Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga Temple

About Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga

The Rameshwaram temple Jyotirlinga denotes the “Shivling that Lord Rama worshipped”. Located in the small town of Rameshwaram, it is the only self-manifested lingam of Lord Shiva that is southernmost and is near the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.

The temple having the Jyotirlinga is also close to Dhanushkodi Beach, the place from which Lord Rama built the Ram Sethu. The main Rameshwaram temple god is Mahadev Rameshvar or Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga.

The Significance Of Rameshwaram Temple Jyotirlinga

The Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu is not just architecturally beautiful, but its spiritual history makes it one of the most visited Jyotirlingas of all time.

• Cultural Significance Of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga In Hinduism

The Rameshvar Jyotirlinga spot is mentioned in sacred books like the Ramayana and Skanda Purana, which describe various incidents between Lord Rama and Lord Shiva. This is the most auspicious fact about Rameshwaram temple. Devotees come here to ask forgiveness for their sins and perform puja for the departed souls.

Moreover, Jyotirlinga Abhishekam (bathing it with milk, ghee and honey) is considered the highest act of worship. The temple also celebrates several festivals, with Maha Shivaratri being the most prominent. During this time, elaborate rituals and ceremonies attract thousands of devotees and offer calm to their souls.

• Astrological Significance Of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga

According to Vedic astrology, the Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga is associated with the Aries zodiac sign. The Jyoti was established by Lord Rama, a Suryavanshi, who represents the Sun. The Sun is exalted in Aries, which further signifies a good married life.

Moreover, worshipping this Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu is said to improve the position of Rahu in your kundli. Astrology reveals that attending the Rudra abhishekam here (bathing Lord Shiva) helps in eliminating Kaal Sarpa Dosha and Pitru Dosha.

Stories Of Rameshwaram Temple Jyotirlinga

The Rameswaram temple history has mythologies linked to how the jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu came into existence. Let us see the most popular, which devotees sing in mantras.

• Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga Story Of Origin

The Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga story traces back to the time when Ravana took Sita away to Lanka, and Rama was preparing to get her back. Legend has it that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva at this spot before constructing Ram Setu over the ocean that led to Lanka. So, Lord Rama asked Hanuman to bring a Lingam from Kailash.

However, Hanuman Ji took longer than expected. To perform the puja on time, Lord Rama created a Lingam out of sand, calling it Mahadev Rameshvar or Ramanathswamy Jyotirlinga. This lingam or Jyoti took a natural state there. But, to respect Hanuman’s efforts, Rama also installed the Kailash Linga nearby, called Vishwalinga.

• Story Behind 22 Wells in Rameshwaram Temple

The story behind 22 wells in Rameshwaram is deeply tied to the Ramayana. After defeating Ravana and presenting himself before Lord Shiva Lingam, he wished to cleanse himself with holy water. Rama shot arrows into the ground, creating 22 freshwater springs.

These are 22 holy wells called Theerthams. Each well has unique healing properties and a distinct taste due to varying mineral compositions. People ritually bathe in all 22 holy wells, called theerthams, to cleanse their sins before worshipping the Jyotirlinga.

The Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga Temple Architecture

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is an architectural wonder in Dravidian and Nayak styles. It features massivegopurams (towered gateways), the longest corridor in India, detailed sculptures, and sacredtheerthams (wells). Let’s see its history and then the design.

• The Rameswaram Temple History In Architecture

The roof housing the Rameshwaram Temple jyotirlinga remained a thatched hut till the 12th century, arranged by local people there. The Prakrama Bahu of the Pandya dynasty from Sri Lanka then started its brickwork, and Sethupathy rulers of Ramanathapuram later completed the temple.

The present-day structure was built in the 17th century. Several royal families from Travancore, Ramanathapuram, Mysore and Paddukotai have added to the beauty of Rameshwaram temple architecture since then.

• Main Features Of Rameshwaram Temple Architecture

The main highlights of the sacred place of Lord Shiva, where he resides as the Rameshwaram Temple Jyotirlinga, include:

1. Longest Corridor in India: The temple has the world’s longest pillared corridor (about 1,220 meters), decorated with 4000 carefully carved pillars.
2. Massive Gopurams: The temple has imposing eastern and western gopurams, the tallest reaching 53 meters.
3. Sacred Theerthams: It has 22 holy wells, each with unique water properties, used for spiritual cleansing.
4. Shiva Lingas: The main temple houses two Lingas—the Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga and the Vishwalinga brought by Hanuman from Kailash.
5. Design: Beautiful sculptures telling Hindu tales, massive stone corridors, towering gateways, and symmetrical designs define the Rameshwaram Shiva temple

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