Mylapore
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| ?Mylapore Chennai • Tamil Nadu • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Chennai District |
| Subdistrict | Mylapore-Triplicane |
| Parliamentary constituency | Chennai Central |
| Assembly constituency | Mylapore[1][2] |
| Planning Agency | CMDA |
| Zone | Adyar |
| Ward | 147 |
| Codes • Pincode |
• 600 004 |
| Website: Chennai District website | |
Mylapore(Tamil:மயிலாப்பூர்) is the cultural hub, and a bustling neighborhood, just south of Chennai (formerly Madras) city, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India.
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 Kapaleeswarar Temple, its kutcheri season and Ramakrishna Math.
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[edit] Location
Mylapore is located a few kilometres to the south of Chennai city. It extends from Triplicane 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.
[edit] Demographics
Present-day population of Mylapore is estimated to be around 150,000 to 300,000 [3]. Accurate statistics are not available as Mylapore is not a different township by itself but only a part of chennai city. The different neighborhoods within Mylapore have been parcelled out amongst the different wards of the Chennai Corporation.
[edit] History
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, [4]although this claim is disputed[5]. The temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar is one of the major attractions at Mylapore.
This place is also associated with Ptolemy the Egyptian traveller [6]. He is supposed to have arrived at this place, which was once a thriving port city.
Mylapore is also associated with the legend of St.Thomas who, according to some accounts, is believed to have been buried at a place called Mylapore. However, as is evident from these accounts, Mylapore, at that time, was larger than modern-day Mylapore and included the neighbouring suburbs of Chennai city[7][8].
Marco Polo is believed to have visited Mylapore. Marco Polo has left a detailed description of the land, the people and their customs and religion[9].
Mylapore was occupied by the Portuguese in 1523 who established the viceroyalty of 'Sao Tome de Meliapore' or 'San Thome and Mylapore'. Portuguese rule lasted until 1749, except for a brief interrum between 1662 and 1687 when it was occupied by the French[10]. Hindu nationalist sources attribute an orgy of violence, relgious intolerance and iconoclasm to this period of Portuguese rule which is believed to have occurred in tandem with the Goa Inquisition[11]. The Santhome Church was believed to have been constructed by the Portuguese over the remains of a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Kabaleeswarar. The Kabaleeswara Temple built in the 17th century (at a different site) is believed to be in commemoration of this seashore temple destroyed by the Portguese.
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[12]. 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[13][14][15]. This was also the time when it acquired a distinct flavour as the principal abode of the city's Brahmin community. Though, with the passage of time, Brahmins have dispersed all over Chennai, Mylapore still remains one of mainstays of Chennai's Brahmin community.
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.
[edit] Education
Mylapore boasts of renouned educational institutions such as Vivekananda College,St.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, P. S. Senior Secondary School, Vidya Mandir Secondary School, Sivaswami Kalalaya School, P.S Higher Secondary School, which is over a hundred years old.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Buses
MTC buses connect Mylapore to important areas like Chennai Central, T. Nagar.
[edit] MRTS
Mylapore's MRTS railway station, called Thirumylai Railway Station, connects it to other MRTS areas of Chennai.
[edit] Temples
[edit] Kapaleeswarar temple
Legend has it that Goddess Parvathi, 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[citation needed]. 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 7th 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).
[edit] Kesava Perumal Temple
Mylapore is also famous for the Kesava 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.
[edit] Srinivasa Temple
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[16]. 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 730 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[17].
Throughout the year, a number of festivals[18] are celebrated in the temple. Srinivasa Perumal Brahmothsavam, Desikar Uthsavam, Pavithra Uthsavam, Sri Rama Navami are the more prominent ones.
[edit] Other Temples
- NavaShakti Vinayaka temple, near Luz
- Madhava Perumal Temple
- MundakaKanni Amman temple
- Kozha Vizhi Amman temple
- Velleeswarar Temple (Near Kapaleeswarar temple)
- Veerabadra Swami temple - This temple has a separate shrine dedicated to Lord Sarabeshwara
- Apparswamy temple
- Shirdi Sai temple
[edit] Culture
See Also: Culture of Chennai
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. The last month of the year 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.
[edit] Shopping
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. Most of the Marina beach is located within Mylapore thereby making up a fine weekend recreation destination.
[edit] Localities in Mylapore
- Santhome
- Mandaveli
- Luz
- Madhavaperumalpuram
- Othavadi
- Quibble Island
- Raja Annamalaipuram
- Robertsonpet
- Trustpakkam
[edit] Places of importance in Mylapore
- Sri Ramakrishna Math & Universal Temple
- Thiruvalluvar Temple
- Madras Music Academy
- Nageswara Rao Park
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Partywise Comparison Since in Assembly Elections since 1977
- ^ Profile of candidates who contested 2006 Assembly Elections from Mylapore constituency
- ^ Voter population of Mylapore Legislative Assembly constituency
- ^ Biography of Thiruvalluvar by Swami Sivananda
- ^ 'Thiruvalluvar from Kanyakumari not Mylapore', Yahoo News,April 26, 2005
- ^ Ptolemy mentions Mylapore as Mylarphon and describes it as a 'rich, vast and grand land'
- ^ A short biography of St.Thomas which mentions a 6-year long association of the Apostle with Mylapore
- ^ 'The Myth of St.Thomas' by Koenraad Elst postulates that St.Thomas might never have visited Mylapore and Malabar was the only place he visited.
- ^ The Travels of Marco Polo by Henry Yule, Vol 2, Book 3, Chapters XVII and XVIII,Project Gutenberg
- ^ A chronology of colonial rule in Portuguese India, From Worldstatemen.org
- ^ The Myth of St.Thomas and the Portuguese Shiva Temple by Koenraad Elst, Chapter XV
- ^ A brief history of Chennai, From the official website of the Corporation of Chennai
- ^ PALATHOPE -- A Lawyer's Enclave Part I by Ashwin Prabhu, Mylapore Social History Project
- ^ PALATHOPE -- A Lawyer's Enclave Part II by Ashwin Prabhu, Mylapore Social History Project
- ^ Madras Rediscovered by S.Muthiah
- ^ History of Srinivasa Temple
- ^ Sanctums Sanctorum of Lord Srinivasa and Alamelumanga Thayar
- ^ Festivals of Srinivasa Temple
[edit] 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
| Thirumyilai | |||
| Next station north: Mundaga kanni amman Koil |
Chennai suburban railway : MRTS | Next station south: Mandaveli |
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| Stop Number:9 | KM from starting:8 | ||
| These are the stations of Chennai suburban railway - MRTS |
| Chennai Beach | Chennai Fort | Park Town | Chintadripet | Chepauk | Tiruvallikeni | Light House | Mundakanniamman Koil (u/c) | Thirumayilai | Mandaiveli | Greenways Road | Kotturpuram | Kasturba Nagar | Indira Nagar | Thiruvanmiyur | Taramani | Perungudi | Velachery |
