Shankari Devi
(1st Shaktipeeth)
Sree Sati Sankari Devi
Trinkomali Purasthitaa
Uttamanga Prabha Gowri
Bhaktha Kama palapradha
Story behind the Ashtadasha Shakti Peethas
Brahma performed Yaga to please Sakthi and Siva to request Sakthi in creation of Universe. Sakthi separated from Shiva emerge in the form of Sati and helped Brahma in creation of universe. Brahma sought to give back Sati to Siva. Daksha, son of Brahma performed Yagna with an intention to get Sati as his daughter. Sati born to Daksha and in due course she wanted to marry Shiva. At that time Brahma saw Prudhvi with bad intention and Shiva cut the fifth head of Brahma with his trident. Daksha got angry and withdrawn marriage of Sati with Siva. But Sati attracted with Shiva and married him. Daksha got hatred on Shiva.
Daksha intended to perform Nireeswara Yaga and invited all the Gods except Siva and Sathi in Kailas. Shiva warned Sati not to participate in the Yaga in the absence of invitation. Sati has gone to Yaga with Nandi and other followers. Sati started yoga which is not possible to the Yogis moving her five elements from their origin. Fire erupted from her grave status of body and she self immolated in the fire.
Enraged to the death and insult of Sati, Shiva in meditation got angry and performed Tandava Nruthya. Shiva has cut some hair from his head in Tandava and thrown on earth. The piece of hair burned and Veerabhadra born with thousand hands, and black body. Veerabhadra is so horrible with three angry eyes, Trident and other weapons in the hands along with skulls in the neck. Siva ordered to destroy the Yaga. Veerabhadra with skulls in his neck destroyed the Yaga and Lord Vishnu opposes him using Sudarsana Chakra. But Veerabhadra swallowed the Chakra and Vishnu given way to take revenge on Daksha. Veerabhadra killed Daksha and returned to Kailash. Daksha was given re-birth after affixing the head of a male goat to the body of Daksha.
Shiva could not bear the separation grief with Sati and left the duty to safe guard the universe. The Gods praised Lord Vishnu and at the request of the Gods, Lord Vishnu used Sudarshana chakra and cut the corpse in to pieces to release Shiva from the worry of the death of Sati. The body parts of Sati fell at several places of the Indian subcontinent and Groin in Trincomalee of Srilanka. The holy places formed are known as Shakti Peet. There is discrepancy in the number of Sakthi Peet as 108, 51and 52 but the 18 Sakthi Peet are familiar as Astadasa SakthiPeeth. The Goddess Dakshayani accompanies with her consort, Lord Bhairava (Shiva) a manifestation of Lord Shiva in all the Shakti Peeth.
The Groin part of Sathi fallen in Trinkomalai of Srilanka and the place got famous as Sankari Sakthi Peet, the 1st among the Astadasa Sakthi Pethas. Lankayam Sankari is the first word of Ashta Dasa Sakthi Strothra Mala praised by Adi Sankaracharya and the holy place is in Srilanka. It is believed that the ruined temple of Sankari in olden days said to be at the peak of a hill in Trinkomalai in Srilanka. Ravana built the temple as per local legend. The historical evidence available reveal that the ruined temple also demolished by the Portuguese in their invasion and they demolished the ruined temple from their ship three hundred years ago. There is only one pole as evidence of the temple. The Shrine of the Sankari preserved and enshrines in a newly constructed Temple. The genuine information about this temple could not be available. The Shiva Temple constructed at the peak of a Hill in Trinkomalai Town existing in the eastern coast of Srilanka as Sankari Temple. There is famous Kali Temple in the middle of Trinkomalai Town.
Shankari Devi Temple Timings
The Temple kept open from 6AM to 6PM. Passport and traveller Visa is required for pilgrimage to Srilanka. Indian Railway Tourism Corporation conducting tour package with the prominent holy places of Sri Rama by train along with Sankari Devi in Srilanka (Plain) with a package of Rs.43,836/- per person. For the package Pilgrims may contact Zonal Office 040-27702407 and 9701360701 of South Central Railway or Secunderabad Railway Station 040-27800580 and 9701360682. There are also private travel agencies in Chennai.
Some of them are Madras Travels and Tours (044 4202 2244), Travel a Head Tours (097101 15925) R.C.Tours and travels (081222 72233). Srilanka has great importance in Ramayana. We shall furnish the details in our episode of Ramayana in due course. Srilanka is none other than Lanka, Pilgrims may visit Sankari Devi along with other holy places related to Ramayan namely Ashoka Vana, Ravana Place, the place of Rama Ravana battle and other important places.
