Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple
About Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple
Located on Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district, the Ramanathaswamy Temple stands as a sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to Hindu tradition, Lord Rama established and worshipped the lingam here before crossing the Rama Setu bridge to Lanka, seeking atonement for slaying the Brahmin king Ravana. The temple houses two significant lingams: one created by Sita when Hanuman delayed in bringing a lingam from Kailash, and the Vishwalingam or Hanumalingam brought by Hanuman himself. The shrine was expanded during the 12th century by the Pandya Dynasty and later renovated by rulers of the Jaffna kingdom. Spanning approximately 15 acres, the temple is renowned for its architectural excellence, intricate carvings, majestic towers, and most notably, its exceptionally long corridor. The temple contains 22 sacred theerthams (water bodies) where devotees bathe seeking spiritual purification. As one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites and a location glorified in the Paadal Petra Sthalams by the Nayanars, it attracts Shaivites, Vaishnavites, and Smartas alike.
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