Anyone who knows Ramyana knows Ramesawaram, the illustrious temple located at the tip of Indian Peninsula in Tamil Nadu. It is one among the 12 Jyotirlinga’s and one of the crucial part of “Char Dham Yatra”(holy Piligirimage) in Hindu religion.
Every tiny piece of Rameswaram is associated with Ramayana, it is the land of Rama. It is believed that Lord Rama has worshipped Shiva here, it is one place in India where both Shaivism and Vaishnavism worship. It is the most important pilgrimage in the Hindu Religion and throught the year tourist throng the place to take bath in the famous “Tirthams” of Rameswaram. These Tirthams’ irrespective of the year, weather conditions are eternally full. And according to the “Skanda puranamam” there are 64 Tirthams’ in and around Rameswaram, but 24 of them are the most important of them which give penance to the man from his sins.
Among the 24 Tirtham’s two are outside the Ramanatha swamy temple and the rest 22 are inside the premisies. It is believed that the 22 wells represent the 22 arrows in Lord Rama’s Quier. Let to know some more about the temple and the Mysterious Tirthams’ of Rameswarma.
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Temple
Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located on Rameswaram island in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples. It is one of the 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite saints), Appar, Sundarar and Tirugnana Sambandar, have glorified the temple with their songs. The temple was expanded during the 12th century by Pandya Dynasty, and its principal shrines sanctum were renovated by Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and his successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan of the Jaffna kingdom. The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.The temple is located in Rameswaram considered a holy pilgrimage site for Shaivites, Vaishnavites and Smarthas. The presiding deity, the Lingam of Ramanathaswamy (Shiva), is believed to have been established and worshiped by Rama, an avatar of the god Vishnu, to absolve the sins created during the Ramayana war at Sri Lanka.
The temple and the island of Rameswaram have acquired this name because, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva, the God of Gods here on return from Sri Lanka. According to legend, after killing Ravana Lord Rama returned with his consort Goddess Seetha to India first stepping on the shores of Rameswaram. To expiate the “dosha” of killing a brahmin, Lord Rama wanted to offer worship to Lord Shiva. Since there was no shrine in the island had despatched Sri Hauman to Kailash to bring an idol of Lord Shiva.
Between 1897 and 1904, the ALAR family of Devakottai completed the imposing eastern tower of nine tiers 126 feet in height from Thiruppani funds. The Temple has the world’s largest Corridor.
24 Tirtha’s of Rameswaram
Rameswaram Temple Tirthas are the holy wells situated inside the Rameswaram Temple in Tamilnadu, India. There are sixty-four Tīrthas (holy water bodies) in and around the island of Rameswaram. According to Skanda Purana, 24 Tirthas in Rameswaram are important and taking snan (bathing) in them are considered equivalent to penance. Twenty Two Thirthas are inside Ramanatha Swami Temple.
1) Agni Theertham – It is located in the beach east of Ramanathaswamy Temple
2) Setu Teertham – It is located at Dhanushkodi
Other 22 Tirthas inside temple are
1) Mahalakshmi Tirtha – according to the legend King Yudhistra took bath here and became rich
2) Savithri Tirtha – It is said that Kashyapa got rid of his curse after taking a holy dip in this theertham
3) Gayathri Tirtha – According to the legend King Kasibar had got rid of his curse after taking bath in this Tirtha and
4) Saraswathi Tirtha – King Kasibar got rid of his curse after the Gayatri Tirtha
5) Sethu Madhava Tirtha – If one takes bath in this well it is believed that the persons will be blessed by Mahalakshmi and get purified of impure thoughts.
6) Gandhamadana Tirtha – according to the stala purana if one takes bath in this well he will get rid of poverty.
7) Kavatcha Tirtha – this Tirtha helps one get rid of sins and will not go to hell
8) Gavaya Tirtha – According to the Purana’s bathing in this well will get shelter under Karpaga Virutchaga or Kalpa Vriksha tree.
9) Nala Theertham – the person who takes bath in this Tirtha will be blessed by Lord Surya and reach heaven.
10) Neela Tirtha – According to the Skanda purana, taking bath in this well is equivalent to having performed various yagnas and will obtain Agni Yoga
11) Sanku Tirtha – It is believed that Sage Vatsanabha got rid of his sin of ingratitude by takig bath in this Tirtha.
12) Chakkara Tirtha – According to the legend the Sun God had got his hand turned golden after bathing in this Tirtha.
13) Brahmahathi Vimochana Tirtha – Bathing in this Tirtha will help to get rid of Brahma Hathya Dosham
14) Sooriya Tirtha – According to the puran’s bathing in this temple helps to obtain knowledge of the past present and the future
15) Chandra Tirtha – bathing in this Tirtha too helps to obtain knowledge of the past present and the future
16) Ganga Tirtha – According to the stala puranmam, Gananasuruthi Rajah attained wisdom after taking bath in this well.
17) Yamuna Tirtha – Gananasuruthi Rajah attained wisdom
18) Gaya Tirtha – Gananasuruthi Rajah attained wisdom
19) Siva Tirtha – Completion of Bhaira Brahmahathi
20) Sadyamirtha Tirtha – According to the legend Emperor Bururoonu got rid of his curse after taking bath in this Tirtha.
21) Sarva Tirtha – It is believed that Sutharishna got prospered after getting rid of his blindness (from birth) and illness after taking bath in this Tirtha.
22) Kodi Theertham – According to the Skanada Purana, Lord Sree Krishna got rid of his sin of killing Kamsa here after taking bath in this Tirtham.
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