English: Shree Nagapooshani Amman
Tamil: ஸ்ரீ நாகபூசணி அம்மன்
Malayalam: ശ്രീ നകപൂശണി അമ്മാ
Sanskrit / Hindi: श्री नाकापूसानी अम्मान
Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ನಕಪುಸನಿ ಅಮ್ಮನ
Telugu: శ్రీ నకపుసాని అమ్మన్
Sinhala: ශ්‍රී නකපුසනි අම්මාන්


Nainativu, or Naayanairtheevu, is a small but notable island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in the Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The name of the island alludes to its aboriginal inhabitants, the Naayanair or Nāka people. It is home to the ancient Hindu shrine of Shree Nagapooshani (Bhuvaneswari) Amman - one of the 64 Shakti Peethams. Located 36 km from the ancient capital of the Jaffna kingdom - Nallur. From time and memorial this island has been referred to as "Manidweepam" (Sanskrit: मणिद्वीप) and "Manipallavam" (Tamil: மணிபல்லவம்). The murti of the Goddess is believed to have been consecrated and worshipped by Lord Indra. The protagonist, Lord Rama and antagonist, Ravana of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana have offered obeisances to the Goddess. Nāga and Garuda of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata; resolved their longstanding feuds after worshipping this Goddess. Many childless devotees flock to this famous shrine to get the blessings of Shree Nagapooshani Amman in conceiving a child, and to be alleviated from nagadosha / nagadosham / sapradosham.


Historians note the island is mentioned several times in the ancient Tamil Sangam literatures of nearby Tamil Nadu, India (Manimekalai & Kundalakesi (as Manipallavam)).


"mahashakthi manidweepanivasini, mullokalaku moolaprakashini, manidweepamuloo manthraroopini, manamanasulaloo koluvaiyundi!"


"மஹா ஷக்தி மணித்வீப னிவாஸினி, முல்லோகாலகு மூல ப்ரகாஷினி
மணித்வீபமுலோ மம்த்ரரூபிணி, மன மனஸுலலோ கொலுவையும்தி!"


"महा शक्ति मणिद्वीप निवासिनि, मुल्लोकालकु मूल प्रकाशिनि
मणिद्वीपमुलो मंत्ररूपिणि, मन मनसुललो कॊलुवैयुंदि!"


Nagapooshani (Bhuvaneswari) resides at the island of Manidweepam / Manipallavam, which was created out of Her own thought. Being more splendid than Kailasam (the abode of Lord Shiva), more glorious than Vaikuntam (the abode of Lord Vishnu) and most amazing of all the worlds, manidweepam is called 'Sarva Lokam'. This dweepam is surrounded on the four sides by an ocean of nectar which creates a gentle cool breeze with its waves.


Manidweepam / Manipallavam is thought to consist of several heavenly forts, made of a number of precious materials - consisting of common metals on the outside and silver, gold, sapphire, topaz, pearl, corals and emerald in the interior. Manidweepam / Manipallavam is believed to be guarded by eight directional deities such as Indira, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera etc..