Nagapooshani Amman Temple is most visited historic Hindu Temple located in 36 KM away from Northern Province capital city of Jaffna in Nainativu Island Sri Lanka. Shree Nagapooshani Amman kovil is one of 64 Shakthi Peeth in the region. Nagapooshani Amman Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati who is known as Bhuvaneswari or Nagapooshani an Avatar of Durga. The Island of Nagadeepa also known as Nainativu is home for the important Buddhist Shrine called Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya and one of the country’s holiest Hindu Temple Nagapooshani Amman Kovil. Therefore the island of Nainativu or Nagadeepa is the center of one of the most sacred Buddhist & Hindu sites of the country attracting over a thousand visitors a daily. The annual festival of 16 days called Mahostavam (Thiruvizha) held in June & July attracting more than 100,000 pilgrims.

Special Features of Nagapooshani Amman Temple

This Kovil consist of four glorious Gopurams, the Raja raja Gopuram, rising to a height of 108 feet, East Gopuram, South East Gopuram and South Gopuram. Most of the devotees pay visit to the Kovil, especially during the Mahostavam thiruvilla, which is celebrated during June and July of every year. It is believed that the statue of Goddess Nagapoosani with Lingam and King Ravana’s ten headed staute at the bottom is special to this Temple and is not to be found elsewhere.

History of Nagapooshani Amman Temple

Present structure of this massive Temple complex having been built between 1720 and 1790 after the Portuguese destroyed the original Nagapooshani Amman kovil in somewhere in 1620.

Nainativu itself has been important to both South Indian and Sri Lankan Tamils as well as to the Sinhalese, especially as part of the foreign trade route that existed during the medieval era. As per the inscriptions date back to the 12th Century AD explain that, plenty of international traders stop at the Island of Kayts also made a detour at Nainativu. Also during King Parakramabahu I period, he had made large-scale international trade the north with his shipyards and numerous harbors around the island including Jaffna.

Nagadeepa Buddhist temple in Nainativu Island Jaffna

Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple, is one of the most visited important Buddhist Temples in Sri Lanka located close to Nagapooshani Amman Kovil in same island of Nainativu Jaffna. It is believed that the Buddha’s second visit to the island Is to Nagadeepa in the 6th century B.C. According to the Mahavamsa Buddha, during this visit pacified two Naga kings of Nagadipa who were arrayed in battle over a gem-set throne. In the ancient chronicles the pre-historic Naga tribes are represented as non-human beings enriched with an advanced civilization. The ancient temple encompasses the image houses and the stupa in which the gem-set throne was enshrined before it was destroyed.

Legends of Nagapooshani Amman Kovil

Goddess Parvati who is locally known as Nagapushani and her consort Shiva who is named as Nayinar in Sri Lanka. Ramayana proof depicts that this historical place was identified as one of the 64 Shakti Pithas, by India’s great 9th century Vedanta philosopher, Adi Shankara. The temple’s fame is accredited to Adi Shankaracharya, a 9th century Hindu philosopher, for identifying it as one of the prominent 64 Shakthi Peethams in Shakthi Peetha Stortram and its mentioned in the Brahmandapurana. Nagapooshani Amman Temple also consider as one of the Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour related sites.  

Travel Details / FAQ of Nagapooshani Amman Temple

Opening Hours – Daily 6.30am–12.30pm, 4.30pm-7.30pm (Pooja timings: 7am, noon and 5pm)

Entrance fees of Nagapooshani Amman Temple – No entrance fees

Nagapooshani Amman Temple Dress code – Ensure to cover knees & shoulders ladies & Gents will be required to take off their shirt and under shirt. Gents cannot wear anything from waist upwards.

Location – Nainativu Island Jaffna adjacent to Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple

How to get there – Boat service is available. You need to reach Kurikadduwan jetty to take the ferry. The boat ride will take just 15 minutes to Nagadeepa (Buddhist temple) pier. Then it will go to Nagapooshani pier. It will halt 5 – 10 minutes at the Nagadeepaya pier.

Boat charges – It is 50 LKR one way. For the return journey the boat will start from only Nagapooshani pier and head back to Kurikadduwan.

For any other clarification, please reach us

Ramayana Tour Sri Lanka Help Desk
Email holidays@expeditions.lk
Hotline +94 717 88 44 99
WhatsApp / Viber +94 714 276 985

References

Mr. S. Kalaiselvam (Former Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority)
Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management – SLITHM
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (Ramayana Trail Sri Lanka) – SLTDA