Lanka Shakti Peeth (Nainativu)

Nagapooshani Amman temple, Nainativu island, Jaffna district

51 Shakti Peeths

Traditions differ: Some lists place the Lanka peeth at Trincomalee, near the Koneswaram temple, where Shankari Devi is counted among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. Hindi Wikipedia and Bharatkosh say the exact place in Lanka is not known.

About

The Nagapooshani Amman temple stands on Nainativu, a small island off the Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, reached by boat. It is revered as the Lanka Shakti Peeth, where the anklet (silambu) of Devi Sati is believed to have fallen; the Devi is Indrakshi and the Bhairav Rakshaseshwar, worshipped here as Nayinar. The Devi, called Nagapooshani or Bhuvaneshwari, is a form of Maa Parvati, and an ancient five-hooded serpent image is honoured in the sanctum. The temple has four gopurams, the tallest being the eastern Raja Raja Gopuram, about 108 feet high, and thousands of carved figures.

The story

According to the Shakti Peeth tradition, after King Daksha's yagya Shiv ji wandered in grief carrying the body of Devi Sati. Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra then divided the body, and wherever a part or an ornament fell, a Shakti Peeth arose. In Lanka her anklet is believed to have fallen; the Devi is Indrakshi and the Bhairav Rakshaseshwar. The island has several local stories. It is said that Indra, after being freed from a curse, built the first small shrine to the Devi here. Another tells of a serpent that used to carry flowers across the sea from a nearby islet to worship her. One day an eagle, Garuda, tried to kill it on the way; a merchant passing by settled the quarrel, and the serpent could go on with its worship. Old Tamil works such as the Manimekalai call the island Manipallavam, and the ancient Naga people who lived here worshipped serpents. The old temple was destroyed in 1620 under Portuguese rule; the present temple was built between 1720 and 1790 and has been renovated in recent years.

Visiting

February to September is a good time, outside the north-east monsoon rains; the Aani festival in June–July is very crowded. The island is reached by boat from Punkudutivu, which is linked to Jaffna by road. Leave footwear outside and dress modestly. The Buddhist shrine of Nagadeepa is on the same island. Visitors from India need a passport and visa.

Festivals

Aani Mahotsavam (Thiruvizha), 16 days in the Tamil month of Aani (June–July)

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources