Nagapooshani Amman Temple holds Maha Sangabhishekam

by Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

The Maha Sangabhishekam of Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple was held on March 13. Nainativu which is referred to as Nagatheevu or Nagadeepa is a small island of four square metres off the Jaffna peninsula. It enjoyed a foremost place in Sri Lanka's history, having been the seat of Naga kingdom. Having several names such as Nagathivu, Nainathivu, Nagatheepam, Manithivu and Manipallavam, the location has been foremost in religious worship.

Tradition strongly associate the island as having been visited by Kannakai and Manimekalai, sometime in their illustrious lives thus associating veneraters of Ambal Devi.

The veneration of the cobra or serpent worship has been an ancient system. In due course, it is surmised, evolved the Hindu worship of Nagathambiran, when the Sivalinga Deity is canopied by the hood of five headed Cobra and Naga Pooshani Ambal worship when the Ambal Devi is similarly exalted. A foremost Sannithanam of this form of Ambal, also known as Nagambal or Nageswari is at Nainativu.

Indeed, stories of the early temple at this venerable Naga Sthalam commences with the miracles observed by two traders known as Manayakan and Mahasathavan. They witnessed to their amazement a Naga Serpent swimming in the sea towards this isle with a flower.

Snake

Further, two stones in the sea are pointed out even today as being the stones behind which the snake took shelter. The two traders founded a temple here and dedicated it to Ambal. It was later rebuilt as a grand temple by Veerasami Chettiar. But the edifice was demolished by the Portuguese along with other Hindu temples in 1620. The Ambal Vigrakam was however saved from the demolishers and was kept hidden in the trunk of a tree and venerated.

In the era of the revival of Hinduism spearheaded by Srila Sri Arumuganavalar a proper Agamic temple was erected in 1882 and the Ambal Devi Vigrakam was installed with the name of Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil. Regular worship ensued and several improvements were effected by various devotees. A Rajagopuram was effected in 1935. The management of the affairs of the temple came under a board of trustees in 1949.

A magnificent Ther Chariot, said to be one of the best in Sri Lanka, was constructed for Nagapooshani Ambal in 1957. In the temple, there are shrines for Vinayagar and Subramaniyar. The annual festival lasts 15 days. On the other days, all the Hindu Saiva festivals are observed throughout the year. Daily regular poojas are performed four times.

No story of Nainativu is complete without the mention of its outstanding saintly personality Nainativu Swamiyar. Born as Muthukumaraswamy, he became a great saint and died in 1949. His Samadi is a place of veneration in this isle even today.

In connection with the Maha Sangabhishekam, Dr. Kanagasabapathy Nageswaran a senior Lecturer of the University of Sabaragamuwa and a devotee of the temple delivered religious lectures.