Ramanathaswamy Temple, or Rameswaram Temple is one of the famous temples in Rameswaram. Holding the mythological significance to the revered epic for Hindus, Ramayana, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ruling deity of this temple. But more is needed to make it a revered place of worship for Shaivites and Vaishnavas, as it is related to Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Historical fact behind Ramanathaswamy Temple
According to the fact, the name of Rameswaram dates back to Ramayana, when Rama worshipped Shiva in the form of Shivling to get his blessings in winning the war against Lanka king Ravana, & get back his wife, Sita. The city’s name is made with two words Ram + Ishwar, which means god of Ram, that together became Rameswaram.
Now comes the fascinating fact about Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the famous landmarks in this divine city of Tamil Nadu, attracting many Hindu pilgrims. Known for its architectural brilliance, & presiding deity Shiva, this sacred shrine’s history dates back to Ramayana. It is said that this is where Ram prayed to Shiva to get himself relieved from the sin of Brahmahatya after killing Ravana, who was also a Brahmin, as he was the son of sage Vishrava. But he adopted more demonic traits from his mother, Kaikesi.
During that era, the island had no temples, & so Rama instructed his ardent devotee, Hanuman, to bring Shivling from Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. However, the ape god took much time to deliver it, so Sita built a temple of Shiva from coastal sand. Later on, Hanuman, too, returned with shivling.
It resulted in inserting two lingas in the hallowed temple, one made by Sita, called Ramalingam, & other was Vishwalingam, brought by the monkey god. The later architectural structure of the temple took place in the 17th century under the rule of king Kizhavan Sethupathi. Jaffna Raja of the Sethupathi Kingdom has also donated significant donations for the construction of the temple.
Features of Ramanathaswamy Temple
When planning a Rameswaram itinerary, include this revered temple in the list. After all, it is one of the significant landmarks on this divine island that must not go unmissed. It is one of the sacred sites that you should visit with your family, including elders. After briefing you about its fascinating history, let us give you an overview of its features.
- In comparison to other Hindu temples, Ramanathaswamy Temple has the longest corridor.
- It is counted among the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines. Shiva is the ruling deity in the form of jyotirlinga, meaning ‘pillar of light’.
- The temple’s interior features extensive halls between enormous colonnades on platforms over 5 ft.
- Chokkattan Madapam is a unique structure in the shape of a chess board to be noticed here.
- The outer set of corridors is the longest at 6.9 m in height. 400 ft in the east & west, and 640 ft. in the north & south. The inner corridors are 224 in the east and west, & 352 each in the north & south.
Dress code for the temple
Before entering the temple, devotees need to follow the strict dress code. Anyone wearing jeans, tight leggings, bermudas, or lungi will not be allowed. For men, it should be a pair of dhoti & shirt, pyjama, pants with shirt. Whereas women must wear churidars and sarees. There is a provision for changing clothes in designated areas. It would be better to carry an additional set of clothes for changing after taking “Theertha Snana” or ritual cleansing of the body.
Timings for temple visit
Rameswaram, a divine island in Tamil Nadu, is well known for its pristine beaches & a long list of temples. Ramanathaswamy Temple is one such famous temple to visit here. The timings begin with morning aarti from 5:00 AM, followed by Spathik lingam aarti, Lord Ananda Deep aarti, Kala Shanti pooja, Bhog pooja, evening pooja, Arthajama pooja (before closing of the temple), to Palliyarai pooja that ends up at 9:00 PM. In short, the morning darshan starts from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM, & evening darshan from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Best time to visit the temple
Even though the temple can be reached year-round, one must consider suitable weather conditions. If you want to visit Rameswaram for this temple, especially during the eve of Mahashivratri, then October to March is the ideal time to visit Ramanathaswamy Temple, as the weather during these months is convenient to travel.
However, you can also plan your visit from July to August as it is pleasant because of the monsoon season. The best time to reach the temple is from early morning & late evening during the time of ceremonies. Avoid visiting in the summer months, as it can be too humid.
Plan your luxury stay in Rameswaram near to Ramanathaswamy Temple
To fulfil your wish by visiting Ramanathaswamy Temple, the top luxury hotel in Rameswaram you should plan your stay at is jüSTa Sarang. It is a perfect retreat for those seeking spiritual, leisure & business visits. Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the sites you can quickly visit from the hotel. Moreover, the hotel provides a spiritually guided tour to the latter shrine to let you partake in religious ceremonies & get blessings from the priest.
The features that make it a perfect staycation are its 32 luxury rooms with state-of-the-art architecture, modern amenities, privacy, & ultimate comfort. The walls of the rooms here are adorned with captivating artworks depicting the true essence of Rameswaram. Besides enjoying the luxuries in its well-decorated rooms, you can also taste the popular delicacies in Rameswaram at Satva, one of the top Rameswaram restaurants. The menu here not only lists the South Indian cuisines but also varieties of thalis, Andhra meals, North Indian desserts, & other flavours for every taste.
Conclusion
Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the top holy shrines to visit in Rameswaram. It is a significant landmark known here. Today, in this article, we gave you an overview of its historical significance, timings, dress code, & which time is favourable to visit the shrine for your knowledge. To make your visit more convenient & easy access to the temple, you can book your stay at jüSTa Sarang, a nearby luxury accommodation in Rameswaram.
