The Shrine of Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga is a prominent Hindu holy place devoted to deity Shiva situated in the isle of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state, India. It is among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where 3 of the much respected Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar, Sundarar and Tirugnana Sambandar have puffed up the shrine through their songs. The holy place was constructed in 12th century [quotation wanted] through Pandya Family. The shrine has the greatest passageway amid all Hindu shrines in the country. The shrine is situated in Rameshwaram, an isle city in South India, measured a sacred pilgrimage place for both Shaivites as well as Vaishnavites.[citation needed] The Shrine is among  the 12 Jyothirlinga temples as well, where Shiva is adored in the shape of a Jyotirlingam sense "pillar of light".

History

As stated in Ramayana, Rama, the seventh personification of deity Vishnu, is assumed to have worshipped to Shiva at this juncture to forgive some offenses that he might have done through his battle beside the devil ruler Ravana in Srilanka. To adore Shiva, Rama sought to have the major lingam. He heads for Hanuman, the monkey substitute in his armed forces to carry the lingam from Himalayas. As it got longer to carry the lingam, Sita (the companion of Rama) made a tiny lingam, which is supposed to be the lingam in the chamber.

It is thought that the very old temple was located in a thatched shed awaiting the 12th century. Parakrama Bahu of Sri Lanka made the initial forever stonework constitution here. The Setupathy kings of Ramanathapuram finished the rest of the shrine. A few of the shrine vimaanams are related to the Vimaanams of the Pallava age. A large amount was added to the shrine amid the 12th and the 16th centuries. The extended passageway (3rd prakaram) antecede simply to the 18th century. The Gandhamadhana Parvatam (mount) gives a panoramic vision of the shrine. Travancore, Ramanathapuram, Mysore and Pudukkottai empires offered majestic support to this eminent Hindu shrine.

Architecture

The holy place is extended in the region of 15 acres. It has enormous gopurams, colossal fences along with an astonishing Nandi. There is 4000 feet extensive column passageway with more than 4000 columns, measured the greatest in the earth. A matchless characteristic of this passageway is that the rock worn here is not originated on the local island; it was acquired from somewhere else in Tamilnadu crosswise the ocean. The eastern Rajagopuram has an elevation of 126 feet and has 9 stories while the western Rajagopuram is not as high like the eastern one. The vast representation of Nandi is around 18 feet high and 22 feet in span.

How to Reach

By Air

The adjacent airport is Madurai (167 Km), linked via flights with Bombay, Calicut and Madras.

By Train

It is very well linked with all main metropolitans like Madurai,  Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Tirunelveli City

By Bus

Rameshwaram is joined via usual bus services through Kanykumari, Karaikudi, Chennai, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and some other towns of Tamilnadu and adjacent states.

City Buses are obtainable counting night facilities. Quick services, Tourist taxi, auto / cycle rickshaws and horse carts are obtainable too. It charges around Rupees 1800 for return journey from Madurai to Rameswaram. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) runs Rameswaram – Tirupathi day by day service.

Important Shrines

The main divinity of the shrine is Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) in the appearance of lingam. There are two lingams within the chamber - one made by Sita living as the major divinity, Ramalingam and other one carried by Hanuman from Kailash known as Vishwalingam. Rama trained that Vishwalingam have to be adored initial because it was carried out by Hanuman - the ritual persist even now.

Similar to all earliest shrines in South India, there is a tall complex fence (madil) on all fourfacets of the shrine foundations measuring around 865 feet furlong from east to west plus one furlong of 657 feet from north to south through vast looms (Gopurams) on the east and west and completed entrance looms on the north and south. The shrine has outstanding lengthy passageways in its inside, successively between enormous arcades on stages above five feet high.

The next passageway is created via stonework columns, beams and top limit. The intersection of the third passageway on the west and the cemented way leading from the western loom to Setumadhava temple forms an exclusive construction in the appearance of chess board and it is commonly recognized as Chokkattan Madapam where the Utsva gods are worshipped and reserved throughout the Vasntotsavam (Spring fiesta) as well as on the 6th day fiesta in Adi (July–August) along with Masi (February–March) carried out through the Setupati of Ramnad.

The external set of passageways is presumed to be the greatest on the earth being around 6.9 m tallness, 400 feet in each in the east and west and around 640 feet in north and south and internal passageways are around 224 feet in east and west and around 352 feet each in north and south. Their thickness ranges from 15.5 feet to 17 feet in the east and west approximately 172 feet on the north and south with thickness ranging 14.5 feet to 17 feet. The whole span of those passageways is therefore 3850 feet. There are approx 1212 columns in the external passageway. Their tallness is approx 30 feet from the bottom to the middle of the top. The major loom or rajagopuram is 53 m high. The majority of columns are fixed with person work of art.

Shrines in the Temple Complex and Around Rameshwaran

There are split memorials for deity Ramanathaswami and divinity Visalakshi alienated by passageway. There are split memorials for Parvathavardhini, Utsava Idols, Sayanagriha, Perumal, Santanaganpathi, Mahaganapathi, Subrahmanya, Sethumadhava, Mahalaxmi, Natraja, Anjaneya. There are different foyers within the shrine, which are Anuppu Mandapam, Sukravara Mandapam, Sethupathi Mandapam, Kalyana Mandapam along with Nandi Mandapam.Jyotirlingas

Temple Tanks

There are 64 Tīrthas (sacred water cadavers) within and in the region of the isle of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. As stated in Skānda Purāṇa, 24 of them are significant. Dipping in these Tīrthas is a main feature of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is measured the same to reparation. 22 of the Tīrthas are inside the Rāmanāthasvāmī Shrine. The number 22 shows the 22 rockets in Rama's shudder. The primary and main one is identified as Agni Theertham, the ocean (Bay of Bengal)

Significance of the Temple

Char Dham

The holy place is among the holiest Hindu Char Dham (four heavenly locations) places including Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka. However the sources are not obviously identified, the Advaita educate of Hinduism recognized by Sankaracharya, who shaped Hindu basic organizations across India, features the source of Char Dham to the soothsayer. The fourmonasteries recline crosswise the four angles of India and their helper shrines are Badrinath holy place on Badrinath in the North, Jagannath shrine at Puri in the East, Dwarakadheesh shrine on Dwarka in the West as well as Ramanathaswamy shrine on Rameswaram in the South. Although ideologically the shrines are separated between the divisions of Hinduism, specifically Saivism and Vaishnavism, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all Hindu matter. There are four houses in Himalayas named Chota Char Dham: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri - every one of these recline at the base mounts of Himalayas. The title Chota was added in the middle of 20th century to distinguish the unique Char Dhams.[citation needed] The trip across the four fundamental tips in India is measured blessed by Hindus who seek to stopover these shrines one time in their life. Usually the tour begins at the eastern finish from Puri, scheduled in clockwise route in a way naturally tracked for circumambulation in Hindu shrines.

Jyotirlinga

According to Shiv Mahapuran, one time Brahma (the Hindu deity of formation) and Vishnu (the Hindu deity of save) had a dispute in words of preeminence of formation. To examine them, Shiva sliced the three earths as an enormous continual column of light, the jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma gash their methods to downwards and upwards correspondingly to discover the finish of the beam in any route. Brahma lied that he searched the finish, whereas Vishnu accepted his beat. Shiva emerged like a second column of light and bothered Brahma that he would have no position in rituals even as Vishnu would be adored until the finish of perpetuity. The jyotirlinga is the best fraction less actuality, beyond which Shiva partially emerges. The jyothirlinga memorials therefore are situates where Shiva emerged as a sizzling line of light. Initially there were supposed to be 64 jyothirlingas whereas 12 of them are measured to be very propitious and sacred. All twelve jyothirlinga places get the title of the supervising divinity - every measured dissimilar appearance of Shiva. On all these places, the main representation is lingam in place of the opening less and never-ending Stambha column, representing the endless character of Shiva. The 12 jyothirlinga are Mallikarjuna on Srisailam in Andra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh,  Somnath in Gujarat state,  Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharastra, Triambakeshwar in Maharastra, Vaidyanath at Deoghar in Jharkand, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu as well as Grishneshwar onAurangabad in Maharashtra.

Historical Pilgrimage

The shrine is among the renowned pilgrimage places and there are chronological allusions concerning it. The Maratha rulers who governed Thanjavur recognized chatrams or relax abodes all through Mayiladuthurai and Rameswaram amid 1745 and 1837 CE and bestowed it to the shrine.

Timings

The shrine stays unlock from 5 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 9 pm. The convoluted pujas are obtainable six times on each day.

Timings                Pujas

5.00 am                Palliyarai (Sayanagruha) Deeparadhana

5.10 am                Saptika linga Deeparadhana

5.45 am                Thiruvananthal Deeparadhana

7.00 am                Vila Puja

10.00 am              Kaalasanthi Puja

12.00 noon          Uchikala Puja

6.00 pm                Saayaraksha Puja

8.30 pm                Ardhajaama Puja

8.45 pm                Palliyarai Puja

Important Festivals:

Through the month of Masi (March-April) Mahasivarathri is illustrious for 15 days. Moreover, Adi Amavasya fiesta July Aug. 15 days – Ramalinga fitting ritual through Vaikasi-Ani – Taipoosam in Lakshmana theertham, Arudra Darisanam ten days, individual Sankranti (pongal fiesta), Chithirai Thiruvizha (April-May), Maha Krithikai, a carnival for Sri Rama on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Adi Amavasya, Kothandarama emerging on Garuda is extremely striking fiesta. Furthermore, Ardoyam and Mahodayam fiesta is eminent one time in a few years.

Weather and Time to Visit

Rameswaram has a humid type of weather and could be stayed all over the year. Hojwever the finest time to stopover is from October to April.

October to June are enjoyable and perfect for all types of pilgrims to stopover the shrines and also superior for trips. July to September might be choosey for stopover if one is prepared to get soaked in rains.

Accomodation

Blue Coral Cottage, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

The Blue Coral Cottage is situated on Agasthiar Theertham. Blue Coral Cottage has 10 rooms, which are classified as Twice, Luxurious and Small Double. They assemble food on demand. The services obtainable at Blue Coral Cottage are physician on call, travel counter, car rental, car parking, laundry service, room service, television in the rooms and hot/cold water.

Address

Agasthiar Theertham
Near Agnitheetham seashore
Rameshwaram
Tamil Nadu
India

Tamilnadu Hotel, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Hotel is positioned in Agniteertham. The hotel has 8 rooms, which comprise 6Bedded rooms ,Non A/c rooms, 5Bedded rooms, A/c rooms and Double rooms. The hotel has a domestic multi food eating place. The hotel aswell offers tourism packages to the travelers.

Address

TTDC, Rameshwaram
Ramanathapuram Dist.
Tamil Nadu
India

Donation

The shrine in its present figure is supposed to have been made in the 17th century, whereas Fergusson considers the little vimana in the west passageway fitting in the 11th or 12th centuries. The donation of the rulers of the Sethupathy reign to the shrine was significant. Mainly to be memorized are the huge sums that were exhausted through the residence of Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai in the direction of reinstatement of the Pagodas which were lessening into wrecks, the grand Chockattan Mantapam or the secluded grounds of the shrine at Rameshwaram that he lastly finished. The kings of Sri Lanka donated to the shrine - Parakrama Bahu (1153-1186 CE) was concerned in the structure of the chamber sanctorum of the shrine. The shrine was fixed and considerable segments rebuilt by the Nagarathars of Devakottai, mainly Shree AL.AR.RM.Arunachalam chettiar, after that Zamindar of Devakottai,He was the family Trustee of RamanathaSwamy Shrine. After that his youngster AL AR Kalairajah Chettiar, then his youngster AL AR K Veerappa Chettiar are inherited Trustees of Rameswaram RamanathaSwmy Shrine.

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