Nainathivu

Nainathivu (also Nainatheevu) ( _ta. நயினாதீவு) is a small but notable island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula, in the minority, Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is also known as "Nagadipa" in Sinhalese. It is home to the historic Buddhist shrine "Naga Vihare" and the renowned historic Hindu shrine "Nagabooshani Amman temple". The island is mentioned in ancient Buddhist legends of Sri Lanka such as Mahavamsa and in the ancient Tamil Sangam literature of nearby Tamil Nadu (such as "Manimekalai)." [ [http://www.friday.lk/20070622/NagadeepaP07.htm Friday Newspaper ] ]

In culture

Literature and temples

The "Manimekalai" describes the ancient island of Nainatheevu, one of several Jaffna islets where Tamil fishermen and merchants of the early Chola and early Pandyan kingdoms came to obtain gems ("naga-rathnam") and conch shells, used widely for Saivite and Buddhist rituals that flourished in the ancient Tamil country. Tamil pilgrims visited the shrine of the ancient serpent god (the "Nayinar" kovil, which was later converted into the Saivite Shri Nagapooshani Amman Temple, the Nagapooshani Amman temple itself, and a Buddhist shrine which the Tamil heroine Manimekalai arrived to worship at around the 1st century CE. The island in these scriptures is known as "Mani Pallava tivu" or simply "Manipallavam."

The heroine of the epic is described as wandering amongst the island's 'long sandy dunes and lagoons.' The Buddha is also believed to have visited the island to resolve a dispute between two Naga kings.

The first temples on the islet were destroyed, along with every other temple on the main island following the arrival of the Portuguese at the beginning of the 17th century (circa 1620 CE). The Nagapooshani Amman temple was then renovated in the 18th century following their departure. In the 20th century, the temple was attacked in June 1958, and again in March 1986, but each time, whilst sustaining damage, it was renovated.

The present images within the inner sanctorum ("karu-arai") are ancient, one being an five-headed cobra (Nayinar) and the other, a stone figure of Amman (Shakthi).

The present Buddhist Naga vihare temple was built in the 1940s, by a Buddhist monk assisted by the local Tamils.

Inscriptions

There is a Tamil language inscription on the islet by Parâkramabâhu I of the 12th century that states foreign merchants must land at Kayts before entering the island, and for other ports, at Uruturai. There is also an ancient anchor from past traders that is kept for exhibition on the islet.

ee also

*Islands of Sri Lanka

References

External links

* [http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/06/13/fea05.asp Religion Feature]