Specialities of Rameshwaram

9. SRI RAMESHWAR Temple in Rameshwaram

sutAmraparNIjalarAshiyoge nibadhya setuM vishikhairasa.nkhyaiH |
shrIrAmachandreNa samarpitaM taM rAmeshvarAkhyaM niyataM namAmi ||

Importance of Rameshwaram

Taking the Ganga water to Rameshwar, is considered as a very auspicious and pious thing to do after the pilgrimage of the four holy shrines. After taking a holy bath in Ganga water, the holy water is carried and offered to Lord shiva of Rameshwaram. After this a little sand from here is carried to Ganga and immersed there. Completing this ritual is believed to make one’s pilgrimage complete and successful.

On the southern seaside of India, Rameshwar sea shrine is located.

In classics like the Skandha Purana, Shivapurana etc., Rameshwar is shown as a very important place. The story of Rameshwara goes like this:

Puranam of Rameshwar Jyothirlingam

After Sita’s abduction, Ram wandered in the jungles looking for her. While doing so, he met Sugriva and made friends with him. Later with the help of special messenger Sri Hanuman, he found out where Sita was taken. Then Rama prepared an army to invade Ravana’s empire and reached the southern seashore. He did not have any means of crossing the sea. Lakshman and Sugriva saw Rama, who is a Shiva devotee in great anguish and could do nothing. But Ravana received some special boons from Lord Shiva. Rama was aware of this and therefore, his fears could not be set at rest. In the mean time, Rama was full thirsty. Just as he was about to drink water, he remembered that he was yet to perform Shiva pooja. He immediately made a Prathiv Linga and worshipped it with sixteen methods, i.e., Shodasopachar Vidhis.

Ramji prayed to Lord Shiva ardently and soulfully, and sang songs of Lord Shiva’s praise in a loud voice. He danced and made the sounds of “Aagad bam bam”. This pleased Lord Shiva immediately and instantly appeared before Rama and told him that could ask for any boons and that he would grant them. Ram showed a lot of care, affection and love to Lord Shiva and prayed and paid obeisance. Rama said “If You want to grant me my wishes, please stay on this earth for the sake of all make it holy” Shiva granted the same by saying “Evamastu” meaning “so be it”. He thus stayed there and came to be known as Rameshwara, in the form of a Shiva Linga and became popular.

With the blessings of Lord Shiva, Rama killed all the demons including Ravana and became victorious. Any one who takes a Darshan of the JyotirLinga at Rameshwar and sprinkles the holy water of Ganga, attains salvation, Kaivalya Moksha or Nirvana.

Specialities of Rameshwaram

The place where the JyotirLinga is located, a large and expansive temple has been built. It is famous in the world as a typical architectural example. In the Ramnad district of Tamilnadu, this temple is situated on a big island of sand. It is worth seeing and is a wonderful experience. The main entrance of the temple tower has many storeys and stands tall. Its structure carvings, statutes and the peaks make people dumb founded. The grandeur of the Lord is really felt here. The human weakness for being narrow-minded is automatically removed and they feel their horizons broadened.

On the tall stone pillars of temple, beautiful carvings can be seen. Elephants with their trunks raised are seen. The four sides of the temple are enclosed by strong stone walls. They are 650 ft. and 12ft. wide and tall respectively. This wonderful temple built on the sand island, is a work of great art and very impressive.

Near to a gold plated pillar, a river is carved on a monolithic stone of 13 feet high and a foot wide. This indeed is a typical example of beautiful sculpting.

Near the main temple of Rameshwar, there is a separate temple for Parvati known as Parvatavardhini temple. Besides this, there are temples of Santana Ganapati, Veerabhadra Hanuman, navagrahas, etc., At a distance of about nearly 2 kilometers from the main temple, there is Gandhamaadhan mountain. In spite of being a sandy area, it is very green with a variety of flora. This is the Nandanavan of Rameshwar.

This island shrine consists of 24 odd holy water sources like Rama teerth, Sita Kund, Jata Teerth, Lakshman Teerth, Kapi Teerthas, Brahmakund, Galawa teerth, Mangala teerth, Kodandaram teerth, Pandav teerth etc., The waters at all these places is sweet and has a taste of its own. Every teerth has a typical story attached to it. Devotees take Darshan and feel purged by doing so.

Everyday, right from 4am till 10pm devotees keep coming to the temple and prayers go on. After the Harati at night, the Lord is made to sleep in a Golden swing i.e., the Bhoga statutes of Shankara and Parvati put to bed.

During Mahashivaratri and on the 15th day in the month of Ashadha (Rainy season) a Badatra mela/fete takes place, with great festivity. Devotees flock here on these days and at all times right from Nepal and entire India. People in a variety of dresses, attired differently come here.

sambandhar, and appar have sung padhikam (1) on the Lord of Rameshwaram.

HISTORY OF RAMESWARAM

 * RAMESWARAM IS ONE OF THE DWADASA JYOTHIRLINGAMS.

* AFTER MAKING FRIENDS WITH SRI SUGRIVA THROUGH THE MEDIATION OF SRI ANJENAYA SRI     RAMA     SENDS SRI HANUMAN IN SEARCH OF SRI SITA DEVI.   ACCORDINGLY SRI HANUMAN PROCEEDS TO SRI     LANKA, FINDS SRI SITA AND DELIVERS THE MESSAGE OF SRI RAMA AND BRINGS BACK HER HEAD    ORNAMENTS (CHUDAMANI) TO HIS MASTER SRI RAMA.

* HAVING LEARNT ABOUT THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SRI SITA, SRI RAMA DECIDES TO PROCEED TO SRI LANKA.     HE SITS AT DARBHASAYANAM IN MEDITATION PRAYING TO THE GOD OF OCEAN TO MAKE WAY ANNOYED    WITH THE DELAY.  HE TAKES THE BOW AND GETS READY TO DART THE ARROW AGAINST SAMUDRARAJA.     THE KING OF OCEAN SURRENDERS AND SHOWS THE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE.

* WHILE SRI RAMA IS BUSY SUPERVISING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE HE NOTICED A SQUIRREL        WETTING ITS BODY.  THEN ROLLING IN SAND AND TAKING THE STICKING SAND TO BE ADDED TO THE     BRIDGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

* WHILE SRI ANJENAYA AND HIS ASSOCIATES (VANARAS) ARE ENGAGED IN THE CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE     BRIDGE THE SQUIRREL CONTRIBUTES ITS SHARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION.  THOUGH A LITTLE, SRI RAMA     BLESSES THE SQUIRREL BY TOUCHING ON ITS BACK.  THERE BY FORMING THREE STREAKS.

* AFTER THE BRIDGE WAS CONSTRUCTED, SRI RAMA, SRI LAKSHMANA AND SRI ANJENEYA REACHED SRI          LANKA.  SEATED IN THE CHARIOT OF INDRA AND ARMOURED BY THE ADITHYA HRIDAYA MANTRA OF     AGHASTHYA, SRI RAMA KILLS AND SUCCEEDS RAVANA WITH HIS BRAHMASTRA.

* AT RAMESWARAM SRI RAMA WAS PRAISED BY RISHI AGASTHYA AND OTHER SAINTS WHO HAD COME         FROM DHANDAKARUNYAM.  HE ASKED SRI AGASTHIAR TO SUGGESTS HIM A WAY TO GET RID OF     BRAHMAHATYA DOSHAM WHICH HE HAS INCURRED BY KILLING RAVANA.  SRI AGASHTHIYA SUGGESTS     THAT HE COULD ESCAPE THE EVIL EFFECTS OF THE DOSHAM IF HE INSTALLS AND WORSHIPS A     SIVALINGAM ON THAT SPOT.

* HAVING VANQUISHED RAVANA, SRI RAMA CROWNS SRI VIBHISHANA AS THE KING OF SRI LANKA.  LATER     SRI RAMA REACHED GANTHAMATHANAM (RAMESWARAM) WITH SRI SITA, SRI LAKSHMANA AND SRI    ANJENAYA IN A SWANSHAPED VIMANAM.

* ACCORDING TO THE SUGGESTION MADE BY SRI AGASTHIYA, SRI RAMA DECIDED TO PERFORM SIVA    POOJA.  HE ORDERS SRI ANJENAYA TO GO TO KAILASAM AND BRING SIVA LINGAM.

* SRI RAMA AND SRI LAKSHMANA WATCHED SRI SITA PLAYFULLY MAKING A SIVALINGAM OUT OF SAND.

* ANJENAYA WHO HAD GONE TO KAILASAM TO BRING SIVALINGAM HAS NOT YET RETURNED EVEN AFTER     A LONG TIME.  AS IT WAS THE AUSPICIOUS TIME FOR POOJA SRI AGASTHIYA TELLS SRI RAMA TO         PERFORM POOJA TO THE SIVALINGAM MADE OUT OF SAND BY SRI SITA.

* SITTING BY THE SIDE OF SIVALINGAM WHICH WAS MADE BY SRI SITA OUT OF SAND, SRI RAMA PERFORMS     POOJA ACCORDING TO AGAMA TRADITION IN ORDER TO GET RID OF BRAHMAHATHYA DOSHAM.  LORD     SIVA WITH HIS CONSORT UMADEVI APPEARED IN THE SKY AND PROCLAIMED THAT THOSE WHO TAKE     BATH IN DANUSKODI AND PRAY THE SIVALINGAM WOULD BE PURIFIED FROM ALL SINS AND THEY WILL     GET PREGNENCY (SHANTHANA PAKKIYAM) SINCE SRI RAMA HAS PERFORMED POOJA.  THE SIVALINGAM     IS CALLED “RAMALINGAM” THE DEITY THERE IS SRI RAMANATHA SWAMY AND THIS PLACE IS CALLED   “ RAMESWARAM”.

* UNABLE TO MEET LORD SIVA AT KAILASAM, SRI ANJENAYA DOES PENANCE THERE AND THEN OBTAINS        TWO SIVALINGAMS FROM LORD SIVA.  AFTER EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF HIS MISSION.

* SRI ANJENAYA FLIES TO RAMESWARAM WHICH WAS POPULARLY KNOWN AS KANTHAMATHANAM     CARRYING THE TWO SIVALINGAMS OBTAINED FROM LORD SIVA.

* AFTER REACHING RAMESWARAM SRI ANJENAYA FINDS OUT THAT SRI RAMA HAD ALREADY PERFORMED     HIS POOJA TO THAT SAND SIVALINGAM, AND HE FEELS VERY MUCH ABOUT HIS DELAY.  HE WAS     DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE HIS SIVALINGAM WAS NOT WORSHIPPED BY SRI RAMA.  SRI RAMA TRIES HIS     BEST TO CONSOLE HIM AND ASKS SRI ANJENAYA TO TRY HIS BEST TO REMOVE THE SIVALINGAM WHICH     WAS MADE OF SAND AND INSTALL THE SIVALINGAM BROUGHT BY HIM, IF HE CAN.

*  UNABLE TO REMOVE THE SAND LINGAM BY HIS HANDS SRI ANJENAYA TRIES TO PULL IT OUT WITH HIS      MIGHTY TAIL.  FAILING IN ALL HIS ATTEMPTS, HE FEELS THE DIVINITY OF SIVALINGAM MADE OF SAND      BY SRI SITA.

*  SINCE IT IS A SACRED ISLAND , OCCUPATIONS LIKE AGRICULTURE, POTTERY AND OIL MILLS ARE NOT     ALLOWED.

*  SRI RAMA ASKS SRI ANJENAYA TO PLACE THE VISWANATHA LINGAM ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF      RAMALINGAM.  HE ALSO ORDAINS THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD WORSHIP RAMALINGAM ONLY AFTER      WORSHIPING LINGAM BROUGHT AND INSTALLED BY SRI ANJENAYA FROM KAILAS.  THE OTHER LINGAM      IS PLACED FOR WORSHIP NEAR THE SRI ANJENAYA DEITY AT THE ENTRANCE.  EVEN TODAY THE SAME      PROCEDURE IS FOLLOWED.

 THEERTHAMS(WELLS)  IN RAMESWARAM TEMPLE.

1.       MAHALAKSHMI THEERTHAM
2.       SAVITHRI THEERTHAM
3.       GAYATHRI THEERTHAM
4.       SARASWATHI THEERTHAM
5.       SETHU MADHAVA THEERTHAM
6.       GANDHA MADHANA THEERTHAM
7.       GEVAKSHA THEERTHAM
8.       GAVYA THEERTHAM
9.       NALA THEERTHAM
10.   SANKU THEERTHAM
11.   CHAKRA THEERTHAM
12.   BRAHMATH  DVIMOCHANA THEERTHAM
13.   SOORIYA THEERTHAM
14.   CHANDRA THEERTHAM
15.   GANGA THEERTHAM
16.   YAMUNA THEERTHAM
17.   GAYA THEERTHAM
18.   SIVA THEERTHAM
19.   SATHAYAMRUTHA THEERTHAM
20.   SARVA THEERTHAM
21.   KOTI THEERTHAM

Rameswaram History

Rameswaram History

Sri Ramanathaswamy temple is situated close to the sea on the eastern side of the island, which is in the shape of a conch. The island is connected with the main land at Mandapam by an awe-inspiring rail bridge and a road bridge. In ancient days, the shrine was only a thatched hut. Over the centuries, the small shrine was gradually developed into what it stands today as a massive and magnificent structure. Different dynasties were ruling the Ramanathapuram region in different periods. Pandya Kings were ruling up to the 15 century. Later, the region came under the reign of Nayaks of the Vijayanagar empire, who ruled till around the 1 7 century.

    Then the Sethupathis, who were the earliest chieftains of the region, came to power. They lavished their funds for art and architecture of the Rameswaram shrine. Notable among them were Udayan Sethupathy, Thirumalai Sethupathy, Raghunatha Sethupathy and Muthuramalinga Sethupathy, whose statues are housed in the temple.

Mythology

          The temple of Lord Ramanathaswamy dates back to the period of Ramayana. The epic begins with the birth of the four princes in Ayodhya, but its subsequent scenes change in quick succession from the banks of the Sarayu River to this southernmost part of our land - the confluence of Mahodathi and Ratnakara. In Rameswaram, one can capture glimpses of scenes from Sundara Kaandam, the epic’s fifth canto, unfolding.
Sri Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya, is an embodiment of love, virtue and Dharma. He undergoes a 14-year-long exile on the eve of his coronation to fulfill a promise of his father Dasharata. His wife Sita and his most caring brother Lakshmana accompany him to the forest. In his quest for Dharma, Rama vanquishes thousands of Rakshasas in the forests during the exile and brings peace and happiness among the Rishis and other inhabitants.

The exile passes off peacefully till the abduction of Sita by Ravana, the Asura king of Lanka, at Panchavati on the banks of Godavari. Rama is grief-stricken. He along with Lakshmana wanders through the forests in search of Sita. One day they meet Sugriva, an exiled monkey king from Kishkindha, and Hanuman, his minister, who vow to help Rama trace Sita. After regaining his kingdom, Sugriva dispatches search parties in all directions. Hanuman, Angada, Nala and others travel southwards and land on the Gandhamadhana Parvatha along the south-eastern coast. This is the present Rameswaram.

The famous Sundara Kaandam begins here with the unbelievable act of Hanuman taking Vishwa Roopam and leaping across the ocean from this hill to reach Lanka. After a frenzied search, Hanuman finally succeeds in locating Sita, held captive in Ravana’s Ashoka Vana. He hands over to Sita a ring from Rama as proof of his being Rama’s messenger. Assuring Sita that Rama will come soon, wage a battle against Ravana and end her agony, Hanuman takes leave of Sita after accepting with reverence her Choodamani (head ornament) as a token for Rama. Later Hanuman destroys Ashoka Vana and gets himself captured by Ravana’s son Indrajit. When Ravana orders setting fire to the tail of Hanuman, he sets the whole of Lanka ablaze with his burning tail.

Hanuman takes the air route back to Gandhamadhana Parvatha, where the search party has set up camp. They all rejoice the glad tidings. Soon they reach Kishkindha. Hanuman meets Rama and gives him the Choodamani with the news that Sita is safe. Rama is immensely pleased with Hanuman and embraces him warmly. Sugriva organizes a big retinue of monkeys and bears from all over the land to proceed on the mission to rescue Sita. Headed by Rama and Lakshmana, they traverse the eastern coast.

Following tradition, Rama first invokes Lord Vinayaka (Veyil Ugandha Vinayaka) at Uppoor seeking to remove obstacles on his mission. He offers puja to Navagrahas at the present Devipattinam or Navapaashaanam by installing nine stones in the sea. He then reaches a marshy land known as Dharbaaranyam (because the place was full of dharba grass). He worships Adi Jagannatha, the presiding deity, and receives Divya astras and the Lord’s blessings for his mission.

In a battle that follows, Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana and the Vanara Sena, vanquishes the ten- headed Ravana to the great relief of everyone. And, how all these happened within the time requested by Sita to rescue her is brought out beautifully by sage Valmiki in his epic. With the battle over, Rama, accompanied by Sita, Lakshmana and the army, returns to the shores of what is Rameswaram now.

Here, as advised by Rishis, Rama decides to consecrate a shrine for Shiva to wash off the Brahmahatti dosha - the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahmin and great grandson of Brahma. A time for the auspicious ceremony is fixed. Rama rushes Hanuman to Mount Kailas to fetch a Linga. As the auspicious time for the installation has neared, but since Hanuman has still not reached, Sita makes a Linga out of sand and the puja is performed within the stipulated time. It is consecrated as Ramalinga. Meanwhile, Hanuman returns from Shiva’s abode with two Lingas. He is disappointed that the ceremony is already over. In anger, he tries to uproot the sand Linga with his tail, but in vain. Rama pacifies Hanuman and installs a Linga brought by Hanuman from Kailas to the left of Ramalinga, and ordered that all pujas be first performed for this Linga, called Vishwalinga. This priority in puja is followed even today. Rama then performs abhisheka with holy water from the Ganga. He aims an arrow at a point to create a spring and takes the purifacatory bath. This is the much-revered Kodi Theertha, situated in the first corridor of the Rameswaram temple.

This holy Theertha and several other sacred waters, mostly in the form of wells within the temple precincts in Rameswaram thus have a special sanctity attached to them with the touch of Rama’s holy feet.

The people of Rameswaram consider it sacrilegious to plough the land or use heavy stone crushers to produce oil since Sita made Ramalinga out of earth.

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Ramanathaswamy Temple

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ramanathaswamy Temple
Ramanathaswamy Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Coordinates:	9.288106°N 79.317282°ECoordinates: 9.288106°N 79.317282°E
Name
Proper name:	Ramanathaswamy Thirukoil
Location
Country:	India
State:	Tamil Nadu
District:	Ramanathapuram
Location:	Rameswaram
Temple Details
Primary Deity:	Ramanathaswamy (Shiva)
Architecture and culture
Architectural styles:	Dravidian architecture
History
Creator:	Pandya and Jaffna kings

Char Dham Badrinath • Rameswaram Dwarka • Puri
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Ramanathaswamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to god Shiva located on the island of Rameswaram in the state ofTamil Nadu, India. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar,Sundarar and Tirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their songs. The temple was expanded during the 12th century byPandya Dynasty, and its principle shrines were renovated by Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and his successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan of the Jaffna kingdom. The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.^[1] The temple is located in Rameshwaram, an island town in South India, considered a holy pilgrimage site for Shaivites, Vaishnavites and Smarthas. The Temple is also one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where God Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam meaning "pillar of light".

According to a legend, Ramayana, Rama, the seventh incarnation of God Vishnu, is believed to have prayed to God Shiva here to absolve any sins that he might have committed during his war against the demon king Ravana in Sri Lanka.^[2] To worship God Shiva,God Rama wanted to have the largest lingam. He directed Lord Hanuman, the monkey lieutenant in his army to bring thelingam from Himalayas. Since it took longer to bring the lingam, Sita (the wife of Rama) built a small lingam, which is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum.^[3]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 The Temple
  • 1.1 Shrines in the temple complex and around Rameshwaram
  • 1.2 Temple Tanks
• 2 Significance Today
  • 2.1 Char Dham
  • 2.2 Jyotirlinga
  • 2.3 Historical pilgrimage
• 3 Temple contributions and donations from Hindu kings
• 4 In News
• 5 Temple Gallery
• 6 Shrines in Rameswaram
• 7 See also
• 8 References
• 9 Notes
• 10 External links

The Temple[edit]

The primary deity of the temple is Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) in the form of lingam.^[1] There are two lingams inside the sanctum - one built by Goddess Sita, from sand, residing as the main deity, Ramalingam and the one brought by Lord Hanuman from Kailash called Vishwalingam.^[3][4][5] Lord Rama instructed that Vishwalingam should be worshipped first since it was brought by Lord Hanuman - the tradition continue even today.^[4]

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 finished gate towers on the north and south. The temple has striking long corridors in its interior, running between huge colonnades on platforms above five feet high.^[6]

The second corridor is formed by sandstone pillars, beams and ceiling. The junction of the third corridor on the west and the paved way leading from the western gopuram to Setumadhava shrine forms a unique structure in the form of chess board and it is popularly known as Chokkattan Madapam where the Utsva deities are adorned and kept during the Vasanthotsavam (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 world being about 6.9 m height, 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.^[7] 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.^[1][4][7] The total length of those corridors is thus 3850 feet. There are about 1212 pillars in the outer corridor.^[7]Their height is about 30 feet from the floor to the center of the roof. The main tower or rajagopuram is 53 m tall.^{[citation needed]} Most pillars are carved with individual composition.^[7]

Shrines in the temple complex and around Rameshwaram[edit]

There are separate shrines for God Ramanathaswami and Goddess Visalakshi separated by corridor.^[6] There are separate shrines for goddess visalakshi,parvathavardhini,utsava idol,sayanagriha,perumal,mohaganpathi . There are various halls inside the temple, namely Anuppu Mandapam, Sukravara Mandapam, Sethupathi Mandapam, Kalyana Mandapam and Nandi Mandapam.Jyothirlingas

Temple Tanks[edit]

Main article: Tirthas of Rameswaram

There are sixty-four Tīrthas (holy water bodies) in and around the island of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India.^[8] According toSkānda Purāṇa, twenty-four of them are important.^[9] Bathing in these Tīrthas is a major aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is considered equivalent to penance.^[10] Twenty-two of the Tīrthas are within the Rāmanāthasvāmī Temple.^[11] The number 22 indicates the 22 arrows in Rama's quiver.^[3] The first and major one is called Agni Theertham, the sea (Bay of Bengal).^[1]

Significance Today[edit]

Char Dham[edit]

Adi Sankara, the Guru of Advaita, who is believed to have started the Char Dhams

The temple is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham (four divine sites) sites comprising Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka.^[12] Though the origins are not clearly known, the Advaita school of Hinduism established by Sankaracharya, who created Hindu monastic institutions across India, attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer.^[13] The four monasteries lie across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North, Jagannath Temple at Puri in the East, Dwarakadheesh Temple at Dwarka in the West and Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram in the South. Though ideologically the temples are divided between the sects of Hinduism, namely Saivism and Vaishnavism, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all Hindu affair.^[14] There are four abodes in Himalayas called Chota Char Dham (Chota meaning small): Badrinath, Kedarnath,Gangotri and Yamunotri - all of these lie at the foot hills of Himalayas.^[15] The name Chota was added during the mid of 20th century to differentiate the original Char Dhams.^{[citation needed]} The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetime.^[16] Traditionally the trip starts at the eastern end from Puri, proceeding in clockwise direction in a manner typically followed for circuambulation in Hindu temples.^[16]

Totally right

Jyotirlinga[edit]

As per Shiv Mahapuran, once Brahma (the Hindu God of creation) and Vishnu (the Hindu God of saving) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation.^[17] To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity. The jyotirlinga is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears. The jyothirlinga shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.^[16][18] Originally there were believed to be 64jyothirlingas while 12 of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy.^[17] Each of the twelve jyothirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity - each considered different manifestation of Shiva.^[19] At all these sites, the primary image is lingam representing the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva.^[19][20][21] The twelve jyothirlinga are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharastra, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Triambakeshwar in Maharastra, Vaidyanath at Deoghar in Jharkand,Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Grishneshwar at Aurangabad, Maharashtra.^[17][22]

Historical pilgrimage[edit]

The temple is one of the famous pilgrimage sites and there are historical references about it. The Maratha kings who ruled Thanjavur established chatrams or rest houses all throughMayiladuthurai and Rameswaram between 1745 and 1837 CE and donated it to the temple.^[23]

Temple contributions and donations from Hindu kings[edit]

The temple in its current shape is believed to have been built during the 17th century, while Fergusson believes the small vimana in the west corridor belonging to the 11th or 12th centuries.^[6] The contribution of the Jaffna kings of the Sethupathy dynasty to the temple was considerable.^[4] King Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan (1380 — 1410 CE) shipped stone blocks from Koneswaram temple, Trincomalee to the temple to renovate its sanctum sanctorum. Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan's successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan (Pararacacekaran V), a trustee at Rameswaram who also oversaw structural development of this temple and the promotion of Saivite belief donated part of his revenue to Koneswaram. Especially to be remembered are the immense sums that were spent during the tenure of Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai towards the restoration of the Pagodas which were falling into ruins, the splendid Chockattan Mantapam or the cloistered precincts of the temple at Rameshwaram that he finally completed.^[24] The rulers of Sri Lanka contributed to the temple -Parakrama Bahu (1153-1186 CE) was involved in the construction of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.^[4] The temple was repaired and substantial portions reconstructed by the Nagarathars of Devakottai, especially Shree AL.AR.RM.Arunachalam Chettiar, then Zamindar of Devakottai. He was the Hereditary Trustee of Ramanathaswamy Temple. Thereafter his son AL AR Kalairajah Chettiar, subsequently his son AL AR K Veerappa Chettiar, and subsequently his son AL AR K VR ChinnaVeerappa Chettiar are Hereditary Trustees of Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple.

In News[edit]

The temple priests are Mahastra Brahmins who get Diksha from Sringeri Mutt.^[25] Shortage of priests has been reported as there are 5 priests to manage the 13 shrines within the temple.^[25] The shortage is more pronounced during the 12 day Maha Shivaratri festival when the festival deities of the temple are taken in procession.^[25] The temple comes under the renovation and consecration of the 630 temples planned to be renovated by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.^[26] The temple authorities have planned to renovate and widen the pathways to the 22 holy theerthams of the temple.^[26] The consecration of the temple is planned during 2013.^[26] The temple is one of the temples offering Free meal scheme of the government, which provides meals to devotees of the temple. A pilgrim house is planned by the government to extend the scheme to more pilgrims.^[26]

Temple Gallery[edit]