Monday 16 March 2015

Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu.

 16, March 2015. 
It was a long wish to go to Rameswaram. I had been to this temple earlier during 1980’s. It happened just like that. It was not planned. I applied for LTC, when I was working with M/s SPIC. They sanctioned me, but I was forced to avail a week holiday. Self and my wife started without planning. On reaching Tuticorin bus stand a bus was waiting to Rameswaram. Boarded in the bus and reached Rameswaram mandapam and from there by train and had darshan of Sri Ramanathaswamy. The road bridge was not constructed at that time. Now 35 years passed.  Due to age I could not recollect my memories completely.  Also I would like to do some pooja to my ancestors.  This time planned in advance. Since my son and daughter could not joined with us, my son booked  for me and my wife.

Started our yatra from Chennai on 13th March 2015 through Sethu express and reached Rameshwaram around 4.30 Hrs on 14th March 2015, Saturday.  Booked our stay at  Trichy Swamigal Nilayam, on the south mada street  through Mr Nachiappan, who is one of my well wisher. The Subramania Sastrigal was also arranged for performing the pooja and Pithrukadan through the caretaker Mr Ramasamy Chettiar.

On reaching Rameswaram, pooja and pithru dosham/ kadan homam was performed at Sasthrikal’s residence. After pooja and homam left the pindam at Agni theertham and had a bath. Again the abhisheka water was poured on us and paid the thatchanai to the sastrigal.

In the temple the crowd was not much. But the paths and corridors are full of water to devotees holy bath in the 22 theerthams. Went through the special darshan counter  and had the opportunity of milk and Ganga water Abhishekam darshan to moolavar. In the Ambal temple also we had the dharshan sitting on the sanctum  entrance steps. As usual went around all the corridors and sannadhis and noted down the details for writing this post.

SRI RAMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, RAMESWARAM.


This is the 252nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 8th sthalam of Pandya Nadu. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

 East side Rajagopuram with Sethupathy mandapam 

Moolavar    : Sri Ramanatheswarar
Consort      : Sri Parvathavarthini

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The moolavar is of bana lingam (1) about 2 feet height. On the head  a five headed hood Nagam like umbrella. It was believed that the sanctum was constructed ( from one of the epigraph ) during 1414 by the Sri Lankan king Pararaajaseka with the stones brought from Thirukonamalai ).

In Artha mandapam, Abhisheka platform and Upachara medai of 36 feet square. Vinayagar on the left and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar at the entrance of sanctum. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of moolavar sannadhi with korai tooth. 

Maha mandapam is in front of artha mandapam and people used to worship from her. There are two Lingas  on either side of maha mandapam.

On north west Anjaneyar and on southwest Ramar, Seetha and Lakshmana Anjaneya Urchavars in cheppu/ copper are there.

Moolavar Vimanam is of two tiers with stucco images. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar,  Brahma and Durgai. Chandikeswarar is on the opposite to Durgai.

Urchavar Somaskandar (2a) is in a separate sannadhi on the south side of Chandikeswarar with karuvarai and artha mandapam. Somaskandar and  Amman are in a separate pedam in a separate sannadhi on the south side to sanctum sanctorum.

On the back of urchavar sannadhi on the northwest  Seetha, Ramar and Lakshmanan are in a separate mandapam.

Kasi Viswanathar sannadhi (2) is on the north side of Sri Ramanathaswamy sannadhi. It was believed that the moolavar was brought from Kasi. Pooja is conducted to Kasi Viswanathar first and latter to Sri Ramanathaswamy. The sannadhi is like a separate temple with artha mandapam and single tier vimanam and stucco images.

The corridor Around Sri Ramanathaswamy and Sri Kasi Viswanathar sannadhi is called as First Prakaram. In the 1st prakaram sannadhi for, Usha Suryan and Prathyusha (3), Sahasra Linga(4), Cheppu  and stone thirumeni of 63 Nayanmar ( 5a & 5b), Sekkizhar, Saraswathy(6) on  Pathrapedam, Vinayagar (7), Sankaranarayanar(8) ( Shiva in half and Thirumal other half ), Arthanareeswarar (9) with their vahanam Rishabam and simham, Chandrasekar & Gowri (10) in separate pedam,  Sri Valli Devasena sametha Murugan(11), Gajalakshmi (12), 11 Lingams of Ekatha rudhrars (13) and Visalakshi Amman (Kasi Visalakshi (14) is in a separate temple like sannadhi with artha mandapam and Vimanam), Saba mandapam (15), Jyotir lingam (16),  Krithika, Chandran, Rohini (17).

Rishaba mandapam, Dwajasthambam and balipeedam (18 & 19) are at the entrance of first corridor. Rishabam is of little big (22 feet length, 12 feet width and 17 feet high ) made of stucco /sudhai. Viswanathar and Krishnappa Nayak reliefs are on the mandapa pillar. The Nandhi has Urchavar, Vahana and moortham like Thirumazhapadi. Navagrahas (20) are on the north side of Rishaba mandapam.

Maha Ganapathy (21) sannadhi sanctum sanctorum  with a vimanam in on the south side. Devi is on the lap of Sri Vinayagar. Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar (22) is on the north side. The construction is similar Sri Vinayagar Sannadhi.

Parvathavarthini Amman sannadhi (23) is of separate temple type with Sanctum, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and corridor. The vimanam is of single tier type with stucco images. Amman temple is on the right of Moolavar temple. Amman is in standing posture on a padma peetam and Sri Chakram is also installed. Chandikeswari is on the north side facing south. In Amman temple corridor Santhana and Sowbhagya Ganapathi (24),  Saptamatrikas (25)  ( Brahmi, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Vaaraki, Indrani and Samundi.), Pallikonda Perumal (26) and  Palliyarai (27). Ashta Lakshmis (27a) are at the passage from first prakaram.

Sukravara mandapam (28) is out side Parvatha Vardhini Amman Temple. The mandapam has 32 pillars with  reliefs. On the south corner Sri Kalyanasundareswarar,  Suryan are facing east Brahma and Vishnu are facing north. On the north west Ashtalakshmi (27a) in a single stone slab. In the center of the mandapam Rishabam and Dwajasthambam on a separate platform.

Navasakthi mandapam (29)  is on the way to second corridor from Sukravara mandapam. Between this and Rishaba mandapam  is the Shiva Theertham (30).

The second corridor  is 352 feet on east to west direction and 244 feet on south to North with a width is 16 feet. Sannadhi for Vinayagar (31), Madappalli (32), Karuvoolam (33), Theerthams. Sethumadhava Sannadhi (34) is between 2nd and 3rd corridors. The sannadhi has Karuvarai, Artha mandapam and Maha mandapam and Vimanam. Vishnu sannadhis (35) on the North east direction. Sethumadhavar Sannadhi and Vishnu sannadhi  has an entrance  of sobhana type.

The third corridor is called  as Chokkattan mandapam. This has  1212 pillars  of 22 feet & 7.5 inches. The length is 649 feet  on east west direction and 395 feet on south to north direction with 15 feet width.  The platform height on both side is 5 feet. When we come out of Sri Ramanatha Swamy sannidhi in the third prakaram ceiling 12 Rashis with their Devadhas  in 32 squares. Vahana rooms (36),  Stucco images of Sethupathi and Veerabhadra (37)  from third corridor. Kothandaramar sannadhi (38) like a separate temple with sanctum sanctorum, Artha mandapam and vimanam, stucco images of Sri Ramalinga Pradistai (39)– Ramar, Seetha and Lakshmana, Sukrivan, Vibeesnar.

Natarajar Sannadhi (40) is on the third corridor with sanctum, Artha mandapam and maha mandapam. On the east Anuppu mandapam, has stucco images  and paintings  of Shiva’s dances. Mahalakshmi sannadhi (42), Anjaneyar sannadi, Sethupathi mandapam (41), Kalyana mandapam (44).

The east Rajagopuram(45) is of 126 feet with 9 tiers & 9 kalasams. This construction was started during 1629 by Thalavai Sethupathi and completed in 1904 by Nattukottai nagarathar A.L.A.R family.

The  West Rajagopuram (46) is of very old construction with full of stone during 1434 and the height is 78 feet with 5 tiers. Vinayagar  (21)and Sri Subramaniar sannadhi (22) are the front.

Under construction are Urchavar Kalyana mandapam (49)  at the south west corner, South side (48) and North side (47) 5 tier Rajagopuras.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple will be kept open for the devotees from 5 A.M to 9 P.M(except between 1 P.M and 3 P.M). The poojas are performed six times a day in this temple.

CONTACT DETAILS :
E-Mail ID : lordramnath2012@gmail.com
The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, 
Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram - 623526. Ramanathapuram District.  
Phone No. : 04573 – 221223, Fax and Computer Section No. : 04573 - 223230

HOW TO REACH :
Train facility is available from  Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Thanjavur and other important cities. ( Train nos 755, 2790, 751, 0689, 6734, 753 from Madurai and 6713 & 6101 from Chennai ).
Bus facility is available from Madurai, Kanyakumari, Chennai and Trichy. It is also connected to Pondicherry and Thanjavur via Madurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

DETAILS OF THE MAP
SL NO
DESCRIPTION
SL NO
DESCRIPTION
1
Sri Ramanathaswamy Sannadhi
31
Pillayar Sannadhi
2
Sri Kasi Viswanathar Sannadhi
32
Madapallai
2a
Somaskandhar Sannadhi
33
Karuvulam
3
Suryan Usha Prathyusa
34
Sethumadhavar sannadhi
4
Sahasra Lingam
35
Vishnu sannadhi
5a
63var ( cheppu )
36
Vahana mandapangal
5b
63var ( Stones )
37
Sethupathi and veerapathirar
6
Saraswathy
38
Kothandaramar sannadhi
7
Vinayagar
39
Sri Ramalinga Prathistai
8
Sankaranarayanar
40
Natarajar Sannadhi
9
Arthanareeswarar
41
Sethupathy Mandapam
10
Chandrasekar, Gowri, Pitchadanar
42
Mahalakshmi
11
Sri Murugan with Valli Devasena
43
Devasthanam Office
12
Gajalakshmi
44
Kalyana Mandapam
13
Eka sathrar – 11 lingas
45
East Rajagopuram
14
Visalakshi Amman sannadhi
46
West Rajagopuram
15
Natarajar  & Ambalavanar saandhi
47
North Rajagopuram
15a
Ambalavanar  Sannadhi
48
South Rajagopuram
16
Jyothi Lingam
49
Urchavar Kalyana mandapam
17
Krithika Chandran & Rohini
50
Devotees resting place
18
Nandhi mandapam with Palipedam & Dwajasthambam


19
Sudhai nandhi


20
Navagrahas


21
Mahaganapathy


22
Subramaniyar  Sannadhi


23
Parvathavardhini Amman Sannadhi


24
Santhana & Sowbakyavaganapathy


25
Sabtha mathakkal


26
Pallikonda Perumal


27
Palliyarai


27a
Ashta Lakshmis


28
Sukkiravara mandapam


29
Navasakthi Mandapam


30
Siva Theertham




 East side Sethupathy mandapam arch
 Sri Parvathavardhini Amman Temple entrance 
 Sri Ujjaini Maha Kali Amman Temple opposite to Main temple 
 Agni Theertham 
 Agni Theertham entrance arches
 A Pillayar temple on the north-east corner - East and North car junction. 
 Temple view from Trichy Swamikal Nilayam
 South side Rajagopuram under Construction
 Urchavar Kalyanamandapam near sout side Rajagopuram 
 The Chokkatan Mandapam - 3rd corridor south side entrance view
 North side Rajagopuram under construction
 West side 5 tier Rajagopuram 
 Kanchi mutt opposite to Agni theertham
 Agni theertham entrance arch
 Agasthiyar Temple after Agni theertham
 Boat ride jetty
 Temple entrance evening cloudy view 

 Ambal sannadhi entrance mandapam  
 3rd corridor  south side
 3rd corridor east side view 
 Corridor from Ambal temple to out side 
 Panoramic view of Sea

After dharshan hired an auto for the local holy places Ramar Patham, Sakchi Anjaneyar, Kothandaramar Temple, Ramar Theertham, Seetharamar Temple, Lakshman Theertham, Naganathar sannadhi and Panchamuga Anjaneyar.  

KOTHANDARAMAR TEMPLE.
Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple is on the sea shore. It is believed that Hanuman constructed the bridge  from here and the distance is 25 KM.
Sri Ramar Consducted the pattabhishekam for Vibeshanan  at this place.

In sanctum Ramar, Seetha and Lakshman. Garudalwar and Anjaneyar are on the right side. Garudalwar Sannadhi is on the opposite to moolavar sannadhi. Ramanujar Sannadhi is in the mandapam.

The temple is at an elevated level with 12 steps.  
 It was believed that the hanuman build the bridge to Srilanka from here - the distance is 25 KM
 Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple 

LAKSHMANAR THEERTHAM

Lamanan created this theertham and worshiped Lord Shiva to resolve his sin. The mandapam pillars are very much  similar to Sri Ramanathaswamy temple corridor pillars.

There is a Naganathar sannadhi in front of the temple.
 Sri Lakshmanar theertham Shiva Temple mandapam 

 Lakshmanar theertham with neerazhi mandapam

 NAGA NATHAR SANNADHI

PANCHAMUGA ANJANEYAR TEMPLE .
Some of the important features of this temple are.
The temple was maintained by BABA disciples. Panchamuga Anjaneyar’s big size relief is installed which is open to sky.

Sannadhi for Balalaya Anjaneyar, Stones used for the Ramar bridge, Ramar Seetha Lakshmanan and Hanuman.

It was believed that the 700 years old temple at Dhanushkodi, which was destroyed during 1964 tsunami  and the moorthams were brought here.  
 PANCHAMUGA ANJANEYAR 

SRI RAMAR PATHAM 
After Ravana was killed by Sri Ramar, he went to Thirumaraikadu to resolve his sin through this place. His foot prints are preserved in this place.  
 An abondened Anjaneyar relief panel 
 Island view from Ramar Patham 
 Island view from Ramar Patham 
 Sri Ramar Patha first level mandapam 
 SRI RAMAR THEERTHAM
 Sri Ramar Theertham- with neerazhi mandapam 

 SRI SAKSHI ANJANEYAR

SRI SEETHA RAMAR TEMPLE.
Some of the important features of this temple are...
In the sanctum Seetha, Ramar and lakshmanar. Garudalwar is at the front.

Ramar’s jathagam is painted on the front sanctum wall. Lot of nagars are under the vilva tree.

There is an old dilapidated mandapam on the back side of sanctum.
 Entrance arch - Sri Setha Ramar Temple 
 Mandapanm in ruins
 Moolavar Vimanam 

We couldn’t make a visit to Dhaunskodi, since  both were exhausted. After some rest I alone went around the temple and agni theertham to have a look of sea shore. I had the opportunity of visiting the Agasthiyar temple also. Vacated the stay and reached the railway station around 19.15 Hrs to catch the Sethu express scheduled to leave at 20.00 Hrs. Safely landed on 15.oo Hrs at Chennai. Thanks to Lord Shiva for the peaceful dharshan.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

11 comments:

  1. Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple located on the island town of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, is one of the four sacred Char Dhams in the country. If you are planning to go to Rameshwaram and are looking for accommodation, then Hotel Queen Palace Rameshwaram is a very reasonable option.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. But no ads please.

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    2. Thank you for the detailed and informative narration God bless you

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    3. Thanks murali...please keep watch for the latest posts....

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    4. I have not been there but I can I know what's the 3rd corridor and 2nd corridor ??

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  2. Superb post sir. I had been recently to Rameswaram. Wish I had seen this before going to understand more.

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    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Thanks Krishna for your comments. Credit goes to Lord Shiva.
      Om Shivaya Nama.

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  3. Superb information with plan ,it is helping me to present my seminar

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  4. Superb information with plan ,it is helping me to present my seminar

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  5. It is likewise one of the twelve Jyothirlinga sanctuaries, where Shiva is adored as a Jyotirlingam.
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