SRI SWAMIJI IN SRI LANKA
for SHANKARI DARSHAN

2nd to 5th May 2005

Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji decided on to go to Sri Lanka to visit the famed SHANKARI Temple, one of the 18 Devi Temples (Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas). Sri Swamiji flew Bangalore - Colombo on 2nd May 2005 morning.

Many have heard the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Shloka starting with LANKAAYAAM SHAANKARI DEVI........... - composed by Sri Adi Shankara which means Shankari in Lanka.This Shloka enumerates the list of places of Devi temples which are considered to be part of the 18 Devi Peethas.

But almost nobody we contacted in Sri Lanka knew of any famous Devi Temple in the country. Even on Internet, not much authentic information was available. Sri Swamiji opined that the temple should be in the famed town of Trincomalee on the eastern coast. With that hope we left India.

In Colombo (capital city of Sri Lanka or formerly Ceylon), Dr. Sudarshan Kumari and Dr. Kumar received Sri Swamiji at the airport.

Sri Harshith Dharma Dasa of Nawaloka group came for Darshan and welcomed Sri Swamiji to Sri Lanka. In the evening, Sri Swamiji visited the home of Smt. Dr. Sudarshan Kumari and a Buddhist temple situated on a lotus pond.

On 3rd May (Tuesday), Sri Swamiji traveled from West Coast of Sri Lanka (Colombo) thru the centre of the island nation to the east coast town of Trincomalee, the journey which took eight hours. All along we listened to the the audio CD SHAANKARI and the song LANKA SHAANKARI PAALAYAMAAM in particular. Crossing the entire mid section of a country in just 8 hours - from west coast to east coast is amazing.

Later that evening, the temple of Sri Shankari Devi was inquired and visited. As per the priest's account, the Portuguese who invaded the island in the 17th century completely cannon balled from their ship and demolished the cliff top Devi temple. In its site stands a lone pillar, as a mute spectator.

The present Shiva temple which is quite well known locally than the Shankari Temple was a recent construction. The Shiva is called as TRIKONESHVARA (Probably because it is in Trincomalee which is truly TRI CONA MALAI- meaning triangle shaped hill). There is a small Devi Shrine built adjacent the Shiva temple. Sri Swamiji worshipped in both the shrines and then visited the famed Bilva tree which is perched right on the edge of the hill some hundred meters above the Indian ocean. It is a exhilarating and spectacular sight to behold. Sri Swamiji sat at the edge and prayed for a while. The all round silence reflected what is needed most in this war torn nation rightfully called as a paradise. The priests poured their heart about the difficult times they encountered and how the coped with it.
From there, Sri Swamiji visited the more famous Kali temple in the heart of the town. Later, Sri Swamiji inquired about the Tsunami disaster and the rehabilitation efforts.

On Wednesday 4th May 2005, Sri Swamiji took bath in the sparkling and warm Indian ocean. Being Ekadashi, special prayers were offered.The priests and the Temple committee members met Sri Swamiji again and sought Blessings.

At 9 AM, the 9 hour return journey commenced. Midway - most appropriate - mid way stops were held. The ever green forest, the flora and fauna was non stop.

The next day (5th), Sri Swamiji walked along the Colombo coast and in the evening, returned to Bangalore from Colombo.