RamanathSwamy Temple,Shiv Temple of Rameshwaram,Legend behind Rameshwaram Mandir,Great Indian Temples

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Rameshwaram Temple

Varanasi of the South

The Ramanathanswamy Temple at Rameswaram

Rameshwaram Temple is situated in the island of Rameswaram, in the state of Tamilnadu,India. The huge temple is known for its long ornate corridors, towers and 36 theerthams. A very important pilgrim centre of the Indians, Rameshwaram is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage.

Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas the holy abodes of Shiva and is associated closely with Rama's victorious return from Sri Lanka.

THE LEGEND
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 and asked to be blessed so that he could vanquish Ravana. Lord Shiva blessed him accordingly. He also requested Lord Shiva to reside eternally here so that entire mankind should benefit from it. Shiva then manifested himself as the Linga and got installed there for eternity.

According to yet another legend, while returning to Ayodhya, Sages (Rishis) councelled Lord Rama to install and worship the 'Shivalingam' at this place, to compensate the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin Ravana). 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, Ram worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam made of earth by Sita 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. This Shivalingam is referred to as Kasilingam and Hanumalingam. Prayers are offered to Viswanathar before they are offered to Ramanathaswamy.

THE TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
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 longest in the world. The carved granite pillars are mounted on a raised platform.
The huge image of Nandi is about 18 feet tall and 22 feet in length.

Different rulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple over a period of time starting from the 12th century. The temple comprises of twenty-two wells where the taste of the water of each well is different from the other.

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