The Rameswaram Dham situated on the southernmost tip of the country is believed to be the place where Lord Vishu takes his bath. The Ramanathaswamy Temple or Rameswaram temple is the only Dham that is dedicated to Lord Shiva but as Dhams are associated with Lord Vishu, this Dham does share its relation with the lord of creation, Vishnu. The four Dham or Char Dham are the most prominent sacred pilgrimages of Lord Vishu in the country. The Rameswaram temple is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu and it holds one of the most magnificent views of the ocean waters. As for the history behind the Rameshwaram temple, it is related to one of the most eminent chapters of Indian mythology, the epic of Ramayana. One of the most fascinating facts about the temple is that followers of the Sanatan religion mark the temple among Char Dhams as well as the 12 jyotirlingas. Here's all you need to know about the tales of the historic Rameswaram Dham.
1. The Ramanathaswamy Temple situated in Rameswaram is situated in the southernmost tip of the country and it beholds an extremely impressive travel experience. The mainland can only be reached via the Pamban Bridge which offers an excellent view of the glittering waters surrounding the island of Rameswaram.
2. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The same temple is also one of the four Dhams of Lord Vishu. The Char Dham are the four most sacred pilgrimages of Narayana.
3. The temple has majestic Dravidian-style architecture filled with detailed carvings and vibrant paintings. The temple has two jyotirlingas and the story inscribed in the Ramayana stated that one of the lingams was built by Lord Ram himself and the other was brought by Hanuman from Kashi.
4. The Ramanathaswamy temple is named after its presiding deity. As Lord Rama, the seventh reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who was also a worshiper of Lord Shiva. Rama had established the lingam in the land to offer prayers and repent on his sins, the land was named Rāma-īśvaram which means Lord of Rama, i.e. Lord Shiva.
5. As per the scriptures, Lord Ram wanted to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and apologize for killing Raavan. This legendary belief is dated back to the Treta Yug when the epic of Ramayana took place. According to the epic, Lord Ram was filled with remorse after killing the demon king of Lanka.
6. Raavan was a son of a saint and a Brahmin himself, so, Lord Ram wanted to pray to Lord Shiva to repent on his sin of killing the once learned saint Raavan who had later developed evil intentions on gaining power and strength.
7. Rama had asked his devoted follower Lord Hanuman to bring him a lingam for offering the prayers. As the time passed, Lord Ram started growing anxious while waiting. To avoid missing the auspicious time to offer the prayers (Muhurta), Lord Ram himself started to built a Shiva lingam out of the mud. When Hanuman arrived with the Shiva lingam from Kashi and found that Rama praying, Hanuman was disheartened.
8. For the sake of his ardent follower Hanuman, Lord Ram named his beloved hanuman's lingam Kasi Viswanathar or Kasilingam. This lingam is also known as Hanumanlingam. Rama also blessed Hanuman that anyone who visits the temple would always have to worship his lingam before worshiping the Ramalingam. As per several other philosophers, it is also believed that the Ramalingam was built by Maa Sita herself for his husband Lord Ram.
9. The temple now had two Shivalingas and the one believed to be made by Lord Hanuman, Kasilingam, is visited by the devotees first while worshipping. After worshipping the Kasilingam, they offer prayers to the Ramalingam
10. The proper way to offer prayers in Rameshwaram is believed to be accomplished by first taking bath in the 22 water bodies present in the temple complex and then they worship the Jyotirlinga. It is believed that the waters of the temple wash off the sins of humans and have the strength to purify them.
