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45-596: Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School is a private, coed school in Mylapore , Chennai , Tamil Nadu, India . It was founded in 1956 by M. Subbaraya Aiyar , R. S. Subbalakshmi and Padmini Chari. It follows the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) pattern of education with the medium of instruction being English. With just a handful of boys in 1956, studying at the Mylapore Ladies' Club premises,

90-427: A boys school, the first batch of students took the exam. In 1963, a small building was constructed and the matriculation section was opened. The school followed the matriculation system until 1975, when it became affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). In 1978, the first batch of students took the 10th Standard examination and the school became a co-educational school. In 1981, to commemorate

135-600: 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

180-537: A leading lawyer, and Mrs. Padmini Chari who was an educationist. Thus the school was born through the efforts of these three, and Vidya Mandir Matriculation School was formally opened in 1960. R. S. Subbalakshmi and Mrs V.K.T Chari served as the Founder President and School Correspondent respectively. M. Subbaraya Aiyar became the Secretary of the school. In 1960, once the school was formally opened as

225-547: A library was built in the same year. In 2010, the school introduced a filing system and shifted to a two term year from a three term year as prescribed by the CBSE. In 2019, the class of 1969 donated an atmospheric water generator to the school. Vidya Mandir @estancia is a branch of Vidya Mandir, Mylapore in Estancia Township. It was inaugurated on 11 June 2009 by Dr. K.Kasthurirangan (former MP and member ISRO), in

270-400: A series of palanquins and other deities of the surrounding shrines including Mundagakanni Amman, Kolavizhi Amman, Vasuki with Valluvar, Draupadi Amman, Ankalaparameshwari Amman, Vairamudi Swami, and Chintadripet Muthukumaran are taken in procession. The Arubathimoovar on day eight draws the maximum crowd during which the 63 nayanmars along with the idol of philosopher-saint Valluvar as

315-403: A variety of cultural and educational events annually. Some of the events are The school has a number of clubs that the students can participate in such as Martial Arts, Mathematics Music, Environment, Commerce, Reading, Trekking, Study Circles. Mylapore Mylapore (also spelt Mayilapur ), or Thirumayilai , is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai , India . It

360-619: Is believed to house the tomb of Thomas the Apostle , is in Mylapore. The word Mylapore is the anglicized form of the Dravidian word Mayilāppūr . It is derived from the Tamil phrase மயில் ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் ஊர் Mayil ārpparikkum ūr , which means 'land of the peacock scream'. Historically, peacocks have been known to thrive in the area, which is evident from the several statues in the Kapaleeshwarar Temple towers and in

405-552: Is celebrated on 15 August every year. Mylapore is regarded by many as the cultural hub of the city. Mylapore is the home of music sabhas (cultural organizations) and musicians. December is often set aside as the Music Season when regular and continuous kutcheris are organized by the Sabhas in Mylapore. There are performances by Carnatic Music vocalists and artists during this period. The Parthasarathy Swami Sabha in Mylapore

450-464: Is estimated to be around 150,000 to 300,000. It has long been a site of cultural importance for Brahmins , which can be attributed to Mylapore's early role as a temple centre. Smartha Brahmins , a sub-sect, were one of the first people to settle in this township. More accurate statistics are not available as Mylapore is not a separate township by itself, but a part of Chennai city. The different neighbourhoods within Mylapore have been distributed among

495-601: Is marked by the second small tower in the centre of the cathedral. Pope Pius XII honoured this cathedral church, elevating it to the dignity and rank of a minor basilica in 1956. Pope John Paul II is the only pope to have visited the church, in 1986. The church was declared a National Shrine in 2004 by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India , and became known as the National Shrine of Saint Thomas Cathedral Basilica. Santhome Church exhibits

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540-745: Is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the celebrated Tamil philosopher Valluvar , and the Hindu saint and philosopher, Peyalvar . It is also believed by Christians to be the place of martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle , who preached along the Malabar Coast, and established the Malankara Nasrani community . Mylapore is known for its tree-lined avenues, Kapaleeshwarar Temple , Katcheri seasons, and Ramakrishna Matha among many others. St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai which

585-514: Is part of Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency) . There used to be a tram line running through Kutchery Road from Santhome via Luz, Mylapore. Mylapore is connected to other parts of the city by MTC buses, with connections including Chennai Central , T. Nagar , Tambaram , Broadway , CMBT , Vadapalani . Thirumayilai Railway Station , on the Mass Rapid Transit System network, connects Mylapore to Chennai Beach to

630-530: Is surrounded by traditional crowded street markets of Chennai selling fruits, flowers, vegetables and traditional brass ware. Mylapore is known for the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple constructed in honor of Keshava or Vishnu , a principal god in the Hindu pantheon and the "Preserver" in the Hindu trinity . The temple has an idol of Vishnu accompanied by his celestial consort Goddess Lakshmi. This

675-545: Is the birthplace of Peyalvar. It has sannathis for the thayar Mayuravalli, Chakkarathalvar, Sri Andal, Sri Rama & Anjaneya. It is the avatara sthalam (birthplace) of Peyalvar and has a separate sannithi for the Alvar. During the brahmotsavam the utsavar goes in a procession accompanied by Sridevi & Bhudevi in the mada streets and also gives the chance to see the Theppam festival in the centuries-old kulam (tank). Every year

720-534: Is the oldest Sabha (Assembly) in Tamil Nadu. The Madras Music Academy in the north of the district is an important nucleus of art events in the city. Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan Auditorium conducts cultural events. The Mylapore Fine Arts located near Nageshwara Rao Park is another Sabha. The 10-day Panguni Brahmotsavam , a series of procession events of the Kapaleeshwarar temple and related shrines around

765-546: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India . It is an important pilgrimage center for the Syrian Christians of Kerala . The church also has an attached museum. Church of Our Lady of Light is a Roman Catholic shrine in the locality. It is commonly called as Luz Church by the locals, which derives from the Portuguese name Nossa Senhora da Luz. Built in 1516 by the Portuguese, it is one of the oldest Churches in

810-540: 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. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the town became the commercial and intellectual hub of Madras city and home to British-educated lawyers and statesmen,

855-582: The shrine over the tomb. With the support and authority of King John III of Portugal they started building the church, which was consecrated in 1523. Portuguese Padroado priests resumed the daily celebration of liturgy ( Holy Mass ) at the site. In 1545, Francis Xavier visited the shrine and lived for about one year in the presbytery of the Santhome Church before he left for his mission in Ilha Formosa ( Taiwan ). When he lived in

900-588: The viceroyalty of " São Tomé de Meliapor " or "Saint Thomas of Mylapore." Portuguese rule lasted until 1749, except for a brief interregnum 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

945-489: The 25th year, a Silver Jubilee Kindergarten Block was constructed. In 1989, the school established a branch school located in Gandhi Nagar, Chennai which later became an independent school called Bala Vidya Mandir. In 1993, a new primary block was constructed and in 1997 a new administrative block was constructed. In 2001, a new open air theatre was built to host the school cultural activities and other school events and

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990-521: The 64th nayanmar are taken in procession. The festival is dated back to 7th century CE. Nageshwara Rao Garden is known for its play area, shrubs and cultural events. Mylapore Website provides news about arts and culture of Chennai City. The Mylapore Times, a weekly neighbourhood newspaper, covers issues relating to the neighbourhood of Mylapore. Mylapore is also known for its South-Indian food. There are many famous eateries in Mylapore that are thronged by people. The Mylapore assembly constituency

1035-455: The Cross attached at the side wall of the cathedral. The church has two spires . The primary spire, at the left side of the church's entrance, is 45 metres (147 ft) tall. It can be seen from a distance and serves as a bell tower. The second spire rises from the center of the church to indicate the position of the believed tomb of Thomas. A 200-year-old British pipe organ is installed in

1080-530: The Gothic revival architecture style of the late 19th century. It has a rib vault ceiling made of teak wood , with marble and granite used in other parts of the construction. It was built with 16 windows and 34 stained glass panels, with a main stained glass over the altar representing Thomas the Apostle touching the wound of Christ. The statue in the main altar represents "Thomas the Apostle as priest and Jesus Christ as king". In addition, there are 14 Stations of

1125-715: The Parthasarathy Perumal comes to the Kesava Perumal temple and Kesava Perumal too goes to Triplicane along with Peyalvar. Mylapore has the Srinivasar temple near Chitra Kulam in Mylapore, which is administered by the Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam (SVDD). It is located beside the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple, which has an imposing gopuram that can be seen from quite a distance. The Ekambareswarar–Kamakshi Koil , commonly known as

1170-597: The Valluvar Koil, is also located in the neighborhood. The Valluvar shrine is located within the Ekambareswarar temple complex and is dedicated to the poet-saint Valluvar . Dating back to at least the early 16th century, the temple was extensively renovated in the 1970s. Considered to be the birthplace of Valluvar, the temple is the oldest ever built to Valluvar. The temple also serves as the venue for meetings of Tamil language enthusiasts. While many consider

1215-491: The campus sells books on Indian epics - Ramayana and Mahabharatha, talks, travels and works of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda , as well as the philosophy of Vedanta along with monthly magazines. The monks conduct lectures and interviews in English on Sunday evenings from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. San Thome Basilica , built over the tomb of Thomas the Apostle , is a Roman Catholic minor basilica at Santhome in

1260-470: The church's gallery, reached by stairs at the entrance. An adoration chapel adjoining the main church provides for silent moments before the Blessed Sacrament . This chapel can be approached from the left wing of the church apart from an exclusive entrance from the outside. A gold-painted wooden statue of Mother Mary was brought from Lisbon to Santhome Church in 1523. It is installed at

1305-593: The church, he regularly prayed in front of a statue of the Virgin Mother Mary and celebrated Holy Mass; he also prayed regularly at the tomb. The church was made a cathedral in 1606 by Pope Paul V with the creation of the Diocese of Saint Thomas of Mylapore . The church was rebuilt in 1896 by the British in the style of Gothic Revival architecture . The place where Thomas is believed to be buried

1350-691: The city and its foundation stone marks as one of the oldest European monuments in India. The history of the church dates back to the 16th-century legend of safe arrival to land by missionaries. The church is located very near to the Santhome Basilica, where Apostle Thomas is believed to be buried. Although at the time the church was built, the locality was a thick forest, now it is part of a bustling metropolitan area. This 16th century European architecture building consists of patterns of Gothic arches and Baroque ornamentation. The feast of Our Lady of Light

1395-401: The city of Chennai. Thomas is traditionally believed to have sailed to Muziris in modern-day Kerala India in 52 CE. The Saint Thomas Christians or Nasrani Christians of Kerala are believed to have been converted by St Thomas. Tradition has it that Thomas was killed in 72 CE at Mylapore and his body was interred here. His relics were moved to Edessa in the third century. San Thome Basilica

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1440-511: The civil engineer C R Narayana Rao . Mylapore is located a few kilometres to the south of the British-built Chennai city. The neighborhood is bordered by Triplicane in the north, Royapettah in the northwest, Alwarpet in the west, and Mandaveli in the south. The Bay of Bengal coast is in the east of Mylapore. It extends for around 4 km from north to south and 2 km from east to west. The population of Mylapore

1485-571: The different wards of the Chennai Corporation. Mylapore is known for its cultural and religious heritage. Mylapore is home to hundreds of temples, churches and mosques. Kapaleeswarar Temple is one of the most famous temples of Chennai. Originally temple relocated by the Tuluva dynasty (1491–1570 CE) from sea shore of Mylapore. The main deity of the temple is Shiva. The temple exhibits exquisite Dravidian architecture. The huge temple

1530-528: The emblem of the San Thome Basilica . Thirugnanasambandar has also mentioned mayil (peacocks) in his songs in Tevaram . Mylapore is also known as Thirumayilai. Mylapore is an ancient settlement. It was historically known as Vedapuri. As the available historical and archaeological evidence show, it could well be the oldest part of Chennai, with written records of early settlements going back to

1575-469: 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. St. Thomas the Apostle allegedly died at Mylapore in 72 CE. Ptolemy had recorded in the second century CE that the port of Mylapore

1620-622: The first three of the twelve Alvar saints of the sixth to ninth century CE. Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, is the oldest center of the Ramakrishna Order in the South India. Sri Ramakrishna is the main deity of the temple. Architecture of the temple is a blend of Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Rajput, and Christian styles. The sprawling campus contains several huge quiet halls for dhyana , the Sanskrit word for meditation. The book store on

1665-455: The left side of the church altar and is referred to as Our Lady of Mylapore or, locally, Mylai Matha. The feast of Mylai Matha is celebrated in December . Worshippers show devotion to Mylai Matha on the second Saturday of the month, with special prayers, procession, rosary and benediction in the evening. The tradition is held to have begun with Francis Xavier . A wooden pole at the church

1710-419: The most elite of whom formed the Mylapore clique . Some of the luminaries based in Mylapore included Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar , Sir S. Subramania Iyer , Sir T. Madhava Rao , Eardley Norton , Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer , Pennathur Subramania Iyer , V. Krishnaswamy Iyer , and Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer . H Bhimasena Rau , C S Rama Rao Sahib , Subanthore Vasudeva Rao , CR Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib , and

1755-515: The north and Velachery on the south. St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai In 1521, the Portuguese in Goa and Bombay-Bassein sent missionaries to Madras (now Chennai) in search of the tomb of Thomas the Apostle , who by local tradition had come to South Asia to preach the Gospel and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. The site they found was neglected and the Portuguese decided to rebuild

1800-409: The presence of students, staff, parents and well wishers. It is spread over two sprawling campuses on either side of the private road inside the Estancia Township. Classes LKG to 5 operate in the old campus and classes 6 to 12 operate in the new campus. Both buildings house airy, spacious classrooms and several courts and areas for free play. The total built up area is 1,40,000 sq ft. The school hosts

1845-513: The school now has about 2200 students, 119 teachers, three school buildings in the same location and a branch called VidyaMandir located inside the Estancia ;Township on GST Road, Vallancheri. The MLC School Society (Mylapore Ladies’ Club) established a Kindergarten Section on 3 February 1956 to accommodate the boys in Mylapore and its environs. The first president of the society was R. S. Subbalakshmi , supported by M. Subbaraya Aiyar ,

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1890-456: The temple as the birthplace of Valluvar, some consider it as his samadhi (place of cremation). Madhava Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu . Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture , dedicated to Vishnu , who is worshiped as Madhava Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Amirtagadavalli. According to some, the temple is believed to be the birthplace of Peyalvar , one of

1935-406: The temple during the Tamil month of Panguni (March–April), is the most important annual event of the neighbourhood. People from around the country and abroad participate in the events. The main deities of the Kapaleeshwarar temple, including Shiva, Parvathi, and Nandhi taken on a 13-meter-tall chariot, led by Vinayakar chariot and followed by the attendant pantheon of nayanmars (Shaivite saints) in

1980-558: Was built over his original tomb in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, and rebuilt with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893 which still stands. San Thome Basilica is the principal church of the Madras-Mylapore Roman Catholic Archdiocese. In 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the status of a Minor Basilica , and on 11 February 2006, it was declared a national shrine by

2025-532: Was known to the Greeks and the Romans, but does not mention any thing about St. Thomas or Christians. 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

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