Temples in Rameshwaram
Sri Ramananthaswami Temple
This is one of the major Lord Siva temples in India. The name of the Deity, Ramananthaswami, indicates that Lord Siva is a great personality whose worshipable Deity is Lord Rama. Parts of the present temple were built in the 12th century. Many additions have been added over the years. The temple covers a 15-acre area. The eastern gopuram is 53m (160 ft) high.
This temple is about 200m from the sea, facing east. Non-Hindus are not allowed into the inner sanctum to see the deities, but can walk around the rest of the temple. ISKCON devotees can enter. You have to wait in line about half an hour on a normal day to get a close view of the Ramanantha-linga.
The important festivals are during Maha Siva-ratri (ten days during Feb/March), Brahmotsavam (ten days during March/April), and Thirukalyanam (July/Aug), which celebrates the marriage of Siva and Parvati.
The sea at Agni Teertham, about 200m from the temple, is a sacred bathing place. It is said that if you take bath here all your sins are washed away. It is traditional to take bath at Agni Teertham before entering the Ramananthaswarmi Temple.
Temple Story
It is said that the Siva-linga in the Ramananthaswami Temple was installed by Sri Rama on His return to the mainland from the island of Lanka, after killing Ravana. Rama wanted to install a Siva-linga in Rameswaram to absolve Himself of the sin of killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin. Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to get the linga. Since Hanuman was late when the auspicious time for installation neared, Sita made a Siva-linga out of sand. This linga was then installed by Rama and is known as the Rama-linga, because it was installed by Lord Rama.
At that time Hanuman came with the Siva-linga from Kailash. He was disappointed to find a linga already installed. Ram told Hanuman that he could remove the linga made by Sita and install the one that he brought in its place. Hanuman took hold of the linga with his hands and could not move it. He then wrapped his tail around it and tried to pull the linga out, but it did not move. The linga is said to still have the marks of Hanuman's tail on it. To pacify Hanuman, Rama had the linga that he brought, the Viswa-linga, installed alongside the Rama-linga. He ordered that puja (worship) be performed first to the Viswa-linga, which is still being done today.
Temple Complex
As you enter the main eastern entrance there is a deity of Hanuman trying to remove the sand Ramanatha Siva-linga. There is a 1,220m (3,700 feet) long beautiful corridor, which goes around the temple, with large sculptured pillars that are elaborately designed and carved. It is the longest temple corridor in India. The corridor is 9m high and 17 to 21 feet wide. There are 1212 pillars in the north and south corridors. These temple corridors are an impressive sight.
If you proceed straight from the east entrance you come to the huge bull carrier of Lord Siva, Nandi, who is 5m long and 3m high (15 ft by 8 ft by 9 ft). You then come to the Ramanathaswami Siva shrine. In the principal sanctum (altar) is the linga that Sita made and Sri Rama sanctified.
The Viswa-linga, installed by Hanuman, is to the right of the Ramanatha-linga, on an altar along the north wall. Worship is first offered to this linga. Vishalakshi, his consort, is next to him on another altar.
The shrine of Parvathavardhini, the consort of Sri Ramanatha, is left of the Rama-linga. You can enter this shrine through a corridor to the left of the main altar.
Behind the Sri Ramanatha shrine, between the second and third walls, is a shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu called Setu Madhava. Tradition says that if you bathe in the tank near this shrine and offer worship to this Lord Vishnu Deity you receive all the benefits of bathing in Setu.
Temple Teerthams-Bathing Tanks
There are 22 teerthams (tanks) in the temple in which pilgrims traditionally bathe in before seeing the deities. Each tank is said to give a different benefit. Many pilgrims bathe in all 22 tanks before seeing the deity.
These bathing tanks are 1) Maha Lakshmi, Dhararaja bathed here and got wealth; 2) Savitri, King Kasibar got ride of a curse; 3) Gayatri, King Kasibar got rid of a curse; 4) Saraswati, King Kasibar got ride of a curse; 5) Setu Madhava, will receive the blessing of Lakshmideva and purification of heart; 6) Gandamadana, will receive wealth and sins will be absolved; 7) Kavatcha, you will not go to hell; 8) Gavaya, will receive shelter under Karpaga Virutchaga tree; 9) Nala, one will go to heaven and get Surya tejas; 10) Neela, one will receive the benefit of Samastha yanja; 11) Sankha, Vasanaba got rid of the sin of ingratitude; 12) Sakra, Sun got hand turned golden; 13) Brahmahatya Vimochana, Brahma was absolved from his sins; 14) Surya, you will get knowledge of past, present and future; 15) Chandra, you will get knowledge of past, present, and future; 16) Ganga, Ganasuruthi Raja attained wisdom; 17) Yamuna, Ganasuruthi Raja attained wisdom; 18) Gaya; 19) Siva, completion of Bhaira Brahmahathi; 20)Satyamrita, Emperor Bururoonu got rid of a curse; 21) Sarva, Sutharishna got rid of old age and blindness (from birth) and then prospered; and 22) Kodi.
Gandhamadhana Parvatham
This two-story temple is on a small hilltop, about 2.5 km northwest of the Ramananthaswami Temple. There is a set of Lord Rama's footprints on a Chakra here and the small Ramjharoka Temple. There is a good view of this island from here. The place is called Vedaranyam It is said that Hanuman made his great leap to Lanka from here.
Kothandaramasvami Temple
There are deities of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, and Vibhishana here. It is said that Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, surrendered to Lord Rama at this place. A series of paintings inside the temple tells the story. In 1964 a cyclone wiped out everything in the surrounding area. The only thing left standing was this temple. It is located about 8 km from Rameswaram, or about 6 km from the southernmost tip of the island going toward Dhanushkodi
Dhanushkodi
This is the place where the bay meets the ocean. Pilgrims are supposed to bathe in the small lagoon here called Ratnakara. This is a place to offer sraddha to the ancestors. It is said to be especially auspicious to bathe here in May.
Dhanushkodi is about 20 km southeast of Rameswarm. It is said that Lord Ramacandra destroyed a small bridge with His bow here due to the request of Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana. To get to Dhanushkodi you can share a four-wheel drive vehicle as far as the road goes which is about 2 km from the end of the island. From there you have to walk the rest of the way into what seems, like the middle of nowhere, as there is no road. It is a tough place to get to.
Darbh Sayanam & Adi Jagannatha Temple
Darbha Sayanam (Tirupallani, Pullanranayam) is where Sri Rama observed penance, lying on darbha grass here for three days. It is said that Adi Jagannatha appeared before Him, gave him the weapon called Divya Chapa, and blessed Him with success.
Five km south of Darbha Sayanam at Adi Setu is the Adi Jagannatha Temple. The Deity of Sri Vishnu here is in a reclining posture on Seas Naga. It is said that King Dasaratha, the father of Rama, came here to pray for a child, when all his wives were childless. Hindu couples still visit this temple to pray for children. This temple is 8 km southeast of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram) Railway Station. The place where Sri Rama built His bridge is not far from here.
It is said that at the coastal town of Devi Patnam (Navapashanam) Lord Rama put nine stones standing upright in the shallow bay. They are supposed to represent the nine planets that He worshiped for success. This place is about 14 km northeast of Ramanathapuram on the mainland.
|
