Rameshwaram Temple

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, located on the Rameshwaram island.

 Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.

Deity : Lord Shiva

The Rameshwaram Temple, also known as Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, is one of the most revered and ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated on the island of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, this temple holds immense significance in Hindu mythology and is considered one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, making it a crucial pilgrimage site for devotees of Lord Shiva.

The temple is renowned for its magnificent architecture, featuring long corridors, massive sculptured pillars, and a towering gopuram (gateway tower). The temple's corridors are the longest among all Hindu temples in India, with the outer corridor extending over 1,200 meters.

Mythological Significance :

The Rameshwaram Temple is intricately linked to the epic Ramayana. According to legend, Lord Rama, after defeating the demon king Ravana in Lanka, wanted to absolve himself of the sin of killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin. He sought to worship Lord Shiva and instructed Hanuman to bring a lingam from the Himalayas. However, as Hanuman was delayed, Sita, Lord Rama's wife, made a lingam out of the sand on the seashore, which is now worshipped as the main deity, Ramanathaswamy. This lingam is known as the Ramalingam.

Hanuman eventually brought another lingam, known as the Vishwalingam, which is also enshrined in the temple. It is customary to worship the Vishwalingam before worshipping the Ramalingam.

Architectural Highlights :

• Corridors : The temple's corridors are an architectural marvel, comprising over 1,200 intricately carved granite pillars. These corridors, also known as prakaram, are renowned for their length and exquisite sculptural detail.

• Gopurams : The temple has tall and grand gopurams (gateway towers) on its eastern and western sides, adorned with intricate carvings depicting various deities and mythological scenes.

• Theerthams : The temple complex houses 22 holy water bodies or wells, known as theerthams, where pilgrims perform ritualistic bathing before entering the sanctum. These theerthams are believed to have medicinal properties and are integral to the temple's spiritual significance.

Festivals and Rituals :

The temple celebrates several festivals with great fervor, the most notable being Maha Shivaratri, which attracts thousands of devotees. Other significant festivals include Ramalinga Prathishtai and Thirukalyanam.

Daily rituals include multiple poojas and abhishekams (ritualistic bathing of the deity) performed with holy water, milk, honey, and other offerings. The temple follows traditional Agama rituals, maintaining the sanctity and purity of the worship practices.

Pilgrimage :

Rameshwaram is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, which also includes Badrinath, Puri, and Dwarka. Visiting Rameshwaram is considered highly auspicious, and a pilgrimage to this sacred site is believed to grant moksha (liberation) to devotees.

In conclusion, the Rameshwaram Temple is not just a symbol of architectural grandeur but also a profound spiritual destination, deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and tradition. It continues to attract devotees and tourists from around the world, offering a glimpse into India's rich cultural and religious heritage.