Sri Ekantha Ramaswamy Temple Rameshwaram

Ekantha Ramaswamy Temple or Ekant Rameshwaram or Ekant Ramar Temple in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, is a pretty big temple almost in dilapidated state. The temple by the side of national highway is located eight kilometer from Rameshwaram Jyotirlingam Temple (Ramanathaswamy Temple). A dim lamp is still lit there by a Brahmin. The images within are handsome standing figures of Sita, Ram and Lakshman. Ram is represented with one arm raised as if he were speaking aside to Sita. This is the people’s tradition; but the ‘puranic’ tradition is that Ram held his counsel of war here while the Ram Setu was building, so that the roar of the waves might not disturb him. This temple is mentioned in the Ananda Ramayana alone. In the outer verandah (pavilion) of this temple is the spring called Amrit Vapi (अमृत वापी - the well which confers immortality). The water of it is fresh though not much used. Amrit Vapi was created by Lord Ram to quench the thirst of his Vaanar Sena (वानर सेना – army of monkeys). Ram had stayed here with his army while going for Lanka to liberate Sita from the clutches of Ravan. A tourist, while visiting Ekantha Ramaswamy Temple, should not miss to visit Viloondi Tirtha & Abdul Kalam Memorial, located close by.