In the historic Mylapore neighbourhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, stands the Kapaleeshwarar temple, one of the city's most beloved shrines of Lord Shiva, crowned by a soaring, brilliantly sculpted Dravidian gopuram. Here Shiva is worshipped as Kapaleeshwarar, with the Goddess as Karpagambal. Its legend tells that Parvati, in the form of a peahen (mayil), worshipped Shiva at this spot — from which Mylapore, the town of the peacock, takes its name.
Sung in the Tevaram hymns of the Nayanar saints, the temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam of deep antiquity, though its present structure dates largely to later centuries. Its grandest celebration is the Arupathimoovar festival, honouring the sixty-three Nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism. Kapaleeshwarar is a living heart of devotion in the heart of Chennai.
