SRI RANGANATHA SWAMI TEMPLE - RAMESHWARAM

Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple Rameshwaram

At the very tip of the Indian peninsula Rameswaram is situated in the Gulf of Mannar of Tamil Nadu. Rameswaram is very important pilgrim centre of the Indians. Less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka Rameswaram is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus. Pilgrimage place is known as the Varanasi of south visited by both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites. The presiding deity is the Linga Of Sri Ranganatha, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India.

According to Ramayana is one of the great epics of India, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from Ravana and also were Rama worshipped Shiva to be absolved of the sin of killing Ravana, became the name of the town - Rameswara ("lord of Rama"). On the advice of Rishis (sages), to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) (Ravana was a Brahmin the great grandson of Brahma) Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here.

An auspicious time for the installation of the linga Rama fixed the time and sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam and not return in time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. Rama had Anjaneya's lingam (Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya. It is believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory in order to attain Moksha.

In the shape of a conch the religious island is spread in an area of 61.8 square kilometers. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple occupies major area of Rameshwaram. The island is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge.

Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Architecture of the largest temple corridor is the masterpiece of South India. Starting from the 12th century, different rulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple. Twenty two wells where the taste of the water of each well is different from the other are present in the temple premises. The 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6 m high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned is the grandest part of the temple. The perspective presented by these pillars run uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230 m. A spiritual "Mani Darshan" happens in early morning everyday in Rameshwaram Temple. Made of "sphatik"[a precious stone] "Mani" is in form of "Holy shivling" according to ved this is "Mani" of "Sheshnag".

To get there

By Air: The nearest airport  is at Madurai, 163 km from Rameshwaram. By Train: The railway network connects Rameshwaram to and from Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Thanjavur. The 2 km long Indira Gandhi Bridge connects the island of Rameshwaram with the mainland of Mandapam. By Road: Well connected by roads and bus services to all the major cities nearby, especially, Thiruvallur, Kanyakumari, Trichy, Pondicherry, Tanjore and Chennai.