Po Nagar Temple, Nha Trang – Legends

Po Nagar Temple, Nha Trang – Legends

As per legend, Goddess Yan Po Nagar was born from the clouds and the waves, appeared in the Đai An Mountain. She was found and raised by a woodcutter and his wife. Once, the area was under heavy flood. She got transformed into a tree of aloe-wood during the flood and floated to the northern sea.

The tree of aloe-wood was picked up by the local people and offered to the crown prince of the northern sea state. She appeared from the tree of aloe-wood on a full moon day. The crown prince astonished to witness the tree transforming to a beautiful girl and fell in love with her. They were happily married and had two children.

Once, the crown prince went to a battle leaving her alone. She was missing her homeland during his absence. She left to homeland with her children in the form of aloe wood and floated back to the south. She taught her people in the homeland to rice farming and weaving. Meanwhile, the crown prince returned from the battle and found his wife & children had left to her homeland.

He sent his fleet to search for them. However, the soldiers from his army abused her people. She got furious and used her supernatural powers to convert his fleet into rocks. The rocks can be still seen in the estuary. The local people built the temple as a mark of respect to her.