Mylapore
Mylapore is the oldest part of the present day Chennai city. It is even today a very important part of the Chennai city and is well connected to other parts of the coty by the Metropolitan buses and the MRTS.
Legend has it that Parvathy the divine concort of Lord Shiva, in order to tie knots with the lord did penance in this place taking the form of a pea-hen. The name of this place is derived from this legend. "Myil" in Tamil means a peacock. There is also the famous Kapaleeswarar temple that stands along with a beautiful temple tank in Mylapore reminding this legend.
This place is also associated with Ptolemy the Egyptian traveller. He is supposed to have arrived at this place, which was once a thriving port city.
This place is also associated with the tamil saint Thiruvalluvar who composed the great tamil work Thirukkural. There is also a temple dedicated to him here.
The apostle St. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus is supposed to have come to Mylapore. It is to commomorate this that the portugese built the San Thome church after destroying the Kapaleeswaraar temple that stood at its place. The present Kapaleeswarar temple was built 300-400 years ago at a different location.(See external links).
Places of Importance in Mylapore
- Kapaleeswarar Temple
- Ramakrishna Mutt
- Universal Temple
- Thiruvalluvar Temple