Rameswaram : Jytirlinga of Hindu God Shiva in Tamil Nadu

Location: Rameswaram (Pandya Naadu),

Lord Shiva: Ramanathaswamy,

Ambal: Malaivalarkaadali, Parvatavartini,

Theerthan: Dhanushkoti, Patikam: Sambandar, Appar , Travel

Base: Rameswaram

Description: this Shivastalam is one of the most holiest shrines in India according to story of shiva. It was represent the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India which has been a time of honored pilgrimage center held on par with Banaras. The island temple town which was situated of the Sethu coast of Tamilnadu. This shrine was regarded as the 8th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. This temple of shiva is assocated closely with the Ramayana and Rama’s Victorious return from the Sri Lanka.

Rameswaram is an interesting temple of lord shiva both are from the standpoint

 of it associated with Rama and from a structural standpoint. A. huge temple in the island of Rameswaram

Legend: it was the God Rama worshipped of Shiva in the form of a Lord Shiva Lingamwhich is made up of a earth by Sita, while it was returning to Ayodhya. The Legend is that Human was entrusted with the task of bringing images of Viswanathar from the Benares. Anticipating delay in Hanuman’s return from Benares, Rama is said to have offered worship at a pre-chosen auspicious moment to a Shivalingam fashioned out of the earth by Sita. This lingam is referred to as Ramalingam and the town is known as Rameswaram.

There is yet another Shivalingam here – Viswanathar was said to been brought by Hanuman from Banares. This Shivalingam is referred to as Kasilingam and Hanumalingam. The prayers are offered to Viswanathar before they are offered to the Ramanathaswamy. Legend has the Rama that worshipped Tilakeswarar at the Devipatnam nearby enroute to the Sri Lanka.

There is also a shrine to which we are sethuMadhava and Lakshmi in Rameswaram. Sethu Madhava is also referred to as Sweta Madhava, the term Sweta was referring to the white stone with which the image is made.

The Gandamadana parvatam: is a hill on the island which bears a small shrine containing 

imprints of Rama's feet held in worship Architecture and History: the surrounding area of this temple is 15 acres, and has lofty gopurams, massive walls and a colossal Nandi. Rameswaram also boast of a 4000 feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 Pillars, which has longest in the world. The carved granite pillars are mounted on a raised platform. What is unique about this corridor is that rock is not indigenous to the islands and it was brought same elsewhere in Tamilnadu across the sea. The eastern Rajagopuram towers to a height of 126 feet and which has nine levels. There was a western Rajagopuram, through impressive which is not so tall as the Eastern one. The Nandi images is about 18 feet tall and 22 feet is the length.

It is believed that the ancient shrine was housed in a thatched hut until the 12th century and that there was the 1st ever masonry structure it has been built by the Parakrama Bahu of Shri Lanka. The Setupathy rulers of Ramanathapuram it was completed the rest of the temple. There are some of the temple Vimaanams of the Pallava period. Much of the additions was carried out between the 12th and the 16th centuries. There was a long corridors dates back only to see the 18th century. The Gandhamadhana Parvatam which is providing a good images of the temple. This temple was received royal patronage from the several kingdoms Such as Travancore, Ramanathapuram, Mysore and Pudukkottai.

Worship: there was a rules for worship that six worship services are carried out in each day, the time of the first is at 5 am. And if you want the special worship services then it is get on every Friday. Festival: Rama’s worship was commemorated in the month of Aani which has two annual Bhrammotsavams which is celebrated in Aadi and in Maasi. Theertham: There are 36 Theerthams in Rameswaram of which 22 are in the temple and these waters are said to possess the medical properties. Bathing is the very important from all these great significance. The Agni theertham refers to which the ocean while the Koti theertham which is situated in the temple itself.

Other point of interest: The Gandamadana parvatam which is provide a commanding view of the island. It was also the bears a shrine said to bear which is the footprint of rama. Dhanuskoti which is the easternmost tip of the island, where legend has it that Rama with the tips of his island, where the legend has it that Rama with their tips of his bow was destroyed the bridge that he had built between the island and Srilanka, during his victorious return. There is a Kodandarama temple located on the way between Dhanushkoti and the Ramanatha temple. Tiruppullaani nearby represents the site where Rama sojourned on his way to Lanka. Devipatnam is home to the Navapaashaanam stones installed by Rama.