SRI RAMANATHAR TEMPLE RAMESWARAM

Temple's Speciality:

English	Hindi
Arabic	Japanese
Bengali	Philipino
Chinese	Portuguese
Dutch	Russian
French	Spanish
German	Tamil

Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Shiva located on Rameswaram island in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is also one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam.Shiva is a swayambumurthi. Since Lord Rama worshiped Lord Shiva, water offerings are given to the Lord.

Address:

Sri Ramanathaswami Temple, Rameswaram – 623 526, Ramanathapuram district.

Phone no:+ 91-4573 - 221 223.

Opening Time:

The temple is open From 4 am to 1 pm, will be open from 3 pm to 8.30 pm.

Festivals:

Maha Shivaratri, Tiruvadhirai, Thrikkarthika.

Temple History:

Legend has it that Rama worshipped Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam made of earth by Sita, while returning to Ayodhya. It is told that Hanuman was entrusted with the task of bringing an image of Viswanathar from Benares. Anticipating delay in Hanuman's return from Benares, Rama is said to have offered worship at a pre-chosen auspicious moment to a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth by Sita. This lingam is referred to as Ramalingam and the town is known as Rameswaram.

Greatness Of Temple:

There is yet another Shivalingam here – Viswanathar said to have been brought by Hanuman from Banares. This Shivalingam is referred to as Kasilingam and Hanumalingam. Prayers are offered to Viswanathar before they are offered to Ramanathaswamy.

Legend has it that Rama worshipped Tilakeswarar at Devipatnam nearby enroute to Sri Lanka.

There is also a shrine to SethuMadhava and Lakshmi in Rameswaram. Sethu Madhava is also referred to as Sweta Madhava, the term Sweta referring to the white stone with which the image is made.