Sri Shankari Devi Shakti Peetha, Trincomalee

Sri Shankari Devi Temple is a powerful Shakti Peetha located in the coastal city of Trincomalee, in the eastern part of Sri Lanka. It is one of the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha as described by Adi Sri Shankaracharya in His Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotra. It is known for its rich, vibrant culture, tranquil ambience, and sacred rituals.

“Shrinkale Shankari” is the first shakti peetha that Sri Shankaracharya uses in his Ashtadasha shakti peetha stotra. It is a lesser-known and less-visited temple among all 18 prominent Shakti Peethas.

It is the place where the groin part of the Sati Devi fell, after Lord Vishnu cut the body of Devi while Lord Shiva was carrying the corpse. Sati Devi self-immolated herself after her father, Daksha, insulted her husband, Lord Shiva.

This divine shakti peetha is located on the scenic Trincomalee, as the name says, which is a triangular hill. This temple is situated at the top of the hill, enhancing the divinity, tranquility, and spiritual energy of the place.

There is a reference to Shankari Peetha mentioned in many puranas, like the Skanda Purana and Devi Bhagavata Purana. It is described as Dakshina Kailasha the divine abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti in the southern part.

Meditate on her divine form on the day of Ashtami tithi or Fridays, offer sindoor, red hibiscus, flowers, and sweets.

In this temple, goddess Shankari Devi is worshipped, who is an embodiment of strength, power, and feminine energy. She is the presiding Deity of the temple who blesses her devotees with good health, wealth, and prosperity. Lord Shiva is worshiped as Koneswaran or Trikoneshwara.

Originally, this temple was built by the demon king Ravana to honour Parvati Devi. She dwelled here to protect the city of Sri Lanka and its people at the request of Ravana.

Those sincere devotees who visit Shankari Devi and Koneswaram (Lord Shiva) will be granted moksha. They will be liberated from worldly suffering.

During 16 and 17th centuries, it was destroyed by the Portuguese invasion. They used cannonballs from their ships to destroy the temple. And the present temple was rebuilt by the Tamil Hindus.

Despite facing much destruction over centuries, the temple was rebuilt many times by her dear devotees. It stands as a symbol of unwavering faith and resilience.

According to history, Sati Devi was the beloved daughter of King Daksha and the devoted wife of Lord Shiva. She is also known as Dakshayani.

King Daksha organized a grand yagna and invited all the prominent personalities, except Lord Shiva and Sati Devi. Since he was against the yogic nature of Lord Shiva.

Sati requested her husband to grant her permission to attend the yagna. But he denied the request. In spite of his denial, she attended the yagna.

At the ceremony, King Daksha insulted Lord Shiva openly in front of everyone, belittling him and showing disrespect. Unable to bear the humiliation, Sati invoked her inner yogic power and immolated herself in the sacred fire of the yagna.

When Lord Shiva learned of Sati’s death, he was devastated and consumed by grief. He lifted her burning body and began performing the Tandava, the cosmic dance of destruction.

Fearing the destruction of the universe, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati’s body into 51 pieces. These pieces fell in different parts of the Indian subcontinent, and the place where they fell is called Shakti Peetha—a sacred seat of Goddess Shakti.

Original Temple that Ravana built was a magnificent one. It was a massive structure. It was known as the temple of 1000 pillars and small mantapas.

Sri Shankari Devi Temple is a small, yet spiritually potent temple located inside the Koneswaram Temple complex. This is constructed on top of Swami Rock.

The structure of the temple is built in a modest style, following the Dravidian style of architecture. It features colorful gopuram motifs.

Inside the garbhagriha, Shankari Devi is seen in a seated posture. She is adorned with a beautiful silk saree and gold ornaments. She holds a lotus and a trident.

There are other Deities that are worshiped here. Lord Ganesha, Murugan, and Badrakali Devi are the other gods who are worshiped with much devotion and faith.

Visiting the temple during sunrise makes your darshan very magical. The vast Indian Ocean enhances the scenic beauty of the temple.

The South Indian Chola King Kulakottan renovated the temple, which can be dated between 432 and 440 CE.

According to some sources, Buddhist King Mahasena destroyed the temple and built a dagoba in its place. Several artifacts from the original temple are now kept in a museum in Lisbon.

In 1689, a small temple was built, but no devotees were allowed to have the darshan of goddess Sri Shankari Devi.

Again, in the year 1952, the Tamil Hindus took the initiative to build this temple. They affectionately call her Mathumai Ambal. Ultimately, she is the divine mother who both blesses and nourishes her children, who come to her seeking solace. She is worshiped with great devotion and faith.

This temple faced massive devastation at the hands of the Portuguese during the 16th & 17th centuries. On 14th April 1624, Lanka was celebrating the Tamil New Year.

During that time, with an intention to destroy the temple, they disguised themselves as priest and entered the temple. They destroyed and looted all the valuables in the temple. They didn’t leave a single structure. They used cannonballs to destroy the top of the temple. They built Fort Frederick using the sand and stones of the destroyed temple. After massive destruction, only one pillar stood as a mark of the temple.

To save the goddess from further attack, the people of the village hid the Deity in a well at Trino.

Navaratri: This is one of the grand festivals celebrated honouring nine different forms of Devi. This festival falls in September to October.

Chaitra Purnima: This festival is celebrated on the full moon day of Chaitra masa, marking the divine union of Lord Shiva and Shakti.

Shivaratri: During this time, Koneswaram Swamy is worshiped. Devotees observe long night vigils by singing bhajans and kirtans. Also, a special abhishekam is performed to the Lord. It attracts large pilgrims from Sri Lanka, India, and other countries.

Sri Shankari Devi Temple is open during the following hours:

Morning: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Evening: 4:00 to 8:00 PM

Best time to visit the Sri Sankara Devi Temple in Sri Lanka is from December to mid-April. During this dry season, the weather is very pleasant, making it ideal for sightseeing and other activities. It is the peak period, when Sri Lanka welcomes many visitors to its country. Sunny weather with minimal rainfall is the best weather one can experience here.

Koneswaram Temple: This is a famous temple dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. It is located next to Sri Shankari Devi Temple.

Fort Frederick: It is a fort built by the Portuguese surrounding the temples.

Dutch Bay Beach: It is one of the beautiful beaches located near Trincomalee town.

Marble Beach: It is truly a paradise for swimming and relaxation. It is located in Thassos, Sri Lanka.

Are you planning to embark on your spiritual journey to the city of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka and have the divine darshan of Sri Sankara Devi? Then, join Tirtha Yatra’s world-famed Sri Lanka Ramayana tour. It offers you the world’s best travel experience with sattvic food and senior care facilities.

You can also reach out to the temple in other ways. Here are a few ways.

By Air: The nearest airport to reach Trincomalee is Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport. It is located at a distance of 235 km from the airport, and it takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes to reach Trincomalee. Another nearest airport is China Bay Airport, which is 10 km from Trincomalee. It is well connected by bus and taxi.

By Waterways: To travel from Chennai to Sri Lanka, it takes 3 days and 2 Nights. From Rameshwaram port to Talai Mannar port, it takes 3 to 4 hours.