Shankari Devi Temple (Trincomalee)
Swami Rock, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
History & Historical Heritage
The Shankari Devi Temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, is historically revered as the first of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas (Astadasa Shakti Peethas) established by Adi Shankara. It is believed to be the site where Goddess Sati's groin fell. The original temple was a grand cliffside structure destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Devotees have since rebuilt a smaller shrine adjacent to the ancient Koneswarar Temple on the scenic Swami Rock cliff, where prayers are offered to Shankari Devi in her form of Shakthi.
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Sacred Legend (Sthala Puranam)
"According to the Shiva Purana, when Lord Shiva carried the corpse of Goddess Sati, Lord Vishnu cut it into pieces using his Sudarshana Chakra. Sati's groin fell at this cliffside location in Lanka, establishing it as the primary Shakti Peeth where the goddess resides as Shankari Devi and Shiva as Triconeswara."
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Comprehensive Route Guide & Logistics
Nearest Airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Colombo - 240 km
Local Bus Routes
Available Bus Numbers: Intercity Express buses from Colombo Central Bus Stand to Trincomalee
Railway Junctions & Connecting Trains
- Trincomalee Railway Station (TCO) - Regular passenger trains and night mail trains connect from Colombo Fort station.