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Rameshwaram · Tamil Nadu

Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram

Ramanathaswamy / Rameshwar Jyotirlingam / Ramalingeshwar

अन्य नाम: Rameshwar Jyotirlingam · Ramanathaswamy · Ramalingeshwar · Rameshwaram Dham

  • Char Dham
  • 12 Jyotirlinga
  • 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams
Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram
दर्शन समय
04:00 – 20:00
स्वरूप
Lingam-form Shiva
स्थान
Rameshwaram · Tamil Nadu
उत्तम ऋतु
October-March optimal
काल
Puranic era

इस मन्दिर की विशेषता

  • Char Dham (original 4 — Adi Shankaracharya's southern dham)
  • 12 Jyotirlinga (southernmost)
  • 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams (Tevaram-Paadal Petra Shaiva sites)
01
मूल विग्रह

मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप

Shri Ramanathaswamy (Shiva) — two lingams in the sanctum: (1) Ramalingam — tradition: made of sand by Sita and consecrated by Shri Rama; (2) Vishvalingam — brought by Hanuman from Kailash. By tradition the first puja is offered to the Vishvalingam.

Lingam-form Shiva

सम्प्रदाय: Shaiva (revered by all three Shaiva-Vaishnava-Smarta traditions)

02
स्थल-पुराण

कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व

Valmiki Ramayana

After the Lanka victory, Shri Rama's worship of Shiva and consecration of a lingam to neutralise the brahma-hatya dosha (Ravana-vadha)

Skanda Purana

Setu Mahatmya / Rameshwar Mahatmya — detailed account of the Rameshwaram kshetra, the 22 theerthams, and Gandhamadhana Parvatham

Shiva Purana

Mahatmya of Rameshwar among the 12 Jyotirlingas

Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram (Adi Shankaracharya)

Rameshwar included

संत एवं परम्परा

  • Shri Rama — Puranic consecrator; after the Lanka victory, undertook the worship of Shiva to neutralise the brahma-hatya from Ravana's slaying; sent Hanuman to fetch the lingam from Kailash, but as the muhurta approached, Sita fashioned the Ramalingam from sand and Rama consecrated it
  • Hanuman — brought the 'Vishvalingam' from Kailash; per Rama's decree the first puja is still offered to the Vishvalingam
  • Adi Shankaracharya (8th-9th century) — established Rameshwaram as the southern dham of the original Char Dham; included it in the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram; instituted the tradition of consecrating one of his five sphatika lingams in the garbhagriha
  • Tevaram saints — Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar — the 63 Nayanmars (Tamil Shaiva saints) of the 7th-8th century sang of Rameshwar as a 'Paadal Petra Sthalam'

ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम

  1. -1Puranic era (Treta Yuga) — Shri Rama's Lanka victory and slaying of Ravana; on the return journey to Ayodhya, he stopped at Rameshwaram island, worshipped Shiva and consecrated the Ramalingam-Vishvalingam — neutralising the brahma-hatya dosha — Valmiki Ramayana + Skanda Purana
  2. 8008th-9th century — Adi Shankaracharya established Rameshwaram as the southern dham of the Char Dham; composed the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram — Wikipedia + Adi Shankara tradition
  3. 165017th century — main present-day structure built under the Pandya dynasty and Setupati kings; King Kizhavan Sethupathi (Raghunatha Kilavan) sanctioned the construction. The 1,212-pillar world's-longest temple corridor was completed in the 18th century. — Wikipedia + Ancient Origins
  4. 196422-23 December 1964 — the Rameshwaram cyclone struck the island (280 km/h winds); the nearby town of Dhanushkodi was completely destroyed; 1,800+ deaths. A train entering Dhanushkodi railway station was washed away — all 115 passengers killed. The then Madras government declared Dhanushkodi a 'ghost town'. The main Ramanathaswamy Temple was spared — the sea surge stopped short of the temple. — Wikipedia Dhanushkodi
  5. 202124-25 February 2021 — Sringeri Sharada Peetham (Sringeri Math) offered a new Sphatika (crystal) Shivalingam to the Ramanathaswamy Temple; from 25 February 2021 daily abhishekam and puja of the Sphatika Lingam began in the garbhagriha — Sringeri.net official
  6. 20256 April 2025 (Sunday) — PM Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge for traffic — India's first 'vertical lift' sea-rail bridge. Total length ~2.08 km; central lift-section (approximately 72 m) rises to allow large ships to pass; owner: Indian Railways. PM Modi remotely operated the vertical lift mechanism, flagged off the Rameswaram-Tambaram Express and an Indian Coast Guard ship. Replaced the 1914 British-era Pamban Bridge. — India TV + Wikipedia New Pamban Bridge
03
नित्य उपासना

दर्शन समय एवं आरती

04:00 से 20:00 तक · मध्याह्न विश्राम 13:00-15:00 (midday rest)

Sphatika Lingam darshan and puja05:00-06:00
dailyबुकिंग आवश्यक

Sphatika (crystal) Lingam in the garbhagriha (Adi Shankaracharya tradition) — darshan only in this 1 hour each day. Ticket at the temple counter; verify price at the HRCE counter.

General darshan begins05:00
daily

Darshan begins for devotees

Midday rest13:00-15:00 / 15:15
daily

Temple closed

Evening darshan15:00-20:00
daily
Night aarti and closingaround 20:00
daily

वस्त्र-संहिता: Men: dhoti + shirt / pyjama-kurta; shirt must be removed before entering the sanctum; lungi, bermuda, jeans, tight pants not permitted. Women: saree or salwar-kameez; traditional modest attire.

04
दर्शन

दर्शन के प्रकार

General (Free) Darshanनिःशुल्क
समय
05:00-13:00 and 15:00-20:00
उपयुक्त
All devotees

Darshan of the Ramalingam and Vishvalingam from the outer corridor. Fully free.

22 Theertham bath (22 Wells Bath)
समय
05:30-12:30 and 15:00-19:00
उपयुक्त
Devotees seeking the snan at the 22 sacred wells inside the temple

22 theerthams (sacred wells) inside the temple — symbolising Shri Rama's 22 arrows. Take the ticket from the HRCE counter at the North Gate; sevayats pour the holy water at each well.

Sphatika Lingam darshan
समय
05:00-06:00
उपयुक्त
Devotees seeking darshan of the crystal lingam

Sphatika (crystal) Lingam in the Adi Shankaracharya tradition — only one hour of darshan per day in the garbhagriha. Verify price at the HRCE counter.

VIP Special Darshan
उपयुक्त
Time-constrained devotees

Limited availability. Verify price at the HRCE counter.

05
अनुष्ठान

विशेष पूजा एवं सेवा

  • Kshetra-Brahmana arranged puja (Setu Snan + 22 Theertham + Linga Abhishek)
  • Rudrabhishekam
  • Shri Rama-Tarpan (pitru-tarpan)

    Special tradition of pitru-tarpan for one's ancestors at Rameshwar

06
उत्सव

प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव

Maha ShivaratriPhalguna Krishna Chaturdashi (February-March)

The temple's principal annual festival — 10-day celebration; the temple remains open 24 hours. Lakhs of Shiva devotees present.

ThirukalyanamJyestha-Ashadha

Commemorates the divine wedding of Shri Ramanathaswamy and Parvathavardhini (Parvati)

Thai Amavasai and Adi Amavasai

On the Amavasyas of the Tamil months Thai (January-February) and Adi (July-August) — Agni-Theertham snan and pitru-tarpan; peak days draw 2+ lakh devotees

Mahalaya Amavasai (Pitru Paksha)Ashwina Krishna Amavasya (September-October)

Peak period for pitru-tarpan; special tradition of Agni-Theertham snan and Pind Daan at Rameshwar

Navratri

9-day Shakti festival; special worship of Parvathavardhini

07
आस्था

मनोकामना एवं फल

Relief from grave sins akin to brahma-hatya (Shri Rama tradition)

Tradition: Shri Rama himself relieved the brahma-hatya dosha here by worshipping Shiva — setting a precedent for all humanity. Ramanathaswamy darshan is said to neutralise all sins.

स्रोत: Valmiki Ramayana + Skanda Purana Setu Mahatmya

Fruit of darshan of all 12 Jyotirlingas

Southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingas; per Adi Shankaracharya's Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram, one darshan grants the fruit of all twelve

स्रोत: Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram

Pitru moksha and welfare of the lineage

Agni-Theertham + 22 theertham + pitru-tarpan at Rameshwar — welfare and moksha for the entire ancestral lineage; among the supreme pitru-tirthas along with Gaya, Haridwar, Prayag

स्रोत: Skanda Purana Setu Mahatmya

Progeny

Tradition: bathing in Agni-Theertham and worshipping Shiva grants progeny to childless couples

स्रोत: Sthala tradition

08
जप

मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र

  • Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram — Rameshwar verseStotra excerptComposed by Adi Shankaracharyaइस मन्दिर हेतुRameshwar in the daily remembrance mantra of the 12 Jyotirlingas
  • Rudrashtadhyayi / Rudrabhishekam mantraVedic mantraYajurveda, Krishna-Yajurvediya Rudra SuktaPrincipal Vedic recitation for lingam abhishekam
  • Rameshwar AshtakamStotraSthala traditionइस मन्दिर हेतु
  • Tevaram padalgal (Tamil Shaiva)Tamil Shaiva padalgalAppar, Sambandar, Sundarar — 7th-8th century Nayanmar gayanइस मन्दिर हेतुRameshwaram is included in the 276 'Paadal Petra Sthalam'
09
तीर्थाटन

समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ

Agni-Theertham (sea-coast)100 मी

Sea coast from the temple's eastern gate; tradition: Shri Rama and Sita halted here on their return from Lanka; supreme among the 64 tirthas. Traditional pre-darshan obligation of a sea-snan. Held to grant progeny to childless couples.

Shri Parvathavardhini Amman shrine50 मी

Devi Parvati as consort of Shri Ramanathaswamy; 'Parvathavardhini' means 'one who exalts the parvat-kanya (Parvati)'. A Sri Chakra is installed in the Artha mandapam. Darshan of both Ramanathaswamy and Parvathavardhini is essential to complete the temple pilgrimage.

Gandhamadhana Parvatham2 किमी

Highest point on the island; bears Shri Rama's footprints; tradition: Hanuman launched his Lanka-jump from here

Dhanushkodi20 किमी

Shri Rama is said to have marked the start of the bridge here with the tip of his bow — 'Dhanush-kodi' (the bow's end). Town completely destroyed in the cyclone of 22-23 December 1964 — now a 'ghost town'. The Kothandaramaswamy Temple was spared. Ram Setu (Adam's Bridge) begins here and extends to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.

Sethu Karai22 किमी

Tradition: Shri Rama began the bridge construction (by the Vanara army) from this point

Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi18 किमी

Held to be the site of Vibhishana's coronation; the only structure spared in the devastating 1964 cyclone

Pamban Beach (Rameshwaram)1.5 किमी

A peaceful sea-coast on the Gulf of Mannar; viewable from the New Pamban Bridge

New Pamban Bridge (6 April 2025)5 किमी

Inaugurated by PM Shri Modi on 6 April 2025 — India's first vertical-lift sea-rail bridge; ~2.08 km long; central lift-section rises to allow large ships to pass; owned by Indian Railways.

Abdul Kalam Memorial, Pei Karumbu4.5 किमी

National memorial of former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, a native of Rameshwaram

Original Char Dham (instituted by Adi Shankaracharya)

South Dham — Rameshwaram. The other 3: Dwarka (west), Puri Jagannath (east), Badrinath (north). Instituted by Adi Shankaracharya for the geo-cultural unity of the Indian nation.

4 मंदिर

Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Yatra

Southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingas; per Adi Shankaracharya's Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram

12 मंदिर

Kashi-Rameshwar yatra (Setu samudra rant return)

Unique tradition: water from Kashi (Varanasi) Vishwanath is brought to abhishekam the Rameshwar jyotirlingam; in turn, sand from Rameshwar is offered at Kashi. This 'atma-sanyog' (soul-union) journey between the two Jyotirlingas.

276 Paadal Petra Sthalams

Among the 276 Shaiva sites sung by the 63 Nayanmar saints in Tevaram

276 मंदिर

Shri Rama Katha Yatra — Setu Bandhan (Rama's birth to Lanka journey)

Rameshwaram = the place of Setu Bandhan and the return from Lanka. Full yatra: Ayodhya (birth) → Chitrakoot → Panchavati → Hampi (Kishkindha) → Rameshwaram (Setu) → Lanka

10
मार्गदर्शन

यात्रा एवं संपर्क

पता
Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram — 623526, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu
हवाई अड्डा
Madurai Airport (IXM) — ~175 km from Rameshwaram by road; Chennai Airport (MAA) — ~600 km
रेलवे
Rameshwaram Railway Station (RMM) — ~1.5 km from the temple; connected to Mandapam on the mainland since 6 April 2025 via the New Pamban Bridge (~2.08 km, vertical lift)
उत्तम ऋतु
October-March optimal; 22-32°C. April-June extremely hot and humid; July-September monsoon.
वेबसाइट
https://rameswaramramanathar.hrce.tn.gov.in ↗
12 किमीMandapam
20 किमीDhanushkodi
22 किमीSethu Karai
175 किमीMadurai
240 किमीTiruchirappalli
600 किमीChennai
575 किमीBangalore
305 किमीKanyakumari
← सभी मंदिर निर्देशिका
Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram — दर्शन, आरती, इतिहास एवं यात्रा | Pauranik | Pauranik