Rameswaram
(IPLTOURS)
Mahadri Parswe Cha Thate Ramanatham
Sampoorjyamanam Sathatham Muneendri
Surasurair Yaksha Mahoraghadyai
Kedarameesam Shivameka Meede
Rameswaram is important to Hindus as the pilgrimage to Varanasi (Kasi) is treated to be in-complete without their pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The town along with the Ramanath Swamy temple is one among the holiest four divine shrines (Char Dham) along with Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka. The origin of Chardham is that Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya established nearly 90 mutts around the Bharat sub continent to preach the importance of Advaita and Hindu religionr. Among these mutts, four Matts are located in the four sides of our country and their attendant temples are Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North, Jagannath Temple at Puri in the East, Dwarakadish Temple at Dwarka in the West and Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram in the South. The temples in the four places are important to the two sects of Hinduism, namely Saiv and Vaishnav and the Char Dham pilgrimage intended to all Hindus. The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetime. The trip starts from Puri in the Eat and proceed in clockwise direction followed to circumbarence in Hindu temples. The twelve Jyothirlingas spread all over our country like a Conch.
Rameswaram is located in Pamban Island at the confluence of Bay of Bengal and the Hindu Ocean. It is the 7th among the Dwadasa Jyothirlinga. There are 64 Shiva Shrines among which 12 shrines are considered as Dwadasa Jyothirlingas. Shiva appears in the form of Ling in all these shrines except in Kedarnath and he appear in the form of hump of a bull in Kedarnath. Every Jyothirlinga is famous with various forms in the name of the Chief Deity. Pilgrims have to reach Rameswaram by travel ton the Pamban Bridge connecting Tamilnadu and Pamban Island. Subsequently a parallel road bridge was constructed to Pamban Bridge. Pilgrims may enjoy by travel on Pamban Railway Bridge.
Ramanathswamy Temple
Rameswar Jyothirhlinga is the 7th among the 12 Jyothirlingas and established by Sri Rama. As per legend Sri Rama built a bride on the ocean to reach Lanka and protect Sita abducted by Ravana, the domain king. Ramanatha Swamy temple, the Jyothirling is in the middle of Rameswaram and is a shrine for Shaiv and Vaishnav traditions to unite Lord Rama and Lord Shiva in one place. Rameswaram is the nearest place to reach Sri Lanka and there is evidence on construction of Rama Sethu on ocean. Majority of the people in Rameswaram depends upon tourism. As per legends Rama is the seventh incarnation of Maha Vishnu. Rama along with Sita and Lakshman worshipped Shiva on the advice of the sages to be freed from the sin of Brahma Hatya committed by exterminating Ravana.
It was narrated in Ramayan that Rama asked Hanuman to bring a Big Shiva Ling from Himalayas to worship and freed from his troubles. Hanuman delayed to bring the Ling. Sita then prepared a small ling with the sand of the sea. The Shiva Ling in the sanctum of the temple considered to the Sand Ling prepared by Sita. Abhisek the Sand Ling is prohibited.
It was described in Adhyatma Ramayan that Sri Rama worshipped Shiva in the form of Ling and built Rama Sethu at Danush Kodi, 22 km from Rameswaram. The temple priests are Maratha Brahmins and were from Sringeri Math. There is Crystal Ling in the sanctum established by Adi Sankaracharya. The Crystal Ling will be anointed in the morning every day before worship of the main Ling. Crystal drains heat. People wear crystal wand to reduce body heat. Worship of Ramanatha Jyothirling remove the horoscope errors to the Mend and Women of Aries Planet.
Temple Teerth
There are 64 Teerth (wells) in Rameswaram temple and around the island. Skandha Puran narrates that there are 24 main Teerth among them and 22 are within the temple complex. It is believed that taking bath with their water release from all the sins. Pilgrims believe that the bath of the holy waters is mandatory in Rameswaram Pilgrimage. The first and main teerth is Agni Teerth located on the sea shore of Bay of Bengal. Jatayu, King of the Birds fought with the demon-king Ravana to save Sita and fallen down at Jatayu Theerth after his wings were severed by the domain Ravana. There is Villoondi Theertham located 7 kilometres from the main temple on the way to Pamban. This place believed that Rama dip his bow in the sea for the thirst of Sita. Hanuman Theerth, Sugreev Teerth and Lakshman Teerth are the other main teerth. The arrow marks at the teerth believed to be the 22 arrows launched by Sri Rama.
Gandha Madhana Mountain
Gandha Madha Mountain located three kilometers towards north to Rameswaram Temple on a high hillock in the island. There is a two stirred building and Rama’s feet are found as an imprint on a chakra. Ramarpatham Temple located on the hillock. Pilgrims may visit the entire Pamban Island from the hillock. It is believed that Sri Rama stay here and decided the place to build bridge to go to Lanka. It is also believed that Hanuman and other ape army took rest before their journey to Lanka.
Kodandarama Swamy Temple
Kodandarama Swamy Temple is located at a distance of 12 km from Rameswram and at the southern point of Danushkodi Island. The temple is 1200 hundred years old and one of the places to be visited in Rameswaram Pilgrimage. The temple is in the island surrounded by Bay of Bengal. Swamy Vivekananda visited this temple before he leaves to his travel to Chicago. Dhanushkodi was washed away during the cyclone occurred sixty years ago. The Kodandarama Swamy temple alone remained intact without any damage. Vibhishan, brother of domain Ravan advise him to hand over Sita to Sri Rama surrender himself to Sri Rama after failure of his advice to Ravana. There is a Temple tank near the temple Brungi where Sri Rama spent some time with Brungi in his Ashram.
Pancha Mukha Hanuman Temple
Pilgrims may visit the lime stones utilised by Sri Rama and his ape army to built Rama Sethu. This lime stone float in water without drowns into the water. A 20kg stone was kept in water and it flows without drown in the water.
Rama Setu
Rama Sethu is a chain of limestone shoals between Rameswaram Island known as Pamban Island and Mannar Island of the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. It is evident that this bridge is a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka of 48 km. The depth of the sea said to 3 feet though out Rama Sethu. It was reported to be possible that the Ingress and egress up to six hundred years ago, and was completely above sea level until it broke in a cyclone occurred at that time Still there are lime stones used for the bridge available.
There are other important places viz., Sugreev Temple, Bhadrakali Temple, Ram Teerth. There are plenty of Satrams, Matts, Railway Retiring Rooms and temple guest houses for accommodation. Free meals provided in Choulties, Matts and temple. Two days stay required to visit all the important places in Rameswaram.
