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Rameswaram Jyotirlinga (Ramanathaswamy Temple)

Rameswaram island, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu

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Rameswaram Jyotirlinga (Ramanathaswamy Temple)
Photo: Vinayaraj, Public domain

About

Rameswaram is the seventh jyotirlinga in the order of the stotra. It is on an island in the sea off Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the four Char Dham, along with Badrinath, Dwarka and Puri. Rameshwar means 'the Lord of Ram', because by tradition Shri Ram himself worshipped Shiv here. The temple is famous for its very long pillared corridors, said to be the longest of any Hindu temple. Inside the complex there are 22 holy wells and tanks (theerthams), and pilgrims first bathe in the sea at Agni Theertham.

The story

In the Ramayan, on the way back from Lanka to Ayodhya, Shri Ram shows Sita ji the place where Shiv appeared and was worshipped before the bridge to Lanka was built. The Shiv Puran says that Shri Ram worshipped Shiv here as a linga. Shiv blessed him with victory and agreed to stay on the island for the good of all.

A popular tradition adds more. After the war, Shri Ram wished to worship Shiv, and Hanuman ji flew towards Kailash to bring a linga. The right time for the puja drew near and Hanuman ji had not yet returned, so Sita ji made a linga from the sand of the seashore and Shri Ram worshipped it. This is the Ramalingam, the main linga. When Hanuman ji arrived with the linga he had brought, Shri Ram placed it close by and asked that it be worshipped first. It is called the Vishwalingam, and this custom continues today.

The temple grew over many centuries. The Sethupati rulers of Ramnad built much of it, including the famous third corridor in the late 18th century.

Visiting

October to April is the most comfortable time. Pilgrims bathe at Agni Theertham and with water from the 22 theerthams inside the temple, so carry a change of clothes. Nearby is Dhanushkodi at the tip of the island, and the Pamban bridge links the island with the mainland.

Festivals

  • Maha Shivratri (in the Tamil month of Masi)
  • Thirukalyanam in the Tamil month of Aadi (wedding festival of Shiv and Parvati)
  • Vasanthotsavam (spring festival)

12 Jyotirlingas

Sources