Rameshwar

Country:	India
State:	Tamil Nadu
District:	Ramanathapuram
Location:	Rameswaram

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

History of Ramanathaswamy Thirukoil :-

Ramanathaswamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva located on the island of Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. 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." The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in 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 by Pandya Dynasty, and its principle shrines were renovated by Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and his successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan of the Jaffna kingdom.

Location:-

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.

Specialities of Rameshwara:-

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.

Legend Of Rameswaram Temple:-

The jyotirlingam was worshipped by Lord Rama to atone the sin of killing Ravana. Hanuman flew to bring the Linga from Kailasa, for Lord Rama to wroship. As it was getting late, Rama worshipped the Lingam that was made of sand by Sita Devi. This Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama is known as Ramanathar. When Hanuman returned he was disappointed that his Lord had not used the Lingam that he had brought. Lord Rama pacified Hanuman & named this Lingam Kasi Viswanathar. Devotees have to worship Kasi Viswanathar before worshipping Ramanathar

Legend has it that Rama worshipped Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam made of earth by Sita, while returning to Ayodhya. Legend has it that Hanuman was entrusted with the task of bringing an image of Viswanathar from Benares. Anticipating delay in Hanuman's return from Benares, Rama is said to have offered worship at a pre-chosen auspicious moment to a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth by Sita. This lingam is referred to as Ramalingam and the town is known as Rameswaram.

Rameswaram Temple Puja Timing:-

The temple remain open from 5 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 9 pm. The Elaborate pujas are offered six times daily.

Timings	Pujas
5.00 am	Palliyarai (Sayanagruha) Deeparadhana
5.10 am	Saptika linga Deeparadhana
5.45 am	Thiruvananthal Deeparadhana
7.00 am	Vila Puja
10.00 am	Kaalasanthi Puja
12.00 noon	Uchikala Puja
6.00 pm	Saayaraksha Puja
8.30 pm	Ardhajaama Puja
8.45 pm	Palliyarai Puja

Festival:- 

Celebrated in January, Thai Amavasi is held to offer prayers for ones forefathers. Celebrated extensively at the Ramanathaswamy Temple, thousands of devotees take a dip at Rameshwaram and head to Agniteertha Kadarkarai to offer prayers. A procession carrying the idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Lord Shiva are also carried to Agniteertha and prayed to. Held in the darkest fortnight of September, Mahalaya Amavasya is also held to offer food to the departed. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Maha Shivratri is undoubtedly one of the most important festivals held here. Held with great pomp at the Ramanathaswamy Temple, it is attended by devotees from all across the state who come here to worship the Lord. Also held in this temple is Thirukalyanam, which celebrated the marriage of Sri Ramanathaswamy and Parvathavardhini Ambal.

Char Dham

The temple is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham (four divine sites) sites comprising Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka. 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. 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.

Nere by Places:-

Agnitheertham - Sri Ramanathaswamy temple faces east. The seashore, about 100 metres from the main entrance of the temple, is very calm and therefore ideal for bathing. The water at this place is considered sacred and known as Agni theertham. Pilgrims perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore. 
Gandamadana Parvatham - is a hillock situated 3 km away and is the highest point in the island. Here one can see the imprint of Lord Rama’s feet on a chakra. The entire island of Rameswaram is visible from this point. 
Sugreevar Temple/Theertham - is situated on the way to Gandamadana Parvatham near the  Doordarshan Kendra. 
Satchi Hanuman Temple - is considered to be the place where Hanuman delivered the good news of finding Sita to Rama with satchi or evidence, Choodamani or the jewel that belonged to Sita. Situated 3 km from the main temple, on the way to the Gandamadana Parvatham. 
Badrakaliamman Temple - is a temple for Devi Durga, situated 2 km from the main temple on the way to the Gandamadana Parvatham. 
JadaTheertham (about 3.5 km from Rameswaram on the Dhanushkodi road) – legend has it that Lord Rama, on his way back after killing Ravana, Worshipped SriRamalinga (believed to be installed by him). Before doing so, he washed his hair(Jada) in this theertham to purify himself. 
Nambu Nayagiamman Temple - is greatly venerated by the people of Ramnad District. It is situated 8 km from the main temple in Rameswaram on the way to Dhanushkodi. 
Kothandaramaswamy Temple - is located 12 km away from Rameswaram. A popular belief is that Vibishana, brother of Ravana, surrendered before Rama here.

Villoondi Theertham - is situated 7 km from the main temple on the way to Pamban.

How to reach by train:-  

Train No.	Train Name	Arr.	Dep.
14260	Varanasi-Rameshwaram Express	01:15	Ends
16701	Boatmail Express	11:45	Ends
16713	Chennai Egmore Rameshwaram (Sethu) Express	04:45	Ends
16734	Okha-Rameswaram Express	19:45	Ends
16779	Tirupati Rameswaram (Meenakshi) Express	09:15	Ends
18496	Bhubaneswar-Rameswaram Weekly Express	23:55	Ends
22622	Kanyakumari Rameswaram SF Express	05:20	Ends
56721	Madurai Rameswaram Passenger	03:45	Ends
56723	Madurai Rameswaram Passenger	10:30	Ends
56725	Madurai Rameswaram Passenger	22:30	Ends
56829	Tiruchchirapalli Rameswaram Passenger	12:45	Ends
06010	Coimbatore-Rameswaram Special	05:20	Ends
06014	Coimbatore-Rameswaram Special	06:45	Ends