Rameswaram is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Together with Kashi, it is considered by Hindus to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus. Hence, it is a bustling pilgrim centre.
It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to
legends, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu(also
known as Adam's Bridge) across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from
her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Shiva to be
absolved of the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this
pilgrimage centre which is known as the Varanasi of the south.
Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. 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.
The masterpiece of Dravidian architecture boasts of the largest temple corridor in India. Different rulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple over a period of time starting from the 12th century. The temple comprises forty wells where the taste of the water of each well is different from the other.
The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6 m high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned. The perspective presented by these pillars run uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230 m.
According to the Puranas, upon the advice of Rishis (sages), Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) (Ravana was a Brahmin the great grandson of Brahma). Rama fixed an auspicious time for the installation and sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. When Anjaneya returned with a linga from Mount Kailas the rituals had been over. To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama had Anjaneya’s lingam (Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and ordained that rituals be performed first to the Visvalingam.
In Rameshwaram Temple, a spiritual "Mani Darshan" happens in early morning everyday. This "Mani" is made of "sphatik"[a precious stone] and in form of "Holy shivling". according to ved this is "Mani" of "sheshnag".
Sethu Karai is a place 22 km before the island of Rameshwaram from where God
Ram built a Floating Stone Bridge "Ramasethu" till Rameshwaram that further
continued from Dhanushkodi in Rameshwaram till Talaimannar in Sri Lanka as
mentioned in the great Hindu epic RAMAYAN. The ruins of the Ramasethu are
submerged under the sea as shot from Gemini 1 satellite of NASA in 2004.
PLACE TO VISIT
Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple - this temple situated near the sea on the eastern side of the island is renowned for its magnificent prakaras or corridors with massive sculptured pillars on either side. The longest corridor in the world is here and it is 197 metres long from East to West and is 133 metres wide from South- North. The temple has a Gopuram 38.4 metres tall. Different rulers built the temple as it stands today, at different periods from the 12th century A.D. Pooja is performed for an hour early morning daily to the Spadikalingamthat was given by the Shankaracharya to this temple.
Agnitheertham - Sri Ramanathaswamy temple faces east. The seashore, about 100 metres from the main entrance of the temple, is very calm and therefore ideal for bathing. The water at this place is considered sacred and known as Agni theertham. Pilgrims perform poojas in honour of their ancestors at this seashore.
Gandamadana Parvatham - is a hillock situated 3 km away and is the highest point in the island. Here one can see the imprint of Lord Rama’s feet on a chakra. The entire island of Rameswaram is visible from this point.
Satchi Hanuman Temple - is considered to be the place where Hanuman delivered the good news of finding Sita to Rama with satchi or evidence, Choodamani or the jewel that belonged to Sita. Situated 3 km from the main temple, on the way to the Gandamadana Parvatham.
The Five-faced Hanuman Temple - (2 km from themain temple) - the deity of Hanuman drawn withsenthooram. Idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Hanumanbrought from Dhanushkodi during the 1964 cyclone were placed here. Thefloating stone, used to build theSethuBandanamor the bridge between India and Lanka can be found inthis temple.
JadaTheertham - (about 3.5 km from Rameswaram on the Dhanushkodi road) - legend has it that Lord Rama, on his way back after killing Ravana, Worshipped SriRamalinga (believed to be installed by him). Before doing so, he washed his hair(Jada) in this theertham to purify himself.
Dhanushkodi (18 km) - the southern tip of the island, Dhanushkodi was
completely washed away by the 1964 cyclone. This is a strip of land about one km
wide and 18 km long on the eastern end of Rameswaram island. On one side are
the waters of the Indian Ocean and on the other the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The
two seas otherwise known as Ratnakaran and Mahodadhi with their confluence is
shaped like a bow while the strip of land resemble an arrow poised for release.
Devout Hindus consider the Adi Sethu or the arrowhead, a sacred place to perform
religious rites. It is also place worth visiting for its scenic beauty and bird life.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Nearest Airport in Madurai - 174 km Indian Airlines connect’s Madurai with Chennai, Thiruchi, Bangalore and Mumbai.
By train - Connected with all major cities like Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Karaikudi, Trichy, Thanjavur and Palghat.
By road - Connected with all important towns of Tamil Nadu, City Buses are available including night services. Point to Point services, Tourist taxi, auto / cycle rickshaws and horse carts are also available. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport corporation ( APSRTC ) operates Rameswaram – Tripathi daily service.
