| Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple Rameshwaram |
| At the very tip of the Indian peninsula Rameswaram
is situated in the Gulf of Mannar of Tamil Nadu. Rameswaram is very important
pilgrim centre of the Indians. Less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna
Peninsula, Sri Lanka Rameswaram is located on an island separated from mainland
India by the Pamban channel and is considered to be one of the holiest places in
India to Hindus. Pilgrimage place is known as the Varanasi of south visited by
both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites. The presiding deity is the Linga Of Sri
Ranganatha, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. |
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| According to Ramayana is one of the great epics of India, this
is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu across the sea to
Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from Ravana and also were Rama worshipped
Shiva to be absolved of the sin of killing Ravana, became the name of the town -
Rameswara ("lord of Rama"). On the advice of Rishis (sages), to expiate the sin
of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) (Ravana was a Brahmin the great grandson
of Brahma) Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the
Sivalinga here. |
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| An auspicious time for the installation of the linga Rama fixed
the time and sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam and not return in
time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. Rama had Anjaneya's lingam
(Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga To comfort the
disappointed Anjaneya. It is believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory
in order to attain Moksha. |
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| In the shape of a conch the religious island is spread in an
area of 61.8 square kilometers. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple occupies major area
of Rameshwaram. The island is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge. |
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| Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to
Benaras is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity
here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also
happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. |
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| Architecture of the largest temple corridor is the masterpiece
of South India. Starting from the 12th century, different rulers built the
Ramanatha Swamy Temple. Twenty two wells where the taste of the water of each
well is different from the other are present in the temple premises. The 1219 m
pillared corridor consisting of 3.6 m high granite pillars, richly carved and
well proportioned is the grandest part of the temple. The perspective presented
by these pillars run uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230 m. A spiritual
"Mani Darshan" happens in early morning everyday in Rameshwaram Temple. Made of
"sphatik"[a precious stone] "Mani" is in form of "Holy shivling" according to
ved this is "Mani" of "Sheshnag". |
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| To get there |
By Air:
The nearest airport is at Madurai, 163 km from Rameshwaram.
By Train:
The railway network connects Rameshwaram to and from Chennai,
Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Thanjavur. The 2 km long Indira Gandhi Bridge
connects the island of Rameshwaram with the mainland of Mandapam.
By Road:
Well connected by roads and bus services to all the major cities
nearby, especially, Thiruvallur, Kanyakumari, Trichy, Pondicherry, Tanjore and
Chennai. |
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