where it is in the text, but again, just because I haven't read doesn't mean it doesn't exist in it, so if you happen to read this in the Purâņa I'd be glad to know where it exists in it so that I can look it up in the exact chapter too - reading Sthala Purâņas or legends in Sanskrit is such a pleasure - no translation can beat Vyâsa's own words).
I know this would give way to further questions but as I said, this topic in itself would take up lots of posts. I've always wanted to start a blog on such topics, but I guess I am not yet favored by lord to do it. I just have a name registered under blogger.com. I hope I start the blog soon.
About the other meanings of the name, well, I am not experienced/learned enough to explain them. May be if the lord wills to speak through me, I'd be delighted... Let's see...
even though i have visited kapaleeswara r temple many times, i have never visited this temple . my this weekend visit will be to this temple
ReplyDeleteGood to know this temple.... Only my dad at my home knows this temple.
ReplyDelete