ANCIENT TEMPLES OF INDIA – LEGEND,
HISTORY AND
ARCHITECTURE
STATE – TAMILNADU
RAMESVARAM
It is a Shiv Temple called RAMANATHA situated in the centre of Rameshwaram island which is in the state of Tamilnadu and one of the twelve Jyotirlings in India.
Rameshvarm is part of four divine site established in four corners of India. While establishing Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri as one of the four mutts as the advaitic seats of learning in different parts of the country, Sri Sankara declared that Ramesvaram would be the kshetram for the southern Peetham. He chose Ramesvaram as his first prime destination when he embarked on his Akhanda Bharata Digvijayam from Sringeri. As Rameshvarm in the south , Badrinath in the north, Puri in the east and Dvaraka in the west. Piligrmage to Kashi is incomplete without a piligrmage to Rameshvarm.
LEGEND
Lord Rama worshipped siva in this spot so the Linga called Rameshvarm Jyotirlinga. Lord Rama had killed Ravana who was a Brahmin and a great devotee of siva. On the advice of sages Rama worshipped siva to purify himself. Sita made the sivalings with beach sand for worship.
Rama sent Hanuman to Siva's abode of Mount Kailash to bring a linga. But Hanuman unable to bring it before the auspicious time of puja so sita made a linga by using sand which Rama worshipped. There are two Jyotirlinga inside the Temple one made by Sita in the sanctum and other brought by Hanuman from Mount Kailash installed near the main entrance of Temple worshipped as vishvalingam. Devotees worshipped first worshipped lingam installed at entrance of temple then Worshipped at the sanctum.
The Ramanatha (Siva) in the form of Lingam is the primary deity in the Ramesvarm temple. There are separate temple for Ramanatha, Goddess Visalakshi also called Parvatavardhini and Mahaganapati.
HISTORY
During the 12th centuary Pandya Dynasty expended the temple and Monarchs of the Jaffana kingdom Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and their successor Gunaveera renovated the main sanctum. The longest corridor was built by King Muthuramalinga. A big amount spent by Pradhani muthu irulappa pillai for the renovation of the Pagodas and splendid Chockattan Mantapam or the cloistered precincts of the temple at Rameswaram that he finally completed.
As per Firishta, Malik Kafur, the General of Alauddin Khalji, the ruler of Delhi Sultanate reached Rameshwaram in spite of resistance from Pandyan dynasty in the early 14th century . A mosque called built in the name of Alia Al –Din Khaldji to mark victory of Islam.
As per records of court historians , Malik Kafur raided Madurai, Chidambaram, Srirangam, Vriddhachalam, Rameshwaram and other sacred temple towns, destroyed the Hindu temple which were source of gold and jewels. He took the all the wealth belongs to Dwarasamudra and Pandaya dynasty to Delhi in 1311.
The present Temple built during the 17th Century . The kings of Sri Lanka most contributed towards construction and up keep of the temple. The temple construction sanctioned by the king Kizhavan Sethupathi. The Jaffana kings of Pandya dynasty king Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan shippled stone blocks from Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee to renovate the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. Sri Lankan King Nissanka Malla made donation and sent workers for the temple. The Maratha kings who ruled Thanjavur established chatrams or rest houses all over Mayiladuthurai and Rameswaram between 1745 and 1837 and donated them to the temple.
SETU-Bandhanam
The Jaffna Kings (1215-1624CE) called themselves Setukavalan means guardians of the bridge. As their state religion was hinduism , so the made contribution to temple. Setu bridge is used as a motif in their coins and inscription.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple has high wall compound in all four sides. The premises from east to west is about 865 feet furlong and one furlong of 657 feet from north to south. There are huge towers from north to south and to east and west.The World longest corridors (3850 Feet ) constructed in the temple. The number of Pillars is 1212 in the outer corridor and having height of 30 feet. The second corridor is formed by sandstone pillars, beams and ceiling. The third corridor on the west goes to the Setumahadeva shrine forms a unique structure in the form of chess board called Chokkattan Mandapam where the utsava deities are adorned and kept during Vasanthotsavan and in the festival ADI(july-aug) and MASI (feb-mar).
OTHER PLACES OF WORSHIPS - TIRTHAS
There are total 64 Tirthas in and around Rameshvarm. As per Skand Purana 24 Tirthas are important. And 22 Tirthas are within Ramanatha Temple. Number 22 indicates the 22 arrows in Rama’s quiver. Bathing in these tank is the main desire of devotees.
The Agni Tirtham is part of Bay of Bengal, the Jatayu Tirtham is the place where the King of birds fought with Ravana to save Sita. Other Tank are Hanuman Tirtham, Sugreeva Tirtham. Before entering temple devotees take dip in Agni Tirtham and the water from 36 wells sprayed on them. And they pay homage in wet clothes to Ramantha and Goddess Visalakshi.
SETU KARAI
Setu Karai is situated 22 km from rameshwaram where Rama buit a floating stone bridge called Adam’s bridge that extended up to Dhanushkoti in Rameshwaram and goes to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.
In Ramayana this bridge is mentioned as constructed by the Rama as Setubandhanam. The Sea separate India and Sri Lanka is called Setu Samudram and also Marco Polo called this area Setubandhan Rameshwaram. In the Temple records Rama’s bridge was above sea level and it was broken in Cyclone in 1480 CE.
GANDHAMADANA PARVATAM
It is a hillock situated 3 km to the north of the Temple is the highest point in the island. There is two storeyed hall where Rama’s feet is found as imprint on a chakra. The Rama Padam temple is located on this hillock. In the southernmost of the Island Dhanushkoti is situated and here Kodandarama temple of Rama existed. In 1964 cyclone completely vanished Dhanushkoti but the Temple was intact. This is the place where Ravana brother Vibhishana surrender to Rama. It is called KASHI of South
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