Tourist Attractions in Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram at the south-east extreme of the Indian peninsula is located on an island in the Gulf of Mannar, where the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea meet. The sacred-most shrine in Rameshwaram is Ramanathaswamy Temple (रामनाथस्वामी मंदिर). The temple enshrines one of the twelve Jyotirlingams — the most sacred symbols of Lord Shiva associated with Sri Ramachandra (Lord Ram). It was from here that Rama crossed over to Sri Lanka, by erecting a bridge with the help of his devoted monkey brigade. After Ravan was vanquished and Sita was rescued, Ram was advised to propitiate Shiva who could absolve him of the consequence of his killing — a Brahmin — for Ravan, though a demon, was a Brahmin. Rama sent Hanuman to secure Shiva’s symbol from the Himalaya. As the propitious hour for the worship was to commence and Hanuman was not to be seen, Rama and Sita erected a symbol on the spot. But soon thereafter Hanuman too arrived with the symbol. Both the symbols are worshipped, the offerings first made to the one brought by Hanuman, known as Shri Kashi Vishveshvar or Kashi Vishwanath. The one established by Rama is known as Jyotirlingam.