Ramanatha Swamy Temple - History, Festivals, Timings, Address
Ramanathaswamy temple is located in Rameshwaram, the Southern part of India in the state of Tamil Nadu. The legend about the temple says, this temple was constructed by Lord Rama to reach Lanka and is known as Ram Setu. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. Pilgrimage to Banaras is incomplete without a visit to Rameshwaram. The Linga at Rameshwaram is also one the twelve Jyotirlingas, sacred to Hindus. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are worshipped altogether in Rameshwaram. It is believed that Lord Rama is a form of Lord Vishnu, Laxman is the form of Lord Brahma and Lord Hanuman is a form of Lord Maheshwara. Geographically Rameshwaram is located at the tip of Indian Peninsula in the Gulf of Mannar. Rameshwaram is located on Pamban Island which is separated from Indian subcontinent by Pamban Channel. Rameshwaram is considered a Holy pilgrimage site along with Varanasi.
Rameshwaram holds great significance from the view of Hindu religion. Ramanathaswamy Temple, located in Rameshwaram is one of the four most prominent Pilgrimage site considered in the real Chardham Yatra. Ramanathaswamy Temple is also amongst the Twelve Jyotirlingas site in India. The Jyotirlingas are devoted to Lord Shiva. The present Ramanathaswamy Temple was constructed by Pandya Dynasty during 12th Century. The Ramanathaswamy Temple features a corridor of 1000 Pillars. Rameshwaram also supports Advaita School, which was started by Adi Shankaracharya. Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram along with Badrinath Temple in the North, Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka and Jagannath Temple in Puri in the East are the real Chardham destinations and are said to be covered by every individual from Hindu origin to attain Moksha. The temples are ideologically divided according to the sects Saivism and Vaishnavism but the Chardham Pilgrimage holds significance for every Hindu.
History
The town has been changed many hands; main amongst them were Cholas, Jaffna Kingdom, Allaudin Khilji (Malik Kafur), Pandya Dynasty, Vijayanagara Empire, followed by some other rulers who ruled the town for a very short while before British East India Company directly took over it and made it a part of Madras Presidency.
The Rameshwaram Temple which is the main reason the town is known to every other person following Hinduism, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu is said to be built by Sethupathis of Sethukavalan – custodian of the legendary bridge built by Lord Rama when he crossed the sea to reach Lanka (now Sri Lanka) the place in the control of Demon King Ravana, also a Brahman.
Rameshwaram is believed to be the place from where Lord Rama started his journey to get his wife Sita back from Ravana and the Lord was helped by ‘Vaanar-Sena’ army of legendary monkey-humans and served by Hanuman, Lord Ram’s paramount devotee. Also, many later versions of Ramayana testify of installing a ShivaLingam by Shri Ram and Devi Sita to worship Lord Shiva as a part of penance for Brahmahatya – killing of Brahmana, Ravana who was himself a well-known staunch follower of Lord Shiva. The Rameshwaram Temple, built in 12th century is believed to have the same Shiva Lingam.
The bridge to Lanka named ‘Rama Set u’, also known as Adam’s Bridge is of religious as well as ecological importance. Some 30 Km long, it was supposed to be passable on foot till 15th century after which a storm deepened the channel.
Attractions
Ramanathaswamy Temple: ‘Ramanathaswamy’ literally means ‘the Master of Rama’ which refers to Lord Shiva, which the temple is all about. There are two ‘lingam’ inside the temple; ‘Ramalingam’ by Devi Sita built by sand and ‘Viswalingam’ brought by Lord Hanuman from Kailasha (abode of Lord Shiva) and installed by Lord Rama. Temple tanks, hall of 1000 pillars, and several other shrines in the temple attract millions of pilgrims every year, especially during Maha Shivratri.
The southernmost tip of Rameshwaram is known as Dhanushkodi, where Kothandaramaswamy temple is located. The place was often ruined by cyclones but never displaced a single stone of the temple and of faith, thus. The place is where Vibhishana, brother of Ravana surrendered to Lord Rama. Enchanting location make the visit to the place and the temple as pious as God has made it.
Tirtham: Various temples were erected to honor those who had a left a lesson to learn from the epic of Ramayana and that includes-
- Agni Tirtham – A large lake and 22 wells with unique-tasting waters make it an important pilgrim place where they believe to get cured by the curative properties.
- Ram Tirtham (Gandamadana) – worshipped by many communities of south India.
- Lakshman Tirtham – Built inside Rameshwaram to give the brother of the Lord the place he rightly deserved helping his brother in the holy war against Ravana.
- Jatayu Tirtham – Commemorates the memory of Eagle God who assisted Lord Rama in his fight for Devi Sita.
- Kaveri and Jada Tirtham – A place is meant to worship for god Kapardikeshwar and a Peepal tree representing all the deities.
Timings
Temple Opening and Closing Timings
Morning – 04.00 AM to Afternoon – 1.00 PM
Evening – 03.00 PM to Night – 9.00 PM
Pooja Timings
Thiruvanandal Pooja – Morning 06.00 AM to 06.15 AM
Vila Pooja – Morning 07.00 AM to 07.15 AM
Kalasandhi Pooja – Morning 10.00 AM to 10.15 AM
Uchikkala (Noon) Pooja – Noon 12.00 PM to Afternoon 12.15 PM
Saayaratchai Pooja – Evening 06.00 PM – 06.15 PM
Ardhajama (Night) Pooja – Night 08.30 PM – 08.45 PM
Address
Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple
East Car Street
Rameswaram – 623526
Tamil Nadu
India
Contact Details
Official Website: https://rameswaramramanathar.hrce.tn.gov.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=35671
Phone: 04573 221223
Email: rameshwaramtemple[at]tnhrce[dot]com