Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga: Ramanathaswamy Temple, Tamil NaduRameswaram, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu

About this guide

Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga, at the Ramanathaswamy temple on Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu, is the southernmost of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the Char Dham of India. It is a place where Shiva and Rama are worshipped together, and where the sea, the island and the temple's long corridors create an experience unlike any other.

This is YatriSutra's devotee guide to Rameshwaram: the story of Lord Rama's worship, the history and architecture of the temple, the 22 sacred wells, how darshan works, the sacred calendar and practical advice for your visit. It is written from temple, government and scriptural sources listed at the end of the page.

The divine story of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga

According to the Ramayana tradition, after defeating Ravana, Lord Rama wished to worship Shiva here to be cleansed of any sin from the war. He sent Hanuman to bring a lingam from Kailash. When Hanuman was delayed, Sita made a lingam of sand, and Rama worshipped it at the auspicious time.

That lingam, the Ramalingam, is the main deity of the temple. When Hanuman returned with his lingam, the Vishwalingam, Rama placed it beside the first and ordered that it should be worshipped first. The tradition continues to this day.

The name Ramanathaswamy means the Lord of Rama, and Rameshwaram means the one whom Rama worshipped as his Lord.

YatriSutra devotee tip: have darshan of the Vishwalingam before the Ramalingam, as Lord Rama himself ordained.

Why devotees visit Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is both a Jyotirlinga and one of the Char Dham, along with Badrinath, Dwarka and Puri, so a visit completes two great pilgrimages. Devotees come to bathe in the sacred waters, perform rituals for their ancestors and seek forgiveness, as Rama did.

Traditionally, many pilgrims who begin their journey at Kashi bring Ganga water to Rameshwaram and take sand from Rameshwaram back to the Ganga, linking the north and south of India in one yatra.

History and architecture of Ramanathaswamy Temple

The temple grew over many centuries, with major work by the Sethupathi kings of Ramanathapuram from the 12th to the 17th centuries. It is managed today by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.

The temple is a grand example of Dravidian architecture. Its features include:

• Tall gopurams (gateway towers) on the east and west.
• Pillared corridors, including the outer corridor, often described as the longest temple corridor in India, with more than a thousand carved pillars.
• 22 theerthams (sacred wells) within the temple, each believed to have its own blessing.

Inside the temple

The sanctum holds the Ramalingam, with the Vishwalingam in a separate shrine nearby. There are also shrines to Goddess Parvathavardhini and to Vishalakshi, and a large Nandi faces the main shrine. The Spatika Lingam, a crystal lingam, is shown to devotees early in the morning.

Rameshwaram darshan guide: timings and queues

The temple usually opens before dawn and closes in the night, with a break in the afternoon. The Spatika Lingam darshan takes place early in the morning. General darshan is free, and paid darshan tickets are available for shorter queues.

Timings change on festival days, so check with the temple office before you go.

Your darshan, step by step

• Bathe in the sea at Agni Theertham, opposite the temple.
• Bathe at the 22 theerthams inside the temple, where attendants pour water from each well.
• Change into dry, traditional clothes.
• Have darshan of the Vishwalingam, then the Ramalingam.
• Visit the shrine of Goddess Parvathavardhini and walk the corridors.

The 22 theerthams and daily rituals

Bathing in the 22 theerthams is the most distinctive ritual at Rameshwaram. Pilgrims move from well to well while attendants pour water over them, and each well is believed to wash away a different burden. Tickets for the theertham bath are sold at the temple counter.

The day also includes the early Spatika Lingam darshan, abhishek and the evening rituals. Many families perform ancestral rites (pitru karma) at Agni Theertham with the help of local priests.

Sacred calendar: Mahashivratri, Ramalinga Prathishtai and Aadi Amavasya

• Mahashivratri: a festival of several days with processions.
• Ramalinga Prathishtai: celebrates Rama's installation of the lingam.
• Aadi and Thai Amavasya: huge crowds come for ancestral rites at the sea.
• Thirukalyanam: the divine wedding festival of Shiva and Parvati.

Devotee etiquette

• Wear traditional clothes for darshan; men usually wear a dhoti or veshti and women a saree or salwar.
• Carry a change of clothes for after the theertham bath.
• Leave phones in the cloakroom where required.
• Keep the sea and wells clean: do not leave clothes or plastic behind.

Darshan for elderly and differently-abled devotees

The temple is on level ground, but the corridors are long and the theertham bath involves walking on wet floors. Elderly devotees can choose to receive water from a few wells rather than all 22, and should ask at the temple office about wheelchairs and assistance.

Tips for pilgrims visiting Rameshwaram Temple

• Go early for the Spatika Lingam darshan and shorter queues.
• Buy theertham tickets only from the official counter.
• Keep valuables safe during the bath; carry very little.
• Visit Dhanushkodi in daylight, as the road may close in the evening.

YatriSutra devotee tip: walk the outer corridor slowly. Its rows of carved pillars stretching into the distance are one of the great sights of Indian temple architecture.

Connected sacred places

• Agni Theertham: the sea in front of the temple, where pilgrims bathe first.
• Dhanushkodi: the southern tip of the island, linked with Rama's bridge.
• Gandhamadhana Parvatham: a hill with a shrine holding Rama's footprints.
• Kothandaramaswamy Temple, linked with Vibhishana's surrender to Rama.
• Pamban Bridge, connecting the island to the mainland.