Scenes from Kurikaadduvaan to Pannai, Sri Lanka

Palmyra trees bordering a paddy field

A fence made of palmyra stem and leaves

A residence which would have seen better days

Boats

The return from Nagadipa - Nainathivu, Sri Lanka

'Nagapooshani Ammaal' temple, 'Nainathivu' - 'Nagadipa', Sri Lanka.

Entrance to the temple

'Gram-sellers'

Invoking the blessings of the Goddess

The 'Gopuram' as seen from the entry point to the 'Nagadipa Vihare'

This temple is associated with the legend of 'Manimekalai' a Tamil 'Kavya' -epic, claimed to have been written about the Second Century AD. I heard that there was a stone inscription attributed to Parakramabahu the Great, of the line of Sri Lankan Kings.

Worship at 'Nagadipa', Sri Lanka.

The order of worship in a Teravada Buddhist temple is first the 'Chathya' containing the holy relics. Next the sacred 'Bo' Tree under which the Sakyamuni attained Buddhahood and lastly the statue of Lord Buddha.

The 'Chaithya' - 'Saaririka'

The sacred 'Bo Tree' - 'Paaribhogika'

The image representing Lord Buddha - 'Uddhesika'

Nagadeepa, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

The 'Thorana' being constructed.

A statue of Lord Buddha being protected by a Naga King.

'Nagadeepa' is recorded in the ancient 'Pali' chronicles, as the site where Lord Buddha paid a dispute to settle a feud between two Naga rulers. It is also mentioned in the Tamil Buddhist Kavya 'Manimekalai', written about the second century AD. Manimekalai the heroine of the kavya is left stranded on this Island. She is shown by a resident tree God, the place of Lord Buddha's visit, where he preached a sermon to the assembled Nagas, who a moment before were at each others throats.