Kapaleeshwarar Temple and Dakshin Chitra

 

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

January 17, 2026, Friday

We left on the bus (before breakfast) at 6:30 am to head to the Kapaleeshwara Temple. We had a special local guide give us a tour. We went early because of the holiday and this is a pilgrimage site. The temple was built for the Hindu god Shiva. The legend is the goddess Pavarti worshipped Shiva here in the form of a peacock. The area is called Mylapore, which means peacock city.

Kolam

The pictures  (Kolam) on the ground are a Pongal tradition. The powder is made of rice flour and pigment. The pictures are made to welcome guests (divine and human). Hindus believe part of the divine is found in every creature. When they greet each other, they use the word Vanakkam, which acknowledges the divine in whom they are meeting. Also note the swastika symbol. It was reversed by Hitler when he adopted it because he got the direction wrong!

Some of the temple complex contained shrines to various Hindu gods that we were not allowed to take pictures of. The figures on the tops of the towers are all various incarnations of Shiva in his various forms.

The grand hall inside the temple complex has an ornate ceiling. This is where they perform marriages or hold official ceremonies. The first picture is Ganesh the second is a symbolic representation of Shiva.

Flowers for sale to wear in your hair or give to the images of the gods in the temple. The jasmine smells really good!

Inside the temple complex. Notice the peacocks on the roof.

This little girl told us it was her birthday. She gave us each a piece of candy, so we sang Happy Birthday to her.

Some of the people who came to worship would whisper their problems into the ear of this cow after plugging his other ear. There was a covered pen with cows in it and the students got to feed them.

Two pujari taking care of some ashes. Once both of your parents have died, you can bring their ashes to a pujari who will deposit them in the temple pond. 

We came back from the temple and ate a late breakfast. Then we loaded up on the bus to drive an hour and a half to visit the Dashin Chitra Cultural Village. It is like a Polynesian Cultural Center for South India. It is a living history museum built on 10 acres. It has eighteen historical homes that were moved to this location. Some of them are 200 years old! The village was designed by an American woman who married a South Indian man and moved to Chennai. She wanted to preserve the history and culture of South India. The homes come from three different South Indian states.

Receiving another pottu. It is like the Hawaiian version of being given a lei.

Chennai is in the state of Tamil Nadu. The first home we visited was a fancy merchant's home.

Inside the home was a textile display that explained Indian block printing. I really wish we had more time to look at it in detail!

After touring a few homes, we had a coconut water break. It was only 83 degrees but felt very hot and sticky and it was very crowded. Tomorrow is the last day of the holiday.

We shared the milk from this coconut. It was refreshing.

After we explored some more, they served us Thali for lunch. Thali is the Hindu word for plate. We have been meaning to try it, so we got our chance. They serve sample size dishes that have the full spectrum of flavors including sweet and sour and spicey and savory. It was vegetarian. The yogurt is to counter the spice.

Some of the homes were fancy and incorporated Western designs and some were more traditional.

We watched a performance of drummers and dancers. These women are balancing the pots on their heads while they dance.

After the performance, we watched a performance of classical Indian dance. We didn't take a picture of it, but we were taught some of the dance moves.

Leaving the village and walking to the bus. It was a twelve-hour day by the time we got home. Notice the mother and daughter leaving with us. All of the women were dressed up in their traditional clothes. The men were dressed more casually.