3846 - Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
It is customary practice to all Hindu devotees who wish to visit Prayag and Varanasi must visit, Rameswaram first .The temple Ramanathaswamy temple situates on the island of Rameswaram.This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva.. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanmars (Saivite Saints), Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their songs.The Temple is also one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where God Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam meaning "pillar of light".
According to a legend, Ramayana, Rama, the seventh incarnation of God Vishnu, is believed to have prayed to God Shiva here to absolve any sins that he might have committed during his war against Ravana in Sri Lanka. To worship God Shiva,God Rama wanted to have the largest lingam. He directed Lord Hanuman, to bring the lingam from Himalayas. Since it took longer to bring thelingam, Sita (the wife of Rama) built a small lingam, which is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum.
The primary deity of the temple is Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) in the form of lingam. There are two lingams inside the sanctum - one built by Goddess Sita, from sand, residing as the main deity, Ramalingam and the one brought by Lord Hanuman from Kailash called Vishwalingam.Lord Rama instructed that Vishwalingam should be worshipped first since it was brought by Lord Hanuman - the tradition continue even today.
The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
Rameswaram set : www.flickr.com/photos/29848963@N03/sets/72157640776907414/
3846 - Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
It is customary practice to all Hindu devotees who wish to visit Prayag and Varanasi must visit, Rameswaram first .The temple Ramanathaswamy temple situates on the island of Rameswaram.This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva.. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanmars (Saivite Saints), Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their songs.The Temple is also one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where God Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam meaning "pillar of light".
According to a legend, Ramayana, Rama, the seventh incarnation of God Vishnu, is believed to have prayed to God Shiva here to absolve any sins that he might have committed during his war against Ravana in Sri Lanka. To worship God Shiva,God Rama wanted to have the largest lingam. He directed Lord Hanuman, to bring the lingam from Himalayas. Since it took longer to bring thelingam, Sita (the wife of Rama) built a small lingam, which is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum.
The primary deity of the temple is Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) in the form of lingam. There are two lingams inside the sanctum - one built by Goddess Sita, from sand, residing as the main deity, Ramalingam and the one brought by Lord Hanuman from Kailash called Vishwalingam.Lord Rama instructed that Vishwalingam should be worshipped first since it was brought by Lord Hanuman - the tradition continue even today.
The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
Rameswaram set : www.flickr.com/photos/29848963@N03/sets/72157640776907414/