Rameshwaram island is in the Gulf of Mannar which lies at the very tip of Indian Peninsula. This island is also known as Pamban island and is connected to the main land by Pamban rail bridge, an engineering marvel and a great attraction for the tourists. There is another road bridge running parallel to the Pamban bridge for all other vehicles. The view of the azure sea from the bridge is breath - taking and I have included some photos for all of you to enjoy along with the temple photos. This island lies very close to Srilanka across the sea.
Ramanathaswamy temple, is on this island and is just 100 meters from the sea shore. This bustling pilgrim centre is considered as South Kashi. (Kashi or Varanasi is in North India, an abode of Siva and Hindus believe that one who is graced to die in Kashi would attain salvation. I would reserve the details for a later post) . This temple is also part of the 4 dham pilgrimage - the 4 holy places highly reverred by Hindus, the other three being Dwaraka in Gujarat, Puri in Orissa and Badarinath in Uttarakhand.
Ramanathaswamy is Siva, one of the 12 Jyothirlingams in India. This temple is associated with Ramayana epic. To expiate the killing of the demon king Ravana, Rama and Seeta consecrated the Sivalinga and worshipped the God and hence Siva here is known as Ramanathaswamy. The temple also has 22 theerthams (Holy wells) and devotees make it a point to bathe in these before offering worship to the Lord here.
Ramanathaswamy temple, is on this island and is just 100 meters from the sea shore. This bustling pilgrim centre is considered as South Kashi. (Kashi or Varanasi is in North India, an abode of Siva and Hindus believe that one who is graced to die in Kashi would attain salvation. I would reserve the details for a later post) . This temple is also part of the 4 dham pilgrimage - the 4 holy places highly reverred by Hindus, the other three being Dwaraka in Gujarat, Puri in Orissa and Badarinath in Uttarakhand.
Ramanathaswamy is Siva, one of the 12 Jyothirlingams in India. This temple is associated with Ramayana epic. To expiate the killing of the demon king Ravana, Rama and Seeta consecrated the Sivalinga and worshipped the God and hence Siva here is known as Ramanathaswamy. The temple also has 22 theerthams (Holy wells) and devotees make it a point to bathe in these before offering worship to the Lord here.
Rama had requested Aanjaneya to bring a Sivalinga from Kailash. He did not return at the auspicious hour and Seeta made one, out of sand and that is believed to have been installed here. When Aanjaneya returned, he tried to remove the Lingam made by Seeta with his tail and He was unsuccessful as one made by Seeta got rooted. The one brought by Hanuman is at the Eastern entrance and devotees worship this Lingam first, before offering worship to Ramanathaswamy.
Amman here is known as Parvatha Vardhini, there are Vinayagar and Murugan shrines on either side of Ramanathaswamy temple and a huge Nandi in the centre, facing the inner prakaram. This temple houses the longest multi- pillared corridor in Asia , with more than 1000 pillars and one can enjoy the beauty of this magnificient corridors which is about 230 metres long, a side . Tourist from all over the world flock to watch this grand corridor. This temple also houses a spatika Linga and there is a worship early in the morning at 4 am and devotees are allowed to have a darshan of the same, only at that time.
There is also a separate shrine for Natarajar and Sivakami and this shrine is fully decorated with rudraksha.
There is also a separate shrine for Natarajar and Sivakami and this shrine is fully decorated with rudraksha.
Aadi Amavasi festival is very important here and pilgrims converge here and perform holy 'duties' for the departed ancestors, pray for their salvation and to redeem themselves from the sins of the previous births.
A few kilometeres from this wonderful temple is Rama Paduka temple situated on a small hillock known as Gandhamadhana Parvata. One has to climb a few steps to reach this temple. We can see imprints of Lord Rama's feet here. It is believed that Rama had a view of Lanka from this place.There is also a temple of Kothandaramaswamy in Rameshwaram on the road to Dhanushkodi , a pilgrim town the whole of which was washed away during a heavy cyclone in 1964. One can find remnants of this town as one proceeds along the road, a few kilometers towards the old location of Dhanushkodi.
How to reach : The nearest airport is at Madurai - distance 165 Kms.
Rameshwaram is well connected by rail from Chennai and Madurai.
Buses ply from all parts of Tamil Nadu to this holy town.
Accommodation: This temple town has many hotels, lodges and mutts .
Location map is given along with labels.
Location map is given along with labels.
61 comments:
What beautiful pics Chitra as always...
Remember visiting Rameswaram some 10 years ago... It was so beautiful...
You have made me nostalgic!!
Hi Chitra- Blogsphere is driving me crazy..I have seen so many places lately through beautiful pictures like these that I always wanted to go to. Rameshwaram is definitely near the very top of my list. Thank you for the most beautiful reminder.
US Masala
Very beautiful. Your description is awesome too and pictures are so complete :))
OH WOWO look at that ... the pictures simple gorgeous.. as i have said earlier THANKS as people like me sitting so far away get to see the beauty via ur blog and we get to visit all these holy shrines THANKS...
Bikram's
Arti, I am happy my post took you back to this temple.I too liked the scenery so much, I keep looking at it.
Aipi, I wish you would get an opportunity soon to enjoy all this in the real world.
A, I am so happy to see your comment- for the encouraging words.thanks
Bikram, Aapko aacha laga ,Mein Khush,thanks.
The sea is beautiful. The temple walkway is excellently photographed. Havent been there yet, I so want to go.
Wow, you are right, this is indeed a marvel of engineering. Many thanks for the link giving more information.
Insigna, Thanks for the appreciation. hope you would be able to visit the temple soon.
PW, I cannot include everything in my post hence the links and I am sure it would be informative for many.Hope you are recovering fast.tc
narration is good
pics are excellent sea pic beautiful
Rameshwaram is one of the most important temples on the Hindu pilgrimage circuit.
I believe the pillars in the multi-pillared hall produce musical sounds when struck.
The sea and the coast seem quite clean despite the multitude of people coming here for bathing and offering puja!
Thanks for this post and he images, Chitra.
sm, thank you.
Archana,
There are no musical pillars in the long corridor, such a thing is there in Madurai temple.
The sea is getting polluted a lot, yesterday I read an article regarding the need to take steps in that matter.
Thank you for posting this especially the photos as I did not own a camera then. Brought back lots of memories.
Remembered the bath from the 22 wells and the many, many pillars of the temple, the foot imprints.
I love Badrinath!
Very nice post.You have kindled in me the desire to visit this great temple that I have missed so far.Thanks Chitra
Nice set of Pics Chitra... Rameswaram has a special place in our scriptures.. Is invariably in the to-visit list of most of Hindus.
I visited this place long back in 2003, if I remember right. . Could not make to Devipatnam at that time...Eagerly waiting to see your Pics.
As usual awesome clicks. Had been to this temple when I was small, ur post rekindled all those memories
The Chair Speaks,
I am happy you liked all the photos. Badrinath trip was my favourite too. The memories of beautiful snow capped mountains itself refreshes the mind.
KP,
Haven't visited yet? You could have included that along with your last Kumbakonam trip:)
Sridharan,
I am sure you would have clicked much more. regarding other temples I also visited that on my recent visit which was my 4 th trip.
Bhagya,
happy, you liked my post and it made you nostalgic.
Chitra that tunnel is just awesome, loved your shots.
Mridula, thanks. Your comments make me happy.
Our hometown (hubby's) happens to be just near this, so this is one temple i have visited umpteen times..... but never took a camera inside... didnt know i could, too! but beautiful snaps and great description... also, if u go early in the morning, u can see abhishekam to the spatika lingam as well as the original lingam uncovered.. have u seen it?
Anu, I had planned to go for the spatika linga darshan but last minute could not do so.I have seen the deity with out much alankaram. You cannot take photos only inside the sannidhis. Another thing is we usually don't stay there . We just travel up and down on the same day.
Blessed are you, that you could visit this temple many times.
my present
Beautiful post Chitra, like a mini-trip! Here, it snows again - so much!
chitra ji..march la chennai visit plan..hope v all catch up...maybe u can write about parthasarathy temple--which is very old and vivekandanda visited..tc..best wishes always
Pradeep, thanks.
Martina,Thanks . Have a nice week ahead. I now it is freezinfg cold there. Can't bear such cold.
Ramesh,
Parathasarthy temple post panni one year aachu.It is already there in my list of temples.
March- If possible we would meet if I am in Chennai during that time.
I so wish to visit this place... looks amazing lovely photos
Chitra through you, so many readers are definitely doing their pilgrimage. I am really enjoying my journey with you. God Bless You. Thank you.
Rajalakshmi, You would really love this and will be able to capture lot on your camera.
Kiran,
Thanks Kiran. Happy to read your comment.
Chitra
lot of thanks for sharing such wonderful journeys
Aswathi, thanks a lot.
Awww Chitra, seeing that ocean makes me green with envy right now. Or at least vanish into a wonderful daydream. This slideshow is beautiful! Big hugs for a great day!
Good work, Rameswaram is my favourite place in south India...Good narration...Thanks and best wishes...
Martina, thanks and Merry christmas once again.
Gopakumar,
thanks a lot.
very beautiful temple..
Thanks Sushma.
Chitra ji,
Thanks for this beautiful blog of yours. Many people will get benefit from the information provided here.
May God bless you with long, happy and hale life so that you may go ahead with your pilgrimages and keep on adding such informative posts on & on...Amen!
nanri:)
Jitendarji,
Thanks a lot. Hope I will be able to do visit more and more places and share with all.
Ramesh:))
Merry Christmas to you! Thanks for your lovely posts.
Terrific place. I was planning to do a trip via pampan palam and your post has inspired me to do it as soon as possible.
What I heard is that there are not many options to stay near rameshwaram and one has to stay at Madurai. From your post it seems that we get stay option in Rameshwaram too.
subu,
there are 2-3 decent hotels in Rameshwaram and they are not of star category but have all modern amenities and are quite clean as well.There are many Mutts of various sects.
Harman .
Thanks for visiting and wish you the same.
Hey Chitra you changed your blog template. It is looking very nice.
Kiran, just changed the colour and made it slightly lighter shade. Just learning a few things. Happy you lied it.
Nice to see the pictures as well as the description of the temple. I think We have not visited that temple when we went to Rameshwaram.
Prabakka thanks.
This post brought back so many memories! Been to Rameshwaram decades ago for the year end-shradda ceremony of my great grandparents. The most enduring memory was the slow train over the Pamban-palam, watching the new one being constructed and the pillars of the old one in the sea.
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The new road is very magnificent. Helps one to enjoy the sea and breeze for long.
Enjoyed my visit again. The area is so peaceful and beautiful Makes you want to lean back and listen to the movement of the wind and waves. Thanks for the post.
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