Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman
Temple – The Temple
This
is an east facing Temple. Presiding Deity is called as Rakshaseshwar / Nayinar
and Mother is called as Nagapooshani or Bhuvaneswari. The temple complex houses four gopurams (gateway
towers) ranging from 20 – 108 feet in height, to the tallest being the eastern
Raja Gopuram soaring at 108 feet high. There is an estimated 10,000 sculptures
in this newly renovated temple.
Gopurams:
Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman
Temple has four decorative and colourful gopurams.
Raja Gopuram:
The Raja Gopuram is the largest
of the three gopurams that adorn this temple. The largest of its kind
in Sri Lanka, it soars to the height of 108 feet. It has over 2000 beautiful
stucco images on all four sides. It has 9 tiers with 9 golden Kalasams
on its top. The construction started in 2010 and got completed in 2012 with
help of artists from Tamil Nadu, India. The consecration ceremony
was held in late January 2012. This event was attended by 200,000 devotees from
various cities and towns as far as India, Europe, Australia, and North America.
East Gopuram:
East Gopuram is the oldest of
the three gopurams on the modern-day structure. As the name implies
it faces east. It rises to the height of 54 feet from the base. This gopuram
originally had few stucco images but during the renovation, large number of
stucco images have been added to match the Rajagopuram. Sanctum is facing this
Gopuram.
South Gopuram:
The South Gopuram as a fairly
new structure built in the early 1970s. As the name implies it faces South. It
rises to the height of 54 feet from the base. Shrine housing the Utsava Idols
face this Gopuram. On the right side of the South Gopuram entrance is a large
life saver-shaped stone - an ancient anchor. Arab ships used to carry such
anchors.
South East Gopuram:
The South East Gopuram is a new
addition to the temple. Although this gopuram is in the South-East
corner of the temple complex, it faces South. Built in December 2011, its
primary purpose is to welcome those coming from within the island to worship
the Goddess, and visitors from the nearby Naga Vihara (Buddhist
Temple). It reaches the height of about 20–25 feet. It is the
smallest gopuram and has the fewest number of sculptures.
Ambala Veedhi:
Ambala Veedhi is the street,
situated outside of the temple structure and forms the outer pradakshina (path)
around the temple.
Nandi:
Nandi can be found facing the
sanctum immediately after the Eastern Gopuram. This statue is approximately 8
feet high. It is undoubtedly the only large sized Nandi of its kind in Sri
Lanka.
Dwajastambam:
There is a brass plated Dhwaja
Sthambam, can be found near Nandi, facing the sanctum.
Sanctum Sanctorum:
The Sanctum Sanctorum
follows traditional Dravidian Hindu architecture.
The inner wall of the temple together with the outer wall of the central shrine
create a pradakshina (path) around
the garbhagriha. The entrance is extensively decorated with paintings,
sculptures and oil lamps. There is 10 feet high vimana (tower)
over the sanctum. The garbhagriha has two entrances; the main
entrance facing East, from which the presiding deities can be viewed and
one facing South, from which the Utsava
Murtis (festival deities) can be viewed. A unique feature of
this temple is that Nayinar Swami and Nagapooshani Amman are installed together
as if they are one; granting darshanam to
devotees as Shiva-Shakti.
Mandapams:
Vasantha Mandapam:
This mandapam is
used for special poojas during festivals and fasting days to house to Utsava
Murtis (festival deities). It can directly be viewed from
outside through a newly constructed archway on the Southern wall of the temple.
Vahana Mandapam:
This mandapam houses
the various vehicles of Utsava Murtis (processional deities). It is
located on the North wall of the temple. It houses nearly 50 different
vehicles. The most impressive being Ravana-Kailasa Vahanam. This vehicle
depicts the demon King of Lanka and ardent devotee of Lord
Shiva; Ravana
lifting Mount
Kailasa while peacefully playing a makeshift veena created
from one of his heads and arms by plucking the veins and arteries to soothe
Lord Rakshaseshwara (who is the Lord of the Rakshas (of which Ravana is one),
Sri Kailasa-Nayinar Swami).
It is believed that Ravana
resides within this vehicle and hence it always attracts thousands of devotees
when in use. It has become an indisputable icon of this temple due to the myths
that surround the visit of Ravana to the island to offer poojas to Lord
Rakshaseshwara (who is the Lord of the Rakshas, Sri Kailasa-Nayinar Swami).
Kalayana Mandapam:
This mandapam is used
for conducting marriage ceremonies. It is located on the Northern side of the
Temple premises.
Annapoorneshwari Annadhana
Mandapam:
This mandapam is used
for the distribution of free food during festivals and social events. It is
located on the Northern side of the Temple premises, nearby the Kalayana
Mandapam. Oftentimes this venue is used to serve wedding feasts after wedding
ceremonies which are held at the Kalayana Mandapam. It houses Annapoorneshwari
Amman, the Hindu Goddess of nourishment, however
regular poojas are not offered here.
Amuthasurabi Annadhana Mandapam:
This mandapam is used
for the distribution of free food every day to all those who visit the temple.
It is located on the southern end of the Temple premises. This mandapam serves
to validate the values that are mentioned in the ancient Tamil epic of Manimekalai.
The epic is set in both the harbour town of Kaveripoompattinam,
the modern town of Puhar in Tamil
Nadu, and in Nainativu, a small sandy island of the Jaffna
Peninsula.
The story follows the following
plot: The dancer-courtesan Manimekalai is pursued by the amorous Chola prince
Udyakumaran, but rather wants to dedicate herself to a religious celibate life.
The sea goddess Manimekala Theivam (Manimekalai Devi) puts her to sleep and
takes her to the island Manipallavam (Nainativu). After waking up and wandering
about the island Manimekalai comes across the Dharma-seat, which was placed
there by Lord Indra, on which Buddha had
taught and appeased two warring Naga princes.
Those who worship it
miraculously know their previous life. Manimekalai automatically worshiped it
and recollects what has happened in her previous life. She then meets the
guardian goddess of the Dharma seat, Deeva-Teelakai (Dvipa Tilaka) who explains
her the significance of the Dharma seat and lets her acquire the magic
never-failing begging bowl (cornucopia) called Amurta
Surabhi (”cow of abundance”), which will always provide food to alleviate
hunger. As such, devotees and visitors are welcomed to enjoy a traditional meal
after visiting the temple.
Sri Bhuvaneswari Kalai Aranga
Mandapam:
This mandapam is used
for various performances in dance, music and art. It was recently renovated and
repainted in 2011 to suit the design of the newly constructed Raja Gopuram. Bharatanatyam,
mridangam, Nadaswaram and Sankirthana performances are conducted in
this Mandapam.
Temple Tanks:
Kailasaroopa Pushkarini:
This temple tank is located on
the Southern premises of the temple. It was recently renovated in 2011 and has
a 15 feet high sculpture of Sri Nagapooshani Amman embracing Sri
Kailasa-Nayinar Swami atop the famous Ravana-Kailasa Vahanam. A unique
feature about this sculpture is that the cobras with their open hoods, spit
water resembling a fountain. Since the renovation, visitors are prohibited from
entering its waters.
Amrutha Gangadharani Theertham:
This temple tank is located
approximately 1 km from the temple on the western shore of the island
of Nainativu.
It was built by Muthukumara Swamiyar (a resident saint of Nainativu) in the
early 1940s. It is nearby the Nainai Siva-Gangai Temple and is
accessed by flights of stone steps leading from the small stone shrine.
Temple Chariot:
The Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman
Temple chariot is, perhaps, the most beautiful and exquisitely sculpted example
of a temple
chariot in all of Tamilakam.
This chariot is used to carry the Utsava
Murtis (processional deities). The chariot is usually used only
once a year for the festival Ther Thiruvizha (chariot
festival), which is drawn by several thousand devotees around the
outer pradakshina (path) of the temple.
It reaches the height of 35 feet
and is covered with various sculptures depicting the history of the temple. Two
other slightly smaller (30 feet) chariots for Ganapathi
and Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai always
accompany the main chariot. The main chariot is unique and has become an iconic
figure of this temple. It is one of the largest chariots in Sri Lanka.
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