Located on Rameswaram island, Tamil Nadu, Ramanathaswamy Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple and the island of Rameswaram have acquired this name because, Lord Rama worshiped Lord Shiva, the God of Gods here on return from Sri Lanka. Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples in India. The temple is said to have been sanctioned for construction by King Kizhavan Sethupathi.
location TamilNadu, Ramanathapuram, Chennai
Legend
After killing Ravana (a brahmin), Lord Rama arrived at Rameshwaram
from Lanka with his wife Sita. To expiate the 'kukarma' or 'dosha' of
killing a brahmin, he wanted to worship Lord Shiva. Since there was no
Shivling in Rameshwaram, he sent Hanuman to get the biggest Shivling
from the Himalayas. Since it took him a long time to return, Sita made a
shivling with mud and sand that became the original Rameshwaram
shivalingam.
This Temple is part of famous Char Dham Yatra and 12 Jyotirlinga Darsan Yatra.
Architecture
The temple, spread over an area of 15 acres , has lofty gopurams,
massive walls and a collossal Nandi. Rameswaram also boasts of a 4000
feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 pillars, supposedly the
longest in the world. The carved granite pillars are mounted on a
raised platform. What is unique about this corridor is that the rock is
not indigenous to the island and it was brought in from elsewhere in
Tamilnadu across the sea. The eastern Rajagopuram towers to a height of
126 feet and it has nine levels. The Western Rajagopuram, though
impressive is not as tall as the Eastern one. The stuccoed image of
Nandi is about 18 feet tall and 22 feet in length.
Picture Courtesy : commons.wikimedia.org
Culture
Rameswaram has great religious and geographical significance. The culture here could be specified as an amalgamation of vaishnavite and shaivite practices. Festivals are celebrated as per the Tamil calendar. Annual car festivals and community fairs are celebrated with huge following. Fact that the temple is also located at a tourist spot, has made the city open to foreign culture too.
Darsan Info
Temple timings: 5.00 AM - 1.00 PM and 3.00 PM - 9.00 PM
Online booking of Darshan is available through the official website.
Cameras and phones are forbidden inside the temple.
Only Hindus may enter the inner shrine.
Darsan Dresscode
Pooja Samagri
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Temple Rituals
Mani Lingam darshan is allowed everyday from 5.00 AM to 6.00 AM.
Palliyarai ( Sayanangriha) Procession of Swami and the Palliyarai Pooja
for Swami and Ambal in the Sayanagriha in Ambal Shrine are performed
between 8.45 PM and 9.00 PM everyday.
Kalasha Abhishekam, Rudrabhishekam, Panchamrit Abhishekam are also performed.
Special Rituals
Bath at 22 Theerthams (holy tanks) is intrinsic part of visit to Rameshwaram. All the 22 wells are freshwater wells. The miracle is that each of them taste differently, have little salinity though very close to the sea. Pilgrims will need to hire a guide to take through the tanks in right order. Taking bath from the water of these wells will absolve one from all sins.
Famous Festival
February - Mahasivarathri
May - Vasanthotsavam
June - Ramalinga Prathishtai
August - Thirukkalyanam
September - Navarathri Festival, Dasara
November - Kantha Sashti
December - Aarudhira Dharshna
Additional Info
Eateries near Ramanathaswamy Temple :
Hotel Vinayaga
Murugan Mess
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