Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple is the most prominent tourist destination of Rameshwaram. It is not an ordinary temple, it is an example of religion and faith. It has the highest religious significance in the entire city and one of the must-visit places during the Rameshwaram tour. This temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is worshiped by devotees in all temples. Idol worship of Lord Shiva is not performed in the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple Rameshwaram.
History
The history of this temple is very old, it is believed that the temple was founded by the Pandavas, which was established in the 12th century. The architecture of this temple is quite ancient and is made of marble. Every year lakhs of devotees visit this temple. The main Lord Sri Ramanathaswamy resides in this temple as Linga, a confluence of Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
The most beautiful artwork in the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple is the stone sculptures and designs made by carving the walls of the temple. The amazing artwork on the walls looks very beautiful and reflects the great art of history. The temple is constructed in the sprawling area of 15 acres in which you will get to see many types of grand architecture. Along with the art, you will also get to see many different artisans in the Ramanathaswamy Temple as many kings have protected the temple from time to time.
Legends and Mythologies
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the Ramanathaswamy Temple of Rameshwaram is as old as the Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Ram prayed to God Shiva to absolve him of the sins he committed during the war against the King Ravana in Sri Lanka. Lord Ram wanted a large lingam of Lord Shiva so he asked Lord Hanuman to bring one from the Himalayas. Lord Hanuman took more time than usual so Lord Ram himself makes one lingam from the sand of the beach. It is believed that the same lingam is present in the sanctum.
Structure
Another thing that makes this temple prominent is the natural spring water called 'Teertham'. There are 22 other Teertham around the temple, it is believed that all the sufferings of the people who take a dip in the water of this ‘Teertham’ are removed and freedom from sins is attained. The area of the Rameswaram temple is spread over about 15 acres and the walls of the Sri Ramanathaswamy temple Rameshwaram bear the mark of a variety of mythological craftsmanship. The temple's gopuram is about 4000 feet long. On one of the pillars on both sides, very beautiful carved crafts are seen.
How to reach Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple
There is no airport in Rameswaram but there is an airport at Madurai 163 kilometers away, which is the nearest airport to reach the Sri Ramanathaswamy temple. After reaching the airport, if you want, you can easily reach the temple with the help of a taxi. But if you go via rail journey then you can reach Rameswaram directly. Many trains from Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, and Thanjavur travel to Rameshwaram.
If you wish, you can reach the Ramanathaswamy temple via bus or car also. For that, you will have to reach cities like Madurai, Kanyakumari, Chennai Trichy, Pondicherry or Thanjavur. From there you can easily reach Rameswaram via road.
Best time to visit Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple
The best to visit the Ramanathaswamy Temple is during the festival of Brahmotsavam as it is considered an auspicious event and tourists from many countries arrive to see the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple. The months of June and July of the year are the best time to visit. It is also called Banaras of South.
Places to visit near the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple
The temple of Rameshwaram is a major attraction of the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple Rameshwaram, but there are many other places to visit near the temple namely Agni Teertham, Five-faced Hanuman Temple, Dhanushkodi Beach, Dhanushkodi Temple, Pmaban Bridge, and many more.
Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple Timings: 4:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple Entry Fees: Nil
