Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple / Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram Jyotir Linga Temple / Rameshwaram Temple / அருள்மிகு இராமநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோவில், Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 252^nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 8^th sthalam of Pandya Nadu. This is one of the Jyotirlinga Kshetram. This place was also called Sethu.

As per Sekkizhar, Thirugnanasambandar after curing the decease of the Pandya King, started his pilgrimage to the Shiva Temples of Pandya Nadu along with the Pandya King NindraSeer Nedumaran alias Sundara Pandyan, his Queen Mangayarkarasi and Minister Kulachiraiyar. In Sundarar Puranam Sekkizhar mentions that Sundarar and Cheraman Peruman worshiped Sri Ramanathaswamy and sang hymns and from there he sang Sri Lanka Thiruketheeswarar. But the hymn is missing.

    சேதுவின்கண் செங்கண் மால்பூசை செய்து

        சிவபெருமான் தனைப் பாடிப் பணிந்து போந்து

    காதலுடன் அந்நகரில் இனிது மேவிக்

        கண்ணுதலான் திருத்தொண்டர் ஆனார்க்கு எல்லாம்

    கோதுஇல் புகழ்ப் பாண்டிமாதேவியார் மெய்க்

        குலச்சிறையார் குறைவு அறுத்துப் போற்றிச் செல்ல

    நாதர்தமை நாள்தோறும் வணங்கி ஏத்தி

        நளிர்வேலைக் கரையில் நயந்து இருந்தார் அன்றே

......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

    மன்னும் இராமேச்சரத்து மாமணியை முன் வணங்கிப்

    பன்னுதமிழ்த் தொடை சாத்திப் பயில்கின்றார் பாம்பு அணிந்த

    சென்னியார் மாதோட்டத் திருகேதீச்சரம் சார்ந்து

    சொல்மலர் மாலைகள் சாத்தித் தூரத்தே தொழுதமர்ந்தார்

......... சுந்தரர் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Sundarar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. As per Sekkizhar Thirunavukkarasar worshiped Sri Rameswarar after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupuvanam. Sundarar’s hymns are not traceable.  

    அலைவளர் தண்மதி யோடய லேஅடக் கிஉமை

    முலைவளர்பாக முயங்கவல்ல முதல்வன்முனி

    இலைவளர் தாழைகள் விம்முகானல் இராமேச்சுரம்

    தலைவளர் கோலநன் மாலையன் தானிருந் தாட்சியே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

    பாசமும் கழிக்க கில்லா அரக்கரைப் படுத்துத் தக்க

    வாசமிக் கலர்கள் கொண்டு மதியினால் மால் செய் கோயில்

    நேசமிக் கன்பி னாலே நினைமி னீர் நின்று நாளும்

    நேசமிக் கான் இருந்த திரு இரா மேச்சு ரம்மே

.... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                            -“சித்தாய்ந்து

    நாம் ஈசராகும் நலம்தரும் என்று உம்பர்தொழும்

    ராமீசம் வாழ் சீவரத்தினமே”

....... திரு அருட்பா

   வாரணியும் இருகொங்கை மாதர் மகிழ் கங்கைபுகழ்

    வளமருவு தேவை அரசே!

   வரை ராஜனுக்(கு) இரு கண் மணியாய் உதித்தமலை

   வளர் காதலிப் பெண் உமையே!

....... தாயுமானவர் பாடல்

   தாள் நெடிய விடைமுனிந்து, கயிலை முக்கண்

    தாதையொடும் விளையாடித் தன்பால் அன்பர்

    மாண்நிலவு மனத்தறி நின்(று) உலவும் தெய்வ

    வாரணத்தை நினத்திறைஞ்சி வழுத்தல் செய்வாம்

........ சேது புராணம்

The 15^th Century Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

    மேகர உக்ர பரி தான் ஏறி, வெற்றிபுனை

        வீரா! குறச் சிறுமி                                          மணவாளா

    ஞான பரற்(கு) இனிய வேதாக மப்பொருளை

        நாணாது உரைக்கும் ஒரு                             பெரியோனே

    நாராயணற்கு மருகா! வீறு பெற்றிலகு

        ரமேச்சு ரத்திலுறை                                       பெருமாளே

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 in height. On the head a five-headed hood Nagam-like umbrella. It was believed that the sanctum was constructed ( from one of the epigraphs) in 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 the 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 her. There are two Shiva Lingas on either side of the Maha mandapam.

On northwest Anjaneyar and on southwest Ramar, Seetha and Lakshmana, Anjaneyar 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 Sanctum Sanctorum and Artha Mandapam. Somaskandar and  Amman are in a separate peedam in a separate sannadhi on the south side of the sanctum sanctorum.

On the back of urchavar sannadhi in 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 later to Sri Ramanathaswamy. The sannadhi is like a separate temple with artha mandapam single-tier vimanam and stucco images.

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

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

Maha Ganapathy (21) sannadhi sanctum sanctorum with a vimanam 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 to 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 peedam and Sri Chakram is also installed. Sandikeswari is on the north side facing south. In Amman temple corridor Santhana and Sowbagya Ganapathi (24),  Saptamatrikas (25)  ( Brahmi, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Vaaraki, Indrani and Samundi.), Pallikonda Perumal (26) and  Palliyarai (27). Ashta Lakshmi (27a) is in the passage from the first praharam.

Sukravara mandapam (28) is out side Parvatha Vardhini Amman Temple. The mandapam has 32 pillars with reliefs. On the south corner Sri Kalyanasundareswarar, and Suryan are facing east Brahma and Vishnu are facing north. On the northwest Ashtalakshmi (27a) is a single stone slab. In the center of the mandapam Rishabam and Dwajasthambam are 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. Sethu Madhavar Sannadhi (34) is between the 2^nd and 3^rd corridors. The sannadhi has Karuvarai, Artha mandapam and Maha mandapam and Vimanam. Vishnu Sannadhis (35) in the Northeast direction. Sethumadhavar Sannadhi and Vishnu Sannadhi have an entrance of sobhana type ( with Steps).

The third corridor is called Chokkattan mandapam. This has  1212 pillars of 22 feet & 7.5 inches. The length is 649 feet in east east-west direction and 395 feet on south to north direction with 15 feet width.  The platform height on both sides is 5 feet. When we come out of Sri Ramanatha Swamy sannidhi in the third praharam ceiling 12 Rasis with their Devadhas in 32 squares. Vahana rooms (36),  Stucco images of Sethupathi and Veerabhadra (37)  from the 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, Sugriva, 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 126 feet with 9 tiers & 9 kalasas. This construction was started in 1629 CE by Thalavai Sethupathi and completed in 1904 CE by Nattukottai Nagarathar A.L.A.R family.

The  West Rajagopuram (46) is of very old construction full of stone from 1434 CE 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 southwest corner, Southside (48), and Northside (47) 5-tier Rajagopuras.

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	Sethupathy and veerapathirar
6	Saraswathy	38	Kothandaramar sannadhi
7	Vinayagar	39	Sri Ramalinga Prathistai
8	Sankaranarayanar	40	Natarajar Sannadhi
9	Arthanareeswarar	41	Sethupathi 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

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even though Thirugnanasambandar and Appar Visited this temple during the 7^th Century and were ruled by the Pandyas and Chozhas, till the 10^th Century this temple was in a temporary structure. It is believed that some of the sannidhis were constructed during Parantaka and Rajaraja Chozha during the 10^th and 11^th Centuries.

Sri Lanka King Parakramabahu ( 1153 – 1186 CE ) was believed to have built the main sannadhis which included Moolavar, Parvathavarthini Ambal, Kasi Viswanathar, and Visalakshi Sannadhi, and the first prakara during the end of 12^th Century. Harihara-II of the Vijayanagara dynasty started the 2^nd Corridor but could not be completed, but the same was completed by Thirumalai Sethupathi.  Udayan Sethupathi with the help of Sri Lankan Tamil King Pararajasekaraya Chakravarthy in 1414CE, the sanctum sanctorum was reconstructed and the required stones were brought from Trincomalee. The Stucco Rishabam 17 feet high and 12 feet wide was constructed by Chinna Udaiyan Kattathevar. Palliyarai, front mandapa, and Ambal sannadhi are constructed by  Ravi Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi.  He also started the outermost prahara in 1722 CE and the same was completed Challa Muthu Raghunatha Sethupathi and Muthu Ramalinga Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi.

Between 1897 to 1904 the A.L.A.R family of Devakottai completed the construction of eastern 9 tiers of 126 feet high Rajagopuram. They also renovated the sanctum sanctorum and the inner praharam between 1907 to 1925. During the renovation, the flooring was replaced with granite stones.

The front Sethupathi mandapa was built by Ramanatha Sethupathi, a descendant of the Ramnad Raja dynasty with his own fund of Rs 275000.00, which was started in 1969 and completed in 1974. Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1925, on 27^th Feb 1947, 05^th Feb 1975, 05^th Feb 2001, 05^th Feb 2007, and 20^th Jan 2016 ( The South Rajagopuram was Constructed and consecrated ).

Viswanatha Nayakar  Veerappa Nayaka Ayyan 22^nd year reign inscription ( AR 97 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -382 ) records the gift of 2 veli Land to this temple by Pellappa Nayakar

The 1578 CE inscription ( AR 98 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -383 ) records the endowment of Pooja at this temple by Pandaran Narakar Ayyan and Mudaliyar Ayyan for which  700 pon and in addition to this anything received as kanikkai like, cow, Horse, elephant etc to be used for the pooja. This was received by Ramachandra Mudaliyar and Ramayana Battar.  This should be inscribed at the Rajagopuram entrance of Madurai Chokkanathar Temple. The pooja prasad of Rice, Sandal paste,  Rudra abhisheka Sudhanthiran (wage/fees to archakar .?) was handed over to Viswanatha Nayak Veerappa Nayaka Ayyan Mudaliyar at Madurai.

The recorded Inscription details are...

Sri Madhu Viswanatha Nayakkar  Veerappa Nayakkar Ayyan 22^nd year reign inscription ( AR 97 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -382 ) records the gift of 2 veli Land at Chozhamandalam Peththannapuram, to this temple by Pellappa Nayakar for the Kuppeechuram Thippa Nayagi’s pooja

The 1598 CE year inscription  ( Saka 1520 )( AR 99 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -384 ) is in the form of a song records the  construction of a mandapam by Ramanathan (?), -  which was constructed by Rama to get rid of the sin caused by killing Langesan”.

The 1608 CE year inscription  (Saka 1530 )( AR100 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -385 ) is in the form of a song that records the gift to the Maha Vishnu Sannadhi.

Another inscription ska 1390 ie 1468 CE records the installation of Dwajasthambam in front of  Parvatha Vardhini Amman Temple.

Raja Sethupathy Kaththa Devar’s 29^th year reign inscriptions ( AR101 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -386 ), record that his son Koothan alias Sethupathi Kaththa Devar constructed the 1^st Prahara Thiru Nada Maligai and Aruda mandapam.

At Chidambareswara Sannadhi Veera Pandiya period inscription ( AR104 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -389 ) records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps for which the Ulakku ghee to be supplied... the inscription is damaged in many places.

Pandya King Ko Chadaya Varman ...Pandya devar’s 15th-year reign inscription ( AR104 A of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -390 ) records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which ghee of one Nazhi... the inscription is damaged in many places.

The inscription is on the Anjaneyar Sannadhi. Sethupathi Katha Devar’s 16th-year reign inscription ( AR105 of 1903, SII Vol-VIII -391 ) records that his son Thalavai Devan Kulasekaran alias Sethupathi Katha Devar built a mandapa used during celebration/Brahmotsavam for Urchavars.

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume VIII

Sethupathi Mandapam with Sethupathi's images 

LEGENDS

As per the legend Rama wants to worship Lord Shiva at Rameswaram. So Rama asked Vayuputhra Anjaneyar to bring a Shiva linga from Kasi. Since it was delayed Seeta made a Shiva Linga out of sand, and Rama worshiped the same. Then he installed the Shiva Linga on the north side of the Sand Linga, which Anjaneyar brought from Kasi. At Rameswaram pooja will begin from this Kasi Viswanatha Lingam.

In another Legend  Maha Lakshmi, after leaving Maha Vishnu came to this Bhoolok and was brought up by the Pandya King Guna Nidhi. Maha Vishnu after taking the Andhanar form married Maha Lakshmi, called Sethumadhavar. The worship of Rameswaram will be fulfilled only after worshiping Sethumadhavar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 10 days Maha Shivaratri festival ( Feb – March ), 10 days Vasanthotsavam in Vaikasi ( May – June ),  Ramalinga Prathistai  Ani ( May – June ), 17 days Thirukalyanam ( July – Aug ), 10 days Navratri festival in Puratasi ( Sep-Oct ), 6 days Kanda Sashti in Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), 10 days Arudra Darshan in Margazhi ( Dec – Jan )

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 :

Web site: http://www.rameswaramtemple.tnhrce.in/

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 facilities are 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 facilities are available from Madurai, Kanyakumari, Chennai, and Trichy. It is also connected to Pondicherry and Thanjavur via Madurai.

The temple is 59 KM from Ramanathapuram, 157 KM from Devakottai, 188 KM from Madurai, 230 KM from Trichy, and 560 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Rameswaram

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Agasthiyar Temple

Agni Theertham

Thirukkalyana mandapam

Agni Theertham Entrance

Agni Theertham

A Vinayagar Sannadhi in Northeast corner street

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---