Rameswaram is a town in the southern part of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, on an island separated from the mainland by the Pamban channel.

Hindu holy city

Rameswaram is famous for the Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama who, it is believed, had descended on its shores and built a bridge across the Palk Strait to reach Lanka in his quest to rescue Sita from Ravana. Additionally, the temple is famous for being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Siva and it is called Ramalingam. Lord Rama had constructed a Siva linga in order to offer thanks to the Lord after killing Ravana. The Jothilingam in the Rameswaram Temple set up by the side of Sri Visalakshi Ambigai Sannithi was established by Vibeeshna.Hence, the temple is a sacred site for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites.

The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m

Together, with Kashi it is considered one of the holiest places in India for the Hindus. Hence, it is a bustling pilgrim centre.

Of all the famous Hindu Temples in India, the Badrinath, Puri Jagannathar, Dwarka and Ramanatham are the most famous. The Ramanatham (Rameswaram) is the only Shiva Temple among these four. All others are Vaishnav Temples.

According to Purnas, as advised by Rishis, Rama along with Sita and Lakshamana, installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya (Ravana was a Brahmin being and great grandson of Brahma himself). Myth says that Rama fixed an auspicious time for installation and sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam but as Anjaneya could not return in time Sita herself made a lingam of sand and the worship was over when Anjaneya returned with a Lingam from Mount Kailas. Anjaneya was enraged and tried to in vain to remove the Lingam of sand. To pacify Anjaneya Rama had Anjaneya’s Lingam (Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga

Shrines in Rameswaram

• Ramanathaswami Shrine
• Viswanatha Shrine
• Visalakshi Shrine
• Parvathavardhini
• Utsava Idols
• Sayanagriha
• Perumal Shrine
• Santanaganpathi
• Sukravara Mandapam
• Mahaganapathi Shrine
• Subrahmanya Shrine
• Sethumadhava Shrine
• Ramalinga Pratishta
• Natraja Shrine
• Anjaneya Shrine
• Sethupathi Mandapam
• Anuppu Mandapam
• Mahalaxmi Shrine
• Kalyana Mandapam
• Nandi Mandapam
• Gandhamadanaparvatam
• Arilmigu Kothandaramar Temple

Ramanthar Temple

Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a high compound wall (madil) on all four sides of the temple premises measuring about 865 feet furlong from east to west and one furlongs of 657 feet from north to south with huge towers (Gopurams) at the east and west and finshed gate towers on the north and south. The temple has striking long corridors in its interior, running between huge columnades on platforms above five feet high. The junction of the third corridor on the west and the paved way leading from the western gopuram to Setumadhava shrine forms an unique structure in the form of chess borad and it is popularly knowan as Chokkattan Madapam where the Utsva ueities are adorned and kept during the Vasntotsavam (Spring festival) and on the 6th day festival in Adi (July-August) and Masi (February-March) conducted by the Setupati of Ramnad. The outer set of corridors is reputed to be the longest in the word being about 400 feet in each in the east and west and about 640 feet in north and south and inner corridors are about 224 feet in east and west and about 352 feet each in north and south. Their width varies from 15.5 feet to 17 feet in the east and west about 172 feet on the north and south with width varying 14.5 feet to 17 feet. The total length of those corridors is thus 3850 feet. There are about 1200 pillars in the outer corridor. Their height is about 30 feet from the floor to the center of the roof.

Third Corridor

Industry

Fishing is the main activity here.

Trivia

The current president of India, Abdul Kalam, hails from a fishing hamlet called Dhanushkodi situated in the island.