The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.
மயிலாப்பூர் கபாலீஸ்வரர் கோயில்
Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu · 13.0337°, 80.2699°
Chennai's landmark temple in the old town of Mylapore, rebuilt inland in the Vijayanagara period after the Portuguese occupation of the shore where the Tevaram-era original stood. Its 37 m gopuram, tank, and Panguni festival (with the Arupathimoovar procession of the 63 Nayanmar saints) anchor the city's classical culture.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
Parvati, distracted by a peacock's dance while Shiva taught, was born as a peahen (mayil) and worshipped the linga here — giving Mylapore ('peacock town') its name; she is Karpagambal, the wish-granting goddess.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Vijayanagara
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…