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॥ Sri Kapalishvara Ashtakam Tamil Lyrics ॥

॥ ஶ்ரீகபாலீஶ்வராஷ்டகம் ॥

INTRODUCTION–

Shri Kapalishvara is the name of Lord Shiva who is the presiding deity at the ancient temple of Shiva in Mylapore, Chennai – the capital of the State of Tamilnadu. His consort has the name Kalpakambal. Ashtakam (அஷ்டகம்) means a poem consisting of eight verses. In this case, the verses are in praise of Shri Kapalishvara. He is praised here with qualities referred to in the Vedas, Puranas and also as the Infinite Supreme Being. This shows that it is the Supreme Being that appears as Kapalishvara in the temple in Mylapore as any god in any other temple.

NOTE:-
The following symbols are used in the explanations that are given below.
(1) – SA :- Saiva Agama. (2) – SP :- Shiva Purana. (3) – SAN – Shiva 108 Namavali.
(4) – SL – Shivanandalahari of Shri Shankaracharya. (5) – VS – Vishnu sahasranama.
(6) – BG – Bhagavad Gita. (7) – SS – Siva sahasranama (From Padmapurana)
with the commentary by late H.H. Sri Parasivendra Saraswati of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

The Vedas (Taittariya Upanishad, Anandavalli) declare that the Supreme Being is beyond the reach of senses and mind. யதோ வாசோ நிவர்தந்தே। அப்ராப்ய மநஸா ஸஹ। For this, reason His qualities cannot be adequately portrayed by anyone. The Shiva Mahimmna stotram (22) puts this up in a graphic manner. The poet says that even if the blue mountain were to be a lump of ink powder, the ocean the ink-pot, the branch of the heavenly tree Parijata be a pen, the earth itself the writing leaf, and by taking these Saradha the Goddess of Learning writes for eternity, even then His virtues cannot be fully described.
அஸிதகி³ரிஸமம் ஸ்யாத் கஜ்ஜலம் ஸிந்து:⁴ பாத்ரம்
ஸுரதருவரஶாகா² லேக²நீ பத்ரமூர்வீ ।
லிக²தி யதி³ க்³ருʼஹீத்வா ஸாரதா³ ஸர்வகாலம்
தத³பி தவ கு³ணாநாமீஶ பாரம் ந யாதி ॥

The question then is, why should one take up the futile job of writing a stotram in praise of the Lord knowing full well that it can never be done satisfactorily? The same author of Mahimna Stotram provides the answer right at the beginning of the work.

மது⁴ஸ்பீதா வாச: பரமமம்ருʼதம் நிர்மிதவத-
ஸ்தவ ப்³ரஹ்மந் கிம் வாக³பி ஸுரகு³ரோர்விஸ்மயபத³ம் ।
மம த்வேதாம் வாணீம் கு³ணகத²நபுண்யேந ப⁴வத:
புநாமீத்யர்தே²ঽஸ்மிந் புரமத²ந பு³த்³தி⁴ர்வ்யவஸ்தி²தா ॥

He says that the Lord has given out the wonderful Vedas which are sweet as the nectar. So, even the hymns composed by Brihaspathi, the learned guru of the devas will be insignificant to the Lord. This being so, I have ventured to praise You because the act will purify my speech.

Our Puranas repeatedly say that chanting the Lord’s names and singing His glories destroy one’s sins. One need not worry about the level of his learning to start in this endeavor. Sage Narada pointed this out to Sage Vyasa and advised him to write about the glories of the Lord.

தத்³வாக்³விஸர்கோ³ ஜநதாக⁴விப்லவோ யஸ்மிந் ப்ரதிஶ்லோகமப³த்³த⁴வத்யபி ।
நாமாந்யநந்தஸ்ய யஶோঽங்கிதாநி யச்ச்²ருʼண்வந்தி கா³யந்தி
க்³ருʼணந்தி ஸாத⁴வ: ॥BH(1-5-11).

The composition may be replete with faults. Yet, if each verse speaks of the Lord’s glory, such work alone will be liked by noble souls. They will hear it, sing it and repeat it to the listeners. Because of this reason, scholars and poets continue to write hymns in praise of the Lord.

THE TEMPLE:-

The temple of Shri Kapalishvara is many centuries old. The Lord here has been sung by several Tamil saints known as Nayanmars. The famous composer Papanasam Sivan lived in Mylapore near the temple and was an ardent devotee of Kapalishvara. He had composed many songs in praise of the Lord and Devi Kalpakambal. Originally, the temple was situated on the seashore. But it was badly damaged by tidal waves that battered the structure in the second half of the 16th century. It was later moved to the present location where a magnificent temple has come up. There is a large tank before the temple which is used for the float festival.

Being a major temple devoted to Lord Shiva all the important festivals associated with Lord Shiva are observed punctiliously. The temple is very popular and attracts a large number of devotees even on normal days. It includes locals and tourists from all over India and abroad too. The crowds are particularly heavy on weekends, and Fridays, on important days such as pradoshams (on the Trayodashi days) and Sivaratri.

NOTE:-
In the passages that follow there may be statements that will appear to eulogise Lord Shiva as the Supreme Being and place other Gods on lower pedestals. These statements may cause some confusion or displeasure to some. There is no need at all for such feelings. Our Puranas always resort to this kind of statement in which one form of God is praised as the Supreme Being and others are shown as an inferior to that particular deity. This is just to glorify that particular form. The intention is never to slight any deities. All Puranas are particular in stating what is said in the Vedas – that it is the one Supreme Being which appears as different Gods and in essence, all are one and the same. The Lord says clearly in Gita that He receives worship offered to God in any form.

யே யதா² மாம் ப்ரபத்³யந்தே தாம்ஸ்ததை²வ ப⁴ஜாம்யஹம் ।
மம வர்த்மாநுவர்தந்தே மநுஷ்யா: பார்த² ஸர்வஶ: ॥ BG(4-11).
We see in some movies that one actor plays the role of the hero and also other characters. The hero frequently fights with others (played by the same person). And finally, some event reveals the fact that all of them are born to the same lady and are brothers. They hug each other in great joy and live happily ever after. Similarly. the one Supreme Being alone appears in various forms. So, essentially all forms depict the same Being.

LINGAM –

Shri Kapalishvara in the sanctum in the temple is in the form of a lingam. The form has esoteric significance. The word ᳚lingam᳚ means a sign or emblem that characterises an object. லிங்க்³யதேঽநேந இதி லிங்க³ம்। The Agama texts, however, interpret the word to describe the Supreme Being from which the universe emerges (நிர்க³ச்ச²ந்தி) and into which it finally merges. லயம் க³ச்ச²ந்தி பூ⁴தாநி ஸம்ஹாரே நிகி²லாநி ச। நிர்க³ச்ச²ந்தி யதஶ்சாபி லிங்கோ³க்திஸ்தேந ஹேதுநா ॥ The Supreme Being is without parts and form. (அரூப). However, this form is not easily understood or suitable for worship by most people since they have an intense attachment to their bodies. Krishna says this clearly.

க்லேஶோঽதி⁴கதரஸ்தேஷா-மவ்யக்தாஸக்த-சேதஸாம் ॥

அவ்யக்தா ஹி க³திர்து:³க²ம் தே³ஹவத்³பி⁴ரவாப்யதே ॥ BG(12-5).
Considering this problem that will face many, our shastras provide three concepts of the Lord. That is, Sakala (one with form, rupa, like Nataraja, DakShinamurty etc., ), nishkala (one without form, arupa) and sakala-nishkala (one with and without parts or specific form, rupa-arupa). The lingam belongs to the third category – a combination of form and formlessness. It is thus extremely suitable for worship. Its form is made of mantras and hence it is said that the Sivalinga is constituted of vidya or mantra deha. The three chapters of the Shiva linga, namely the square base, the octagonal column and the upper part relate respectively to Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preservator and
Rudra the annihilator.

ப்³ரஹ்மா விஷ்ணுஶ்ச ருத்³ரஶ்ச த்ரிக²ண்ட³மிதி கத்²யதே ।
ஊர்த்⁴வம் து ஶிவபா⁴க³ஸ்யாத் விஷ்ணுபா⁴க³ஸ்து மத்⁴யம: ।
ப்³ரஹ்மாபா⁴க³ஸ்த்வத:⁴ ப்ரோக்த: ஶாஸ்த்ரஜ்ஞைர்லிங்க³கும்ப⁴யோ: ॥
Thus the lingam represents the Supreme Being that embodies in itself the triad of gods. One of the names of Shiva is
லிங்க³ரூபீ – லீநமர்த²ம் க³மயதீதி லிங்க³ம்। தத்³ரூபீ லிங்க³ரூபீ ।
அவித்³யாதிரோஹித-ஜட³ப்ரபஞ்சஸ்ய க³மகத்வம் ப்ரகாஶாத்மகஸ்ய சைதந்யஸ்ய,
தத்³ரூபீ பரமேஶ்வர: இத்யர்த:²। தது³க்தம் ஸ்காந்தே³ –
ஸூத::-
அதா²த: ஸம்ப்ரவக்ஷ்யாமி ஶிவலிங்க³ம் ஸமாஸத: ।
யஸ்ய விஜ்ஞாநமாத்ரேண விமுக்தோ மாநவோ ப⁴வேத் ॥

PRADOSHAM: –

We are familiar with the story of the churning of the ocean by devas and asuras to obtain the Amrit or nectar. It is said that they used the mountain Manthara as the churning pestle and the snake Vasuki as the rope. The asuras held the snake near the head and the devas the tail portion. As they started churning the snake suffered intense agony and vomited its venom. It was very potent and threatened to engulf the world. The devas ran to Lord Shiva and prayed to Him to save them and the world. Shiva, who is the embodiment of compassion took pity on them and consumed the venom. All the devas who gathered at that time felt immense relief and worshipped the Lord in gratitude without taking any food. This was Ekadasi day. The Lord was pleased with their worship and distributed the Amrit to them. On the following day ( that is, on the dwadasi) the devas finished their puja early in the morning and had their food. On the next day, that is on trayodasi, the Lord who was pleased with their devotion performed a dance in the evening. Devi Parvati was watching the dance along with the devas. This dance performance lasted for one Yama (யாம) or three hours. The period came to be known as pradosham. This is a vratam and devoted exclusively to the worship of Lord Shiva.

If the pradosham falls on a Saturday then it becomes specially auspicious. The pradosham is auspicious as on that occasion all the gods and devas assemble to have the darshan of Lord Shiva and witness His dance. So, by visiting the temple on that occasion one can have the benefit of having the darshan of Lord Shiva as also all gods. Some verses from Shiva Puranam that talk about the glory of pradosham are given below. Rough translations of the verses are also given.

ஶம்பு⁴ரேவ ததா³ பூஜ்யோ நாந்யே விஷ்ண்வாத³யஸ்ஸுரா: ।
யத்தத்ர ஸர்வேঽபி ஸுராஸ்திஷ்ட²ந்தி ஶிவஸந்நிதௌ⁴ ॥

அதஸ்தஸ்யார்சநம் பூஜா கதா²கு³ணக³ணஸ்தவம் ।
தந்மந்த்ரஸ்ய ஜபஶ்சைவ கர்தவ்யோ மோக்ஷகாங்க்ஷிபி:⁴ ॥

தா³ரித்³ர்யது:³க²தாந்தா⁴நாம் ஏதத்³தி³வ்யாஞ்ஜநம் ஸ்ம்ருʼதம் ।
ருʼணார்ணவநிமக்³நாநாம் உடு³போঽயம் ஸுதாரக: ॥

On that occasion (evening of pradosham day) Lord Shiva alone is to be worshipped, and not other devas like Vishnu. For, all of them are there in the presence of Lord Shiva. So, one who seeks liberation should do His puja, listen to stories that narrate His glories and chant His mantra. Those who are severely afflicted by poverty and sorrow will get relief from this. This will serve as a boat that will help those who are immersed in an ocean of debts.

ப்ரதோ³ஷே பார்வதீநாதே² மஹத்தந்வதி தாண்ட³வம் ।
வாக்³தே³வீ வல்லவீந்த⁴த்தே ம்ருʼத³ங்க³ம் க³ருட³த்⁴வஜ: ।
ரமா கா³நகலாம் ப்³ரஹ்மா தாலம் வேணும் தி³வஸ்பதி: ॥

ஸர்வே சாந்யே ஸுபர்வாண: ஸேவந்தே தம் மஹேஶ்வரம் ।
புண்யக்ஷேத்ரம் ஸமாஸாத்³ய மஹாலிங்க³ம் நிஷேவ்ய ச ॥

பஞ்சக்ருʼத்வா நமஸ்குர்யாத் ஸாஷ்டாங்க³ம் ப⁴க்திபூர்வகம் ।
பாம்ஸூநாம் அங்க³லக்³நாநாம் ஏகைகஸ்ய நமஸ்க்ருʼதௌ ॥

தி³வ்யவர்ஷஸஹஸ்ரந்து ஶிவலோகே மஹீயதே।

During pradosha time Lord Shiva dances along with Parvathi Devi. Sarasvati Devi plays on veena. Vishnu plays on mridangam. Laxmi Devi sings and Brahma plays on cymbals. Indra plays on the flute. All gods witness the glorious sight. One should reach a holy shrine and worship Mahalingam by prostrating to Him five times. By saluting thus one gets to live in Shivaloka for as many years as the dust particles that had stuck to his body.

த³ர்ஶநம் வந்த³நம் லிங்க³ப்ரத³க்ஷிணஞ்ச தர்பணம் ।
ப்ரதோ³ஷே ருʼணமுக்தே: ஸ்யாத் ப⁴வதூலமஹாநில: ।
பு⁴க்திர்மைது²நமப்⁴யங்க³ம் ஹரித³ர்ஶநகீர்தநே ।
வ்யர்தா²லாபம் ப்ரதோ³ஷே து வர்ஜயேத்³வைதி³கோ ஜந: ॥

Having darshan of Shivalingam, circumambulating It and performing tarpanam will pay off the five obligations one is born with. One should not indulge in eating, sex, oil bath, darshan of Hari and idle gossip during pradosham.

விஷ்ண்வர்சநம் ஸதா³ கார்யம் ப்ரதோ³ஷஸமயம் விநா ।
தத்ராபி நரஸிம்ஹம் து கீர்தயேத்³த³ர்ஶயேத்³பு⁴த:⁴ ॥

ஏவம் ப்ரதோ³ஷஸமயே பூஜாம் கர்துமஶக்நுவந் ।
க³த்வா ஶிவாலயம் பஶ்யேத் ப⁴க்தோঽப⁴க்தோঽதவா ஶிவம் ॥

One should worship Lord Vishnu always except on pradosham days. It is beneficial to have a darshan of Lord Narasimha and worship Him on pradosham time. One who is unable to do puja etc., as said above during pradosham can get the benefit by having a darshan of the temple of Lord Shiva.

NOTE:-
It is said here that one should not have darshan of Vishnu on pradosham days but it does good to have darshan and worship Narasimha. The reason is that Narasimha is Shiva only and not different from Him. The following quote from Nrisimhapurvatapani Upanishad states this clearly.

ௐ ருʼதம் ஸத்யம் பரம் ப்³ரஹ்ம புருஷம் ந்ருʼகேஸரி விக்³ரஹம் ।
க்ருʼஷ்ணபிங்க³ல-மூர்த்⁴வரேதம் விரூபாக்ஷம் ஶங்கரம் நீலலோஹிதம்
உமாபதிம் பஶுபதிம் பிநாகிநம் ஹ்யமிதத்³யுதி-மீஶாந:— ॥

SHIVARATRI.

The pradosham day occurring in the Magha month (11th in the Hindu calendar) is very special and is celebrated as Shivaratri. This is the day when Lord Shiva revealed His glorious form to the gods to show that He alone is the Supreme Being. He appeared to them in the form of infinite effulgence. He told them that they all can derive benefit by worshipping Him. Accordingly, the gods offered special puja to Him. Lord Shiva was pleased with their worship. He added that the day will be known as Shivaratri and will be a very auspicious one.

தி³நமேதத் தத: புண்யம் ப⁴விஷ்யதி மஹத்தரம் ।
ஶிவராத்ரிரிதி க்²யாதா திதி²ரேஷா மம ப்ரியா ॥

Later the infinite form transformed Itself Into a lingam. The Lord said that whoever fasts on that day or worships Him will get all that is good in this life and will escape rebirth. He also said that the lingam will get installed in all the temples and the place where the lingam appeared first will be known as Arunachalam. Aruna means red – the color of the flame. Achalam means mountain. Shiva in this place is known as Arunachaleshvara.

போ⁴கா³வஹம் இத³ம் லிங்க³ம் பு⁴க்திமுக்த்யேக ஸாத⁴நம் ।
த³ர்ஶந-ஸ்பர்ஶந-த்⁴யாநாஜ்ஜந்தூநாம் ஜந்ம மோசநம் ॥

அநலாசல-ஸங்காஶம் யதி³த³ம் லிங்க³முத்தி²தம் ।
அருணாசலமித்யேவ ததி³த³ம் க்²யாதமேஷ்யதி ॥
This has occurred in Tiruvannamalai where the lingam in the temple is known as tejolingam (தேஜோலிங்க³ம்।). The event is celebrated as an annual festival in that town. A big lamp is lighted at the top of the hill behind the temple to mark the event. Thousands of people gather to witness the light.

Shivaratri day is celebrated with a great deal of fervor in Shiva temples all over the country. This is a vratam and so is marked by pujas, fasting and offering prayers throughout the night. After having a bath one should wear vibhuti, a necklace of rudrakSha beads, worship the Lord with bilva leaves, chant the sacred panchakShara mantra and visit the Shiva temple and participate in the pujas that are done throughout the night. Fasting is prescribed as an aid to curbing the wandering tendency of the mind so that it can concentrate on the job on hand – in this case, the puja of the Lord. This is known to us for a long. Shri Krishna mentions this in Bhagavad Gita (2-59).

விஷயா விநிவர்தந்தே நிராஹாரஸ்ய தே³ஹிந:।
Some verses from the Shiva puranas that extol the important day are given here with a rough translation.
மாக⁴க்ருʼஷ்ணசதுர்த³ஶ்யாம் உபவாஸோঽதிது³ர்லப:⁴ ।
தத்ராபி து³ர்லப⁴ம் மந்யே ராத்ரௌ ஜாக³ரணம் ந்ருʼணாம் ॥

Fasting on the Chaturdashi day in the fortnight following the full moon day in the Magha month (ie) on Shivaratri day is not something that is easily got by everyone. Still more difficult to get is the possibility of keeping awake during the night on that day.

அதீவ து³ர்லப⁴ம் தத்ர ஶிவலிங்க³ஸ்ய த³ர்ஶநம் ।
ஸுது³ர்லப⁴தரம் தத்ர பூஜநம் பரமேஶிது: ॥
It is very difficult to have a darshan of the Shiva lingam. Still more difficult is to get a chance to worship the Lord.

ப⁴வ-கோடி-ஶதோபாத்த-புண்ய-ராஶி-விபாகத: ।
லப்⁴யதே வா புநஸ்தத்ர பி³ல்வ-பத்ரார்பணம் விபோ:⁴ ॥

Even in performing that worship to that omnipresent Lord the good fortune to offer bilva leaves to Him is got only by the fructification of good deeds done in innumerable births.

வர்ஷாணாமயுதம் யேந ஸ்நாதம் க³ங்கா³ஸரிஜ்ஜலே ।
ஸக்ருʼத்³ பி³ல்வார்சநேநைவ தத்ப²லம் லப்⁴யதே நரை: ॥

What merit one earns by taking bath in the river Ganga for ten thousand years is got by worshipping Lord with the bilva leaves on Shivaratri day.

அத்ரோபவாஸ: கேநாபி க்ருʼத: க்ரதுஶதாயதே ।
ராத்ரௌ ஜாக³ரணம் புண்யம் வர்ஷ-கோடி-தபோதி⁴கம் ॥

Fasting on the night of Shivaratri is equivalent to performing hundred Vedic sacrifices. Keeping awake on that night is superior to austerities performed in ten million years.

ஏகேந பி³ல்வ-பத்ரேண ஶிவ-லிங்கா³ர்சநே க்ருʼதே ।
த்ரைலோக்யே தஸ்ய புண்யஸ்ய கோ வா ஸாத்³ருʼஶ்யம்ருʼச்ச²தி ॥

Nothing in all the worlds equals the merit one earns by offering one bilva leaf to the Lord on that holy day.

அஹோ ப³லவதீ மாயா யேந ஶைவீ மஹாதிதி:² ।
நோபாஸ்யதே ஜநை-ர்மூடை:⁴ அதிமூர்கை²ரிவ த்ரயீ ॥

OH! great is the power of Maya. Ignorant people do not observe Shivaratri which is so glorious. This is just like the ignorant people not caring to study the Vedas.

உபவாஸோ ஜாக³ரணம் ஸந்நிதி:⁴ பரமேஶிது: ।
கோ³கர்ணம் ஶிவலோகஸ்ய ந்ருʼணாம் ஸோபாந-பத்³த⁴தி: ॥

Fasting on Shivaratri day, keeping awake during that night, and visiting the temple of the Lord, the holy place of Gokarna constitute the steps for one to reach the abode of Lord Shiva.

THE SUMMER FESTIVAL:-

The summer festival (March-April) lasts for ten days. It attracts huge crowds from in and around the city of Chennai. We can have the darshan of the Lord riding on the bull Nandi on the fifth day. One of the Lord’s names is ருʼஷபா⁴ரூட:⁴. The bull or rishabha (ருʼஷப:⁴) represents dharma which showers all desired results like dharma. artha kama and also gives purity of mind that helps in pursuing mokSha. The commentator says :- ᳚வ்ருʼஷ ஸேசநே᳚ வர்ஷணாத் ஸர்வகாமாநாம்வ்ருʼஷப:⁴, த⁴ர்மரூபதயா ஸர்வகாமப்ரத³த்வாத், தமாரூட:⁴; வ்ருʼஷப⁴வாஹந: இத்யர்த:²।SAN(40). The Lord also has the bull as the mark on His flag. Because of this He also has the name வ்ருʼஷாங்க:।SAN(39). This shows the great importance the Lord attaches to dharma.

On the seventh day, we have the car festival when He goes round the streets in a car. It is very popular and attracts huge crowds. It is said that one who can have the darshan of the Lord in the car will escape rebirth. ரத²ஸ்த²ம் வாமநம் த்³ருʼஷ்ட்வா புநர்ஜந்ம ந வித்³யதே । The car” represents the body.

ஆத்மாநம் ரதி²நம் வித்³தி⁴ ஶரீரம் ரத²மேவ ச ।
பு³த்³தி⁴ம் து ஸாரதி²ம் வித்³தி⁴ மந: ப்ரக்³ரஹமேவ ச ॥
says Katha Upanishad (1-3-3).
The Self within the body is the charioteer, the one who rides in the chariot. The வாமந: or dwarf mentioned herein refers to the Self, Supreme Being, the size of the thumb, who resides in the body, in the small chamber of the heart of everyone. The Katha Upanishad says this. (KU-2-1-12).

அங்கு³ஷ்ட²மாத்ர: புருஷோ மத்⁴ய ஆத்மநி திஷ்ட²தி ।
ஈஶாநம் பூ⁴தப⁴வ்யஸ்ய ந ததோ விஜுகு³ப்ஸதே ॥

Even though the Self is all-pervading, It is conceived as a dwarf residing in the heart to facilitate meditation on It.

Another important festival is the day when the 63 Saivite saints, known as Nayanmars are taken in a procession and the Lord follows His devotees. A popular Tamil poet Avvaiyar has said in one of her poems that a devotee of the Lord is greater than the Lord Himself as he has the Lord enshrined in his heart! This will remind us of what Sri Krishna told about His devotees to His friend Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita.

நிரபேக்ஷம் முநிம் ஶாந்தம் நிர்வைரம் ஸமத³ர்ஶநம் ।
அநுவ்ரஜாம்யஹம் நித்யம் பூயயேத்யங்க்⁴ரிரேணுபி:⁴ ॥

(Srimad Bhagavatam-11-14-16).

He said that He invariably follows His devotees. This festival is celebrated on the eighth day.

On the ninth day, one can have the darshan of the Lord as பி⁴க்ஷாடந: a mendicant going around the streets with a begging bowl. The question now arises as to why the Lord is reduced to a state of nothingness? Puranas tell that Lord Shiva took on the role of a beggar with a disheveled appearance to teach a lesson to some sages who were staunch adherents of the path of karma and ignored the higher path of jnana. They were proud of their achievements on this path which got them some supernatural powers also. The beggar was extremely handsome. On seeing Him many of the men and women in the ashram precinct lost their balance and started following Him. When the sages saw this they were furious. They cursed him and let him lose some demons created by their spiritual power. But their attempts to harm the beggar utterly failed and they felt humiliated. They surrendered to the Lord.

The ten days festival concludes with the wedding of the divine couple (Lord Kapali and Devi Kalpakambal). The function is celebrated with a great deal of enthusiasm by the people as they consider it as a marriage happening in their own house. Everyone brings presents to the ᳚bride” and ᳚groom” in the form of silk sarees and silk dhoties etc. Many offer pieces of jewelry. They also bring sweet and savory items prepared specially for the occasion. Thus the marriage turns out to be a memorable occasion. After the function gets over the devotees are given prasad offered to the divine couple. The wedding signifies the union of the Jivatma and Pramatma who were never separate but felt separated due to the veil of avidya or nescience. The Lalithasahasranamam describes Devi Lalitha as காமேஶ-ப³த்³த⁴-மாங்க³ல்யஸூத்ர-ஶோபி⁴த-கந்த⁴ரா। Devi’s neck shines with the Mangalya thread tied by the Lord who, therefore
has the name அம்பி³காநாத:² = அம்பி³காயா நாத:² பதி:। இத³ம் சார்த²த:
ஶ்ருதி-ப்ரஸித்³த⁴ம் நாம। ᳚நமோ ஹிரண்ய-பா³ஹவே ஹிரண்ய-வர்ணாய
ஹிரண்ய-ரூபாய ஹிரண்ய-பதயேঽம்பி³கா-பதய உமா-பதயே பஶு-பதயே
நமோநம:।

We also have the float festival (in January-February) when the Lord goes around the tank afloat. This symbolises the fact that the Lord Siva, like a boatman, goes in a boat or raft, scours the ocean of samsara and looks for people who are struggling in the ocean and seeking His help to come out of it. So Siva has these names.

ஸம்ஸாரார்ணவ-மக்³நாநாம் ஸமுத்³த⁴ரண ஹேது: –
ஸம்ஸார: ஜநநமரணாதி³ஸமூஹ: ஸ ஏவார்ணவ:, ஸமுத்³ர: அபாரத்வாத்,
தத்ர மக்³நாநாம் ஸர்வதா³ து:³க²நுப⁴வித்ரூʼணாம்,
து:³க²நாஶகரப்லவாதி³ரஹிதாநாம், ஸமுத்³த⁴ரணே,
தேஷாம் து:³க²நாஶநே ஹேது: காரணம் வேதா³ந்தமஹாவாக்யஜந்ய-
வ்ருʼத்த்யாரூட:⁴ ஸந் ஸம்ஸரபாஶவிச்சே²த³கரத்வாத் ॥

᳚ஜ்ஞாத்வா தே³வம் ஸர்வபாஶாபஹாநிரிதி।᳚ ஶ்ருதி: ॥SS(408) and
விஷயார்ணவமக்³நாநாம் ஸமுத்³த⁴ரணஸேது: –
விஷயஶப்³தே³ந விஷயாநுப⁴வரூபஸம்ஸார உச்யதே ॥ ஸ ஏவார்ணவ:
ஸமுத்³ர: விஷயார்ணவ:, தஸ்மிந் ஸம்ஸாரஸமுத்³ரே மஹதி,
அவித்³யாகாமகர்மப்ரப⁴வது:³கோ²த³கே தீவ்ரரோக³ஜராம்ருʼத்யுமஹாக்³ராஹே
அநாதா³வநந்தேঽபாரே நிராலம்பே³ விஷயேந்த்³ரியஜநிதஸுக²லவலக்ஷணவிப்⁴ரமே,
பஞ்சேந்த்³ரியோத்த²த்ருʼண்மாருத- விக்ஷோபோ⁴த்தி²தாநர்த²ஶதமஹோர்மிணி,
மஹாபாதகாத்³யநேகநிரயக³தே, (து³ர்வாரவாரிசரக³ர்பே⁴) ஹாஹேத்யாதி³-
கூஜிதாக்ரோஶநோத்³பூ⁴தமஹார்ணவே மக்³நாநம் ஸமுத்³த⁴ரணே ஸம்யகு³த்³த⁴ரணே
ஸேதுரிவ ஸேது: ।
᳚த்ரிருந்நதம் ஸ்தா²ப்ய ஸமம் ஶரீரம்
ஹ்ருʼதீ³ந்த்³ரியாணி மநஸா ஸந்நிவேஶ்ய ।
ப்³ரஹ்மோடு³பேந ப்ரதரேவ வித்³வாந்
ஸ்ரோதாம்ஸி ஸர்வாணி ப⁴யாவஹாநி ॥᳚ இதி ஶ்ருதி: ॥SS(477).

This will bring to our mind the verse from the popular Karavalamba stotram wherein Shri Shankaracharya beseeches Lord Laxmi Narasimha to extend His hand and pull him out of the fearsome ocean of samsara.

ஸம்ஸார-ஸாக³ர-நிமஜ்ஜந-முஹ்யமாநம்
தீ³நம் விலோகய விபோ⁴ கருணாநிதே⁴ மாம் ।
ப்ரஹ்லாத³-கே²த³-பரிஹார-பராவதார-
லக்ஷ்மீந்ருʼஸிம்ஹ மம தே³ஹி கராவலம்ப³ம் ॥(10) ॥

Every individual is struggling in the ocean of samsasra, but does not know how to reach the shore. Also, he does not have the ability to know the means. In such a precarious situation the kindly acharya tells us that reaching out to the Lord is the only way. One struggling in the sea for a long time swallows the bitter water and feels weak and faint. In the same way, one caught in the ocean of samsara takes in the poison of pleasures and pains through the senses and is befuddled. The acharya herein gently reminds the Lord that saving someone caught in the sea is not something new to Him. On an earlier occasion, He had rescued Prahlada who was bound to a big slab of stone and thrown into the sea
by saying ப்ரஹ்லாத³-கே²த³-பரிஹார-பராவதார। The kindly Lord is one who is capable of helping us to get out of samsara and administer the required treatment. He is renowned in the Vedas as the foremost and divine physician. Shri Rudram says this. அத்⁴யவோசத³தி⁴ வக்தா ப்ரத²மோ தை³வ்யோ பி⁴ஷக்। Krishna says that He will lift up those who have exclusive devotion to Him from the ocean of samsara. Gita (12-7).
தேஷாமஹம் ஸமுத்³த⁴ர்தா ம்ருʼத்யுஸம்ஸாரஸாக³ராத் ।
ப⁴வாமி ந சிராத்பார்த² மய்யாவேஶிஅதசேதஸாம் ॥

There is a separate temple inside the main temple for Devi who bears the name Kalpakambal. It is said that She took the form of a peacock and worshipped the Lord here to demonstrate the power of devotion. Peacock is called ᳚mayil᳚ in Tamil. Thus the place has come to be known as Mailai or as Mayilapuri and as Mylapore.

Kapali is one of Shiva’s names. (No.24-Shiva 108 namavali). Kapala means a skull. Siva wears a garland of skulls. Each skull in His garland is said to be that of one Brahma, the creator god after Brahma’s demise at the time of resolution or pralaya. Brahma is only the name of the post, like that of the President or the Prime Minister. When the post is vacated by the occupant another suitable person takes up the post and the work of creation continues. This period is known as கல்பம் kalpam. At the time of Kalpam, Shiva withdraws the creation within Himself and releases it at the beginning of the next Kalpa. Krishna says this in Gita-(9-7).

ஸர்வபூ⁴தாநி கௌந்தேய ப்ரக்ருʼதிம் யாந்தி மாமிகாம் ।
கல்பக்ஷயே புநஸ்தாநி கல்பாதௌ³ விஸ்ருʼஜாம்யஹம் ॥

Brahma has a very long life according to our calendar. We may get an idea about Brahma’s longevity from the following figures. 360 human years = 1 year of devas. 12,000 years of the devas = The duration of 4 yugas. 2000 such periods = One day of Brahma. Brahma has a life of 100 years made of such days and is equal to 432 million years of mortals. Thus, it is very very long as per our reckoning. Still, Brahma has a finite life only, however long it may be. It has an end. So, everyone, including Brahma, is absorbed by Lord’s Prakriti and released again.
Shiva wearing a garland made of skulls of Brahmas indicates that Shiva is beyond time, is eternal and lasts even after other lesser gods like Brahma who are in the grip of time meet their end. Shri Nilakanta DikShita explains this in his Shivatattvarahasyam as follows. SAN(24).

கபாலீதி – கபாலம் ப்³ரஹ்மகபாலம் அஸ்யாஸ்தீதி கபாலீ। ஏதேந
அநேக-ப்³ரஹ்மாத்யய-த³ர்ஶித்வ-லக்ஷணம் ஸநாதநத்வமுக்தம் ப⁴வதி ।

Now we are faced with a peculiar problem. What can we ask of Kapaleeshvara, who Himself goes around with a begging bowl (kapalam or skull) in His hand? Shri Shankaracharya too faced this problem and had come out with an ingenious solution. He had seen that wandering beggars usually keep with their dogs, monkeys and such small animals. They make the animals do some simple tricks, entertain the people and collect alms. He says that he has a monkey called his mind that is very frisky, mischievous and uncontrollable. He beseeches the Lord to tie it with the cord of devotion and take it with HIm. Please look at this entreaty that is addressed to Kapali.

ஸதா³ மோஹாடவ்யாம் சரதி யுவதீநாம் குச-கி³ரௌ
நடத்யாஶாஶாகா²வடதி ஜ़்ஹடிதி ஸ்வைரமபி⁴த: ।
கபாலிந்! பி⁴க்ஷோ! மே ஹ்ருʼத³ய-கபிமத்யந்த-சபலம்
த்³ருʼட⁴ம் ப³த்⁴வா ஶிவ ப⁴வத³தீ⁴நம் குரு விபோ⁴! ॥ SL (20).

Thus, the hymn that follows is about the Infinite Supreme Being who appears as Kapali for the benefit of devotees and who is none other than Lord Shiva. Devi Kalpakamba is His Maya shakti also known as Prakriti. The Supreme Being associated with Maya is known as Ishwara or Maheshwara. This is said in the Svethasvaropanishad as: மாயாம் து ப்ரக்ருʼதிம் வித்³யாந்மாயிநம் து மஹேஶ்வரம் । Maya has named as Parvati, Shiva, Uma etc. Shiva means auspiciousness. SS(18). ஶிவோ மங்க³ளரூப:।
நிர்மாஷ்ட²-நிகி²ல-து:³கா²நுஷங்க³-பரமாநந்த³-ரூப இத்யர்த:² ।

So is also Devi Kalpakamba who has the name Mangala (meaning auspicious). The following popular verse from Saptasloki Durga says this clearly.

ஸர்வமங்க³ளமாங்க³ல்யே ஶிவே ஸர்வார்த²ஸாதி⁴கே ।
ஶரண்யே த்ர்யம்பி³கே கௌ³ரி நாராயணி நமோঽஸ்து தே ॥

Thus, by saluting them whose very names spell auspiciousness, one is bound to get all that is good in life here and hereafter. The following popular verse says this.
ய: ஶிவோ நமரூபாப்⁴யாம் யா தே³வீ ஸர்வமங்க³ளா ।
தயோ: ஸம்ஸ்மரணாத் பும்ஸாம் ஸர்வதோ ஜய மங்க³ளம் ॥
The Kaivalyopanishad (7) says:-
உமாஸஹாயம் பரமேஶ்வரம் ப்ரபு⁴ம்
த்ரிலோசநம் நீலகண்ட²ம் ப்ரஶாந்தம் ।
த்⁴யாத்வா முநிர்க³ச்ச²தி பூ⁴தயோநிம்
ஸமஸ்தஸாக்ஷிம் தமஸ: பரஸ்தாத் ॥
that one, by meditating on the highest Lord who is allied to Uma, supremely powerful. three-eyed has a blue neck and tranquil reaches Him who is the source of all, the witness of all and is beyond darkness (ignorance or avidya).

This is said in the following verse also.
கல்பகாம்பா³-கபாலீஶௌ ப⁴க்தரக்ஷண-தத்பரௌ ।
தயோ: அநுக்³ரஹோ யத்ர வர்ததே தத்ர மங்க³ளம் ॥

॥ ஶ்ரீ கபாலீஶ்வராஷ்டகம் ॥

கபாலி-நாமதே⁴யகம் கலாபி-புர்யதீ⁴ஶ்வரம்
கலாத⁴ரார்த⁴-ஶேக²ரம் கரீந்த்³ர-சர்ம-பூ⁴ஷிதம் ।
க்ருʼபா-ரஸார்த்³ர-லோசநம் குலாசல-ப்ரபூஜிதம்வ்
குபே³ர-மித்ரமூர்ஜிதம் க³ணேஶ-பூஜிதம் ப⁴ஜே ॥ 1 ॥

ப⁴ஜே பு⁴ஜங்க³-பூ⁴ஷணம் ப⁴வாப்³தி⁴-பீ⁴தி-ப⁴ஞ்ஜநம்
ப⁴வோத்³ப⁴வம் ப⁴யாபஹம் ஸுக²ப்ரத³ம் ஸுரேஶ்வரம் ।
ரவீந்து³-வஹ்நி-லோசநம் ரமா-த⁴வார்சிதம் வரம்
ஹ்யுமா-த⁴வம் ஸுமாத⁴வீ-ஸுபூ⁴ஷிஅதம் மஹாகு³ரும் ॥ 2 ॥

கு³ரும் கி³ரீந்த்³ர-த⁴ந்விநம் கு³ஹ-ப்ரியம் கு³ஹாஶயம்
கி³ரி-ப்ரியம் நக³-ப்ரியா-ஸமந்விதம் வர-ப்ரத³ம் ।
ஸுர-ப்ரியம் ரவி-ப்ரப⁴ம் ஸுரேந்த்³ர-பூஜிதம் ப்ரபு⁴ம்
நரேந்த்³ர-பீட²-தா³யகம் நமாம்யஹம் மஹேஶ்வரம் ॥ 3 ॥

மஹேஶ்வரம் ஸுரேஶ்வரம் த⁴நேஶ்வர-ப்ரியேஶ்வரம்
வநேஶ்வரம் விஶுத்³த⁴-சித்த வாஸிநம் பராத்பரம் ।
ப்ரமத்தவேஷ-தா⁴ரிணம் ப்ரக்ருʼஷ்ட-சித்ஸ்வரூபிணம்
விருத்³த⁴-கர்ம-காரிணம் ஸுஶிக்ஷகம் ஸ்மராம்யஹம் ॥ 4 ॥

ஸ்மராம்யஹம் ஸ்மராந்தகம் முராரி-ஸேவிதாங்க்⁴ரிகம்
பராரி-நாஶந-க்ஷமம் புராரி ரூபிணம் ஶுப⁴ம் ।
ஸ்புஅரத்-ஸஹஸ்ர-பா⁴நு-துல்ய தேஜஸம் மஹௌஜஸம்
ஸு-சண்டி³கேஶ பூஜிதம் ம்ருʼட³ம் ஸமாஶ்ரயே ஸதா³ ॥ 5 ॥

ஸதா³ ப்ரஹ்ருʼஷ்ட-ரூபிணம் ஸதாம் ப்ரஹர்ஷ-வர்ஷிணம்
பி⁴தா³ விநாஶ-காரண ப்ரமாணகோ³சரம் பரம் ।
முதா³ ப்ரவ்ருʼத்த-நர்தநம் ஜக³த்பவித்ர-கீர்தநம்
நிதா³நமேகமத்³பு⁴தம் நிதாந்தமாஶ்ரயேஹ்யஹம் ॥ 6 ॥

அஹம்-மமாதி³ தூ³ஷணம் மஹேந்த்³ர-ரத்ந-பூ⁴ஷணம்
மஹா-வ்ருʼஷேந்த்³ர-வாஹநம் ஹ்யஹீந்த்³ர-பூ⁴ஷணாந்விதம் ।
வ்ருʼஷாகபி-ஸ்வரூபிணம் ம்ருʼஷா-பதா³ர்த²-தா⁴ரிணம்
ம்ருʼகண்டு³ஸூநு ஸம்ஸ்துதம் ஹ்யபீ⁴தித³ம் நமாமி தம் ॥ 7 ॥

நமாமி தம் மஹாமதிம் நதேஷ்டதா³ந-சக்ஷணம்
நதார்தி-ப⁴ஞ்ஜநோத்³யதம் நகே³ந்த்³ர-வாஸிநம் விபு⁴ம் ।
அகே³ந்த்³ரஜா ஸமந்விதம் ம்ருʼகே³ந்த்³ர விக்ரமாந்விதம்
க²கே³ந்த்³ர-வாஹந-ப்ரியம் ஸுக²ஸ்வரூபமவ்யயம் ॥ 8 ॥

ஸுகல்பகாம்பி³கா-பதி-ப்ரியந்த்வித³ம் மநோஹரம்
ஸுகூ³ட³காஞ்சிராமக்ருʼஷ்ண யோகி³ஶிஷ்ய ஸம்ஸ்துதம் ।
மஹாப்ரதோ³ஷ புண்யகால கீர்தநாத்ஶுப⁴ப்ரத³ம்
ப⁴ஜாமஹே ஸதா³முதா³ கபாலி மங்க³ளாஷ்டகம் ॥ 9 ॥

கபாலி துஷ்டிதா³யகம் மஹாபதி³ ப்ரபாலகம்
த்வபீ⁴ஷ்ட-ஸித்³தி⁴-தா³யகம் விஶிஷ்ட-மங்க³ளாஷ்டகம் ।
படே²த்ஸுப⁴க்தித: கபாலி ஸந்நிதௌ⁴ க்ரமாத்
அவாப்ய ஸர்வமாயுராதி³ மோத³தே ஸுமங்க³ளம் ॥ 10 ॥

இதி கூ³ட³லூர் ஶ்ரீராமக்ருʼஷ்ணாநந்த³ யதீந்த்³ர ஶிஷ்ய
ஶ்ரீ ராமசந்த்³ரேண விரசிதம்
॥ ஶ்ரீ கபாலீஶ்வராஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥

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