RAMESWARAM

After Ravana Samhara, when Rama alighted here, he was advised by venerable sages headed by Agasthya to perform an expiatory rite for destroying Ravana - the grandson of Sage Pulastya.  This performance requires a Sivalinga and that alone absolves one with the sin of Brahmahatya.  So Rama bade Hanuman to fetch Jyothirlinga from Kailasa from Lord Siva himself.  Hanuman reached, but could not obtain it as proposed.  He then started penance atop the Himalayas to please Siva, then down below at the extreme end, Rama was hastened to propriety Lord Siva, at the right moment. Hanuman did not turn up.  

In order to perform that sacred rite in the auspicious moment, Agasthya advised Sita to prepare a Sivalinga out of sand.  With due rights, and in the right time it was installed on the Jyesta sukladasami, when the MOON was in Hasta and the Sun in Vrishabha.  Just then Hanuman returned with Sivalinga obtaining from Lord Siva.  Seeing the installation completed he was disappointed and went red in face. To appease him Rama asked Hanuman to pluck out the one installed by him and install his brought from Kailas.  Tried however much, he could not shake it.  He could not courted a failure.  Rama then consoled him by establishing his linga beside the one already installed and announced that all pujas must be offered first to Hanuman's linga, to be called thereafter as Kasi Viswanatha and then to the linga installed by him called Rameswara.  Approbation of the audience at once rent the air heralding, that both are equal and each must be worshipped for gaining merit.  This sublime injunction is honoured even today - Kasi Viswanatha first, Rameswar next.  How judicious was Rama! And what compassion for his dependents!!

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