RAMESHWARAM JYOTRILINGA

RAMESHWARAM JYOTIRILINGA

It is situated in the island of Rameswaram, off the Sethu coast of Tamil Nadu and is reached via thePamban Bridge across the sea.The huge temple is known for its long ornate corridors, towers and 36 theerthams. Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga represents the southernmost of the Dwaadash Jyotirlingams of India and has been a time honored pilgrimage center held on par with Banaras. Rameshwaram Temple Jyotirlinga is associated closely with the Ramayana and Rama’s victorious return from Sri Lanka.

LEGEND BEHIND RAMESHWARAM TEMPLE

According to a popular legend, it was Lord Rama who installed this Linga here. Story goes that when Lord Ram was on his way to attack Ravana, he reached this place where he made a linga of sand and worshipped it. It is said that when Lord Rama was drinking water on the seashore there was a celestial proclamation – “You are drinking water without worshipping me”. Listening to this Lord Rama made a linga of sand and worshipped it and asked to be blessed so that The could vanquish Ravana. Lord Shiva blessed him accordingly. He also requested Lord Shiva to reside eternally here sothat entire mankind should benefit from it. Shiva then manifested himself as the Linga and got installed there foreternity.

According to yet another legend, while returning to Ayodhya, Ram worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a ShivaLingam made of earth by Sita. It is said that Hanuman was entrusted with the task of bringing an image of Viswanathar from Banaras. Anticipating delay in Hanuman’s return from Benares, Rama offered worship to a Shivalingam at a pre-chosen auspicious moment. This lingam is referred to as Ramalingam and the town is known as Rameswaram. There is yet another Shivalingam here – Viswanathar said to have been brought by Hanuman from Banares.ThisShivalingam is referred to as Kasilingam and Hanumalingam. Prayers are offered to Viswanathar before they are offered to Ramanatha swamy.

STRUCTURE OF RAMESHWARAM TEMPLE

Rameswaram Temple is spread over an area of 15 acres and has lofty gopurams, massive walls and a colossal Nandi. Rameswaram Jyotirlinga also boasts of a 4000 feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 pillars, supposedly the longestin the world. The carved granite pillars are mounted on a raised platform. Worth noticing fact about this corridor is thatthe rock is not indigenous to the island and is said to have been brought in from elsewhere in Tamil Nadu across the sea.The eastern Rajagopuram towers to a height of 126 feet and has nine levels. The Western Rajagopuram is also quite impressive though not as tall as the Eastern one.The temple also has several mandapams with mini shrines to other deities. There is a huge Nandi measuring 12 feet in length and 9 feet in height with the idols of Viswanatha Naicker and Krishnama Naicker. The lingams are housed in the inner section of the Ramalingeshwara. High walls enclose the temple, forming a rectangle with huge pyramidal gopura entrances on each side.