RAMESWARAM

The island temple of Lord Siva called Ramanathaswamy Alayam embodies a kind of charm irresistible; glory ineffable; and appeal inexhaustible that very few temples come nearer to it either in spiritual wealth or cultural opulence. Situated at the extreme south eastern point of the Indian Peninsula, this temple of Rameswaram occupies geographically, culturally and spiritually a much-coveted place among the temples of our Punya Bharat. 

It is the only Saivate temple, among the four reputed Dhams Badari, Puri, Dwaraka and Rameswaram, the first three being Vaishnavate temples dedicated to the incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu.  It is one of the most highly venerated pilgrimage centres of India for numerous reasons - it possesses one of the twelve Jyotirtingas installed here by Sri Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu and worshipped to purge off the sin of killing Ravana - King of Srilanka, just 45 Km away: it contains the Sethu Madhav Shrine inside the precincts, testifying to the spirit of universality permeating in the thirtha kshetra; it is encircled by the holy waters of Ratnakara - Indian Ocean and Mahodathi - Bay of Bengal, blessing it with ever green verdure and gorgeous scenery in addition to enshrining sacred tnirthas furious for purging off sins; its visit alone, as tradition says, rounds off the arc of pilgrimage; it is from here the historic Sethu bridge was constructed to linking up to Lanka for conveying the Vanar asana; it is in this Mokshapuri, the Kailasa linga brought by Hanuman is installed beside the Sand Lingam made by Mother Sita; it is here the -Ganges water is used for the daily abhisheka of the presiding deities; it is in this temple precincts alone there are 22 famous thirthas, a mere bath in them ensures salvation; it is with a mere darsan of the Moolavar - Ramalingeswaraswamy one is relieved from the sin of Brahmahatya; it is here Sri Rama was cleaned of the sin of Brahmahatya - killing of Ravana in the war; it is here Kalabhairava bathing-in the Sivathirtha was redeemed of the sin of cutting off the fifth head of Brahma; it is this shrine that rose up from the munificent donations of the Rajas of Ramnad and shot up into fame by the endowments from time to time; it is to this temple the Ceylonese Prince Pararaja Sekhara made large donations and helped Udaiyan Sethupathu in the expansion and renovation activities; it is this temple that enshrines the status of Sea-gods - Ratnakara and Mahodathi; It is this temple that has the unique honour of having the most magnificent and longest corridors measuring nearly 400 feet in length 21 feet in height flanked by ornate pillars.

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