Mylapore

East tank

Streets

Kapali Temple

Mylapore is an ancient settlement. 

with written records of early settlements going back to the first century BCE.

Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet-philosopher, is believed to have been born here in 31 BCE.

It was known for its ancient port with a flourishing trade with the Roman Empire, receiving gold in exchange for its products like pepper and fine cloth. 

Ptolemy had recorded in the second century CE that the port of Mylapore was known to the Greeks and the Romans. 

The Saivite Saints of the seventh century, Saint Sambandar and Saint Appar, have sung about the shrine in their hymns. 

Mention has been made of the early settlement of Santhome (currently known) by Arab travelers and merchants of the ninth and tenth centuries. Marco Polo visited the place in the late 13th century and left a detailed description of the land, the people along with their customs and religion and also visited the tomb of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Mylapore (currently Santhome).

It was considerable maritime time and the ancient German and Greek maps refer to the town as 'Maliarpha'. The later Scottish researchers like James Playfair referred it "Meliapour"

Mylapore was occupied by the Portuguese in 1523, who established the viceroyalty of "São Tomé de Meliapor" or "Saint Thomas of Mylapore." Portuguese rule lasted until 1749, except for a brief period between 1662 and 1687, when the town was occupied by the Dutch.

After 1749, the British East India Company took possession of the settlement in the name of Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nawab of Arcot.

In that same year, Mylapore was incorporated into the administration of the Presidency of Madras. 

The settlement known as "Luz" developed during this period. The name finds its origins from the 'Nossa Senhora Da Luz' (Our Lady of Light) church built by the Portuguese in 1516 CE. This church is one of the oldest standing Christian structures in all of Tamil Nadu.

Mylapore, its naming and different names:

Mylapore gets its name due to the legend of Parvathi in the form of a peahen. Also Myil in tamil means peacock. As per the Brahmanda purana, Mylapore is referred as Mayurapuri. Mayur in Sanskrit means peacock.

Vedapuri and Sukrapuri are some of the alternate names of Mylapore. Vedapuri because the four vedas prayed to Lord Shiva here. Sukrapuri because the one eyed Sukracharya worshiped Lord Shiva here to restore his eyesight. Blinded in one eye by the dwarf Vamana (incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Sukracharya regains his lost eyesight.

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