MYLAPORE ( Town of Peacocks)

The place got the name from the Sanskrit word 'Mayur Puri', which was once the name of Mylapore. From the Tamil, word Mailapur (town of peacocks). At Mylapore, Parvati is believed to have taken the form of 'Mayuram' or 'Mayil' (peacock). It was here that St Thomas, the first apostle to India, was martyred on July 3, 72 AD while praying in a mountain cave. His tomb and church are also here.

Kapaleeswarar Temple and Santhome church

Kapaleeswarar Temple, located at the southern part of Katcheri Road in south Mylapore, is a holy relic dating back to 1250. Though the temple could have been built much later, it has inscriptions from the 13th century, which could have originally belonged to the earlier shore temple destroyed by Portuguese invaders where now the Santhome church is located.

The myth says that Parvati asked Siva to explain the meaning of the word "OM". As the Siva started to explain the whole world came to listen it from Siva. The gods, saints, birds, animals and everyliving living creature came to listen him. In the crowd there was a peacock too. As Siva was explaning the peacock got excited and his feathers began to open. Fearing that his feathers might disturb others he asked nearby sitting Parvati to help him to close his feathers. Parvati was happy to see the beautiful creature and she started to help peacock. When Siva found out that she is not listening to her he got angry and cursed Parvati to become peacock and live in earth. She came to earth and lived as peacock and worshipped Siva for years. And at last Siva got sympathtic towards Parvati and he called her back to Kilasa and asked her to wish a boon. She asked that who ever comes to worship me shall have his/her wish come true. Mylapore is the place where Parvati lived as peacock. Kaplaesware temple is one of the Siva temple where Goddess is worshipped first.

The architecture is an example of ancient Dravidian style, with typical side entrances, gopurams, courts and a tank built around the central shrine. The 37 m tall gopuram (pillar) is carved with stucco gods, goddesses, and saints. The bronze statues of 63 Shaivite saints adorn the temple courtyard. The courtyard also has a Punnai tree, one of the oldest trees in Chennai. The tree has a small shrine that depicts the legend that gave Mylapore its name.

Near by there is a tank which is full now. The tank was best seen during the Theppam or float festival every January when lighted lamps would be set afloat on the water. Tank is living space for thousands of Catfish and you can find people feeding them. All sundays the tanks is opened for people to feed the fish . Tank is said to be donated by two nawabs.

Streets near to Kaplaleswer temple are full of small shops where you get handicrafts and stuff for temple worship. And I guess you get all most all stuff for daily use.

Sravana Bhavan near Kapaleswer Temple. Saravana Bhavan is a restaurant chain founded in 1981 offering south Indian Vegetarian cuisine. The chain is bades in Chennai, India. They have 24 outlets in India and 21 more internationally.