The Ramanathaswamy Temple on Rameswaram island is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and one of the four Char Dham destinations, visited by pilgrims from every state.
Significance
According to the Ramayana tradition, Lord Rama worshipped Shiva here to seek absolution after the war in Lanka. Two lingams are worshipped: the Ramalingam, said to have been made of sand by Sita, and the Vishwalingam, brought from Kailash by Hanuman — which, by tradition, is worshipped first.
The temple’s outer corridors are among the longest in any Hindu temple, lined with rows of carved pillars.
Around Rameswaram
Pilgrims also visit Agni Theertham on the seashore, the Panchamukhi Hanuman temple, Kothandaramaswamy Temple, and — where access permits — Dhanushkodi at the tip of the island. The Pamban bridge crossing to the island is a memorable part of the journey.
See our Rameswaram pilgrimage and Madurai – Rameswaram tour.
