RAMESHWARAM TEMPLE
RAMESHWARAM sutamraparnijalarashiyoge nibadhya setum vishikhairasa.nkhyaih | shriramachandrena samarpitam tam rameshvarakhyam niyatam namami ||
Importance of Rameshwaram
Taking the Ganga water to Rameshwar, is considered as a very
auspicious and pious thing to do after the pilgrimage of the four holy
shrines. After taking a holy bath in Ganga water, the holy water is
carried and offered to Lord shiva of Rameshwaram. After this a little
sand from here is carried to Ganga and immersed there. Completing this
ritual is believed to make one’s pilgrimage complete and successful.
On the southern seaside of India, Rameshwar sea shrine is located.
Puranam of Rameshwar Jyothirlingam
After Sita’s abduction, Ram wandered in the jungles looking for her.
While doing so, he met Sugriva and made friends with him. Later with the
help of special messenger Sri Hanuman, he found out where Sita was
taken. Then Rama prepared an army to invade Ravana’s empire and reached
the southern seashore. He did not have any means of crossing the sea.
Lakshman and Sugriva saw Rama, who is a Shiva devotee in great anguish
and could do nothing. But Ravana received some special boons from Lord
Shiva. Rama was aware of this and therefore, his fears could not be set
at rest. In the mean time, Rama was full thirsty. Just as he was about
to drink water, he remembered that he was yet to perform Shiva pooja. He
immediately made a Prathiv Linga and worshipped it with sixteen
methods, i.e., Shodasopachar Vidhis.
Ramji prayed to Lord Shiva ardently and soulfully, and sang songs
of Lord Shiva’s praise in a loud voice. He danced and made the sounds
of "Aagad bam bam”. This pleased Lord Shiva immediately and instantly
appeared before Rama and told him that could ask for any boons and that
he would grant them. Ram showed a lot of care, affection and love to
Lord Shiva and prayed and paid obeisance. Rama said "If You want to
grant me my wishes, please stay on this earth for the sake of all make
it holy” Shiva granted the same by saying "Evamastu” meaning "so be it”.
He thus stayed there and came to be known as Rameshwara, in the form of
a Shiva Linga and became popular.
With the blessings of Lord Shiva, Rama killed all the demons
including Ravana and became victorious. Any one who takes a Darshan of
the JyotirLinga at Rameshwar and sprinkles the holy water of Ganga,
attains salvation, Kaivalya Moksha or Nirvana.
Specialities of Rameshwaram
The place where the JyotirLinga is located, a large and expansive
temple has been built. It is famous in the world as a typical
architectural example. In the Ramnad district of Tamilnadu, this temple
is situated on a big island of sand. It is worth seeing and is a
wonderful experience. The main entrance of the temple tower has many
storeys and stands tall. Its structure carvings, statutes and the peaks
make people dumb founded. The grandeur of the Lord is really felt here.
The human weakness for being narrow-minded is automatically removed and
they feel their horizons broadened.
On the tall stone pillars of temple, beautiful carvings can be
seen. Elephants with their trunks raised are seen. The four sides of the
temple are enclosed by strong stone walls. They are 650 ft. and 12ft.
wide and tall respectively. This wonderful temple built on the sand
island, is a work of great art and very impressive.
Near to a gold plated pillar, a river is carved on a monolithic
stone of 13 feet high and a foot wide. This indeed is a typical example
of beautiful sculpting.
Near the main temple of Rameshwar, there is a separate temple for
Parvati known as Parvatavardhini temple. Besides this, there are
temples of Santana Ganapati, Veerabhadra Hanuman, navagrahas, etc., At a
distance of about nearly 2 kilometers from the main temple, there is
Gandhamaadhan mountain. In spite of being a sandy area, it is very green
with a variety of flora. This is the Nandanavan of Rameshwar.
This island shrine consists of 24 odd holy water sources like
Rama teerth, Sita Kund, Jata Teerth, Lakshman Teerth, Kapi Teerthas,
Brahmakund, Galawa teerth, Mangala teerth, Kodandaram teerth, Pandav
teerth etc., The waters at all these places is sweet and has a taste of
its own. Every teerth has a typical story attached to it. Devotees take
Darshan and feel purged by doing so.
Everyday, right from 4am till 10pm devotees keep coming to the
temple and prayers go on. After the Harati at night, the Lord is made to
sleep in a Golden swing i.e., the Bhoga statutes of Shankara and
Parvati put to bed.
During Mahashivaratri and on the 15th day in the month of Ashadha
(Rainy season) a Badatra mela/fete takes place, with great festivity.
Devotees flock here on these days and at all times right from Nepal and
entire India. People in a variety of dresses, attired differently come
here.
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