Puranic Mylapore

Prof. K. Sampath writes to trace a puranic reference to
Mylapore.

During the Tretayugam sage Sukrachariar lost an eye while trying to prevent king Bali from fulfiling the wishes of Lord Vishnu. He then did severe penance at Mylapore and Lord Siva restored his eyesight. Siva stayed in Mylapore as Velleeswarar (Velli meaning Sukran ). This story is enacted every year on the ninth day of the chittirai festival of Valleeswarar temple on the South Mada Street.

Goddess Parvathi in the form of a peahen worshipped Lord Kapaleeswarar at the Kapali temple. In olden times lots of peacocks and peahens lived around the temple. So the place came to be known as Mayil Aadum Puram which later was shortened to Mylapore.

Prof. R. Nanjunda Rao writes:

Prof. R. Nanjunda Rao B.Sc., M.S. Sai Polyclinic, 94, Ramakrishna Math Road, Mylapore, writes about his grandfather:
Dear Editor,I introduce myself as the grand son of Late Dr.M.C. Nanjunda Rao a famous Physician and legend who lived in Mylapore. He passed away in 1918. My grand father was residing in 'Sasivilas' Mylapore - In 1893 Swami Vivekananda came to the doctors house and has had discussions before going to Chicago-Materials available with Sri Ramakrishna Math Mylapore-More over along with Sri Ramakrishnanda known as Sasi Maharaj my grand father was also helpful in establishing the mutt at Mylapore - More over Mr.C. Ramanujachariar was a family friend of ours - To start Ramakrishna Students Home whe Mr.C.R. was looking for a place it was my grand father late Dr.M.C. Nanjunda Rao gave one of his mall houses at Arisikara Street free of rent and it was started with 5 Students - this was mentioned repeatedly by Sri Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti when he spoke in the Centenary Celebration meeting. This I am writing to you for information as any activity of Sri Ramakrishna Mission was established here with only my late grand father Dr.M.C. Nanjunda Rao's help. It has been almighty's wish that my family must be closely associated with the mutt still and I had been in the management committee of Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda Educational Mission for many years.

P. R. Vasudevan of R.K.Salai writes:

We have some interesting contributions from our readers on their memories of Mylapore.
Mr. P. R. Vasudevan of R.K.Salai writes:
I was born here in 1938 in a house in the Kesava Perumal Westward Street. I read with interest your write-ups on the Mandaveli Post Office. During my study in the PS High School, 1946 - 52, it was the nearest post office to my house and the school. I remember the post card was priced at 3 pies and envelope 1 anna. Registered articles, rarely used, were at 4 annas. I could recollect the faces of couple of postal employees in the Mandaveli post office, a short peon with a chubby and ever-smiling face and the postmaster, a chatty and tall and fair Vaishnavite with prominent religious marks in the forehead. The Money Order Clerk himself used to fill in the MO form for some of the customers without grumbling. The market in front of the post office, both in the Brodie's Road (present RK Mutt Road) and Mandaveli Street remains unchanged to this day, of course with more bustle and more shops.The Mandaveli Street, leading to Santhome High Road, was more or less the southern border of Mylapore: there was no building south of it after the Adam Street - Mandaveli Street junction till it joined the Santhome High Road. It was mostly barren land, used for cattle grazing. Hence the name Mandai veli.