Ramanathswamy Temple of Rameshwaram

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is situated in Rameshwaram, a small town in Tamil Nadu. The town is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. It is a well-known destination for pilgrims. The town is of special importance to Hindus because it is one of the sacred Char Dhams, the four abodes of worship every Hindu should visit during their lifetime. The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a prominent place of worship for Shaivites and Vaishnavites. It is among the 227 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three most respected Nayanars, Appar, Sundarar and Tirugnana Sambandar, have honoured the temple through their music. 

History of the Ramanathaswamy Temple

It is believed that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva at this location as he felt guilty about killing Ravana, a Brahmin. However, as there were no temples on the island, he sent Lord Hanuman to bring the Shivlinga from Mount Kailash.

Goddess Sita created the Shivling with sand in case Hanuman failed to bring it. Lord Rama was a devotee of Shiva Linga. The Shivalinga, Vishwalingam, was carried by Hanuman and is the first to be honoured.

Later, in the 15th century, King Udaiyan Sethupati and Vaishya residents of Nagoor constructed the temple. In the 16th century, the second portion in the southern part of the temple was divided by Tirumalaya Sethupathi. The statues of Tirumalaya and his son are set at the door of the temple.

The Rameshwaram Temple’s present design is believed to be built during the 17th century. According to experts, King Kizhavan Sethupathi ordered the temple’s construction. The contributions of Jaffna Raja of the Sethupathi Kingdom have also been crucial in building the temple.

Architectural Significance of the Ramanathaswamy Temple

The Ramanathaswamy Temple was built in the Dravidian style with limestone and granite. As seen in other temples of South India, a high wall or mail protects the Ramanathaswamy Temple from every angle. The wall from east to west is 85 feet long and spans 675 feet from north to south. 

This temple in Rameshwaram features long corridors that run between the huge colonies. One corridor is set on a 5-foot-high platform and is an integral part of the temple’s interior. The second one consists of beams, sandstone columns, and a roof. The third corridor, which is the largest in the world, leads to the Sethumadhav temple, located to the west. It is approximately 197 metres long.

The outside door of the Ramanathaswamy Temple is lined with 1212 columns. The Rajagopuram is a 53-metre tall main tower. The main temple hall comprises: 

• Anuppu Mandapam
• Sukaravara Mandapam
• Sethupati Mandapam
• Kalyana Mandapam
• Nandi Mandapam

The temple has two lingas: the main god is Ramalingam, and the second is Sita. There are 22 holy water bodies within the complex of temples. The entryway of the Ramanathaswamy Temple is 40 feet tall. The temple has many huge foundations with a variety of artefacts.

Wells in the Rameshwaram Temple

Twenty-four wells have been built within the Shri Rameshwar Temple. Other wells located outside the temple have salty water. However, the water from the temple’s wells is sweet. 

These wells were crafted using Lord Rama’s arrows. He requested water from various pilgrimage sites and poured it into the wells. Thus, these wells are called pilgrimages. 

Conclusion

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is a significant place of worship for Hindus in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. It has Lord Shiva’s lingam, also called the Shivalinga, which Lord Rama worshipped. The temple is known for its long corridors and Dravidian-style architecture. 

The Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. During the 12th century, the pilgrimage site was expanded by the Pandya dynasty. Jayaveera Cinkaiariyan and Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan remodelled the shrines.