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Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Ramanathapuram, Tamilnadu

Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, located on the sacred Rameswaram Island in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, is one of the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. It holds an unparalleled place in Hindu tradition as (i) One of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva (ii) One of the Char Dham pilgrimage destinations along with Badrinath, Dwarka, and Jagannath Puri (iii) One of the 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams, glorified by revered Shaivite saints (Appar, Sundarar & Tirugnana Sambandar) According to belief, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here before embarking on his journey to Lanka. He created a lingam from sand, known as Ramalingam, while Hanuman brought another lingam from Kailash, called Vishwalingam. As instructed by Rama, Vishwalingam is worshipped first, a tradition followed even today. The temple is renowned for its majestic architecture, its longest temple corridor in India, and its sacred 22 Tirthams for holy purification. It is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for Shaivites, Vaishnavites, and Smarthas alike.



History of the Temple

Rameswaram is mentioned in the Ramayana and is believed to date back to the epic era. It is considered the southern counterpart of Kashi, and completing a pilgrimage to Kashi is traditionally deemed incomplete without visiting Rameswaram and worshipping Lord Ramanathaswamy.

Historical Highlights

  • The temple’s early structure is attributed to the Pandya Dynasty (12th century).
  • Major shrine renovations were carried out by rulers of the Jaffna Kingdom—Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan.
  • The temple flourished under the Sethupathy rulers of Ramanathapuram, known for constructing the world-famous corridors.
  • The island is conch‑shaped and spans 15 acres, making it both spiritually and geographically unique.

Rameswaram is considered the only Shaiva temple among the Char Dham, with the other three being Vaishnavite temples. It also stands as the southernmost Jyotirlinga shrine in India.

Temple Architecture

The architecture of Ramanathaswamy Temple is an extraordinary example of South Indian Dravidian style.

Key Architectural Features

  • Main Deity: Lord Ramanathaswamy (Shiva Lingam)
  • Two Lingams in the Sanctum:
    • Ramalingam (made by Rama from sand)
    • Vishwalingam (brought by Hanuman from Kailash) – worshipped first
  • World’s Longest Temple Corridor:
    • Construction Period: 1740–1770 (by King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi)
    • 1,212 pillars with intricate carvings
    • Corridor height: 22 ft 7½ inches
    • Outer wing: East–West 690 ft | North–South 435 ft
    • Inner wing: East–West 649 ft | North–South 395 ft

The vast corridors, sculpted pillars, mandapams, and vibrant Dravidian architecture make it an engineering marvel and a visual delight.

Significance of Rameswaram Temple

  • One of the 12 Jyotirlingas—symbolizing the infinite light of Shiva
  • One of the Sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites
  • Considered the “Kashi of the South”
  • One of the 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams
  • Associated with the Rama Sethu (Adam’s Bridge)
  • Home to 22 Tirthams within the temple complex

The 22 Tirthams

Bathing in these sacred wells is believed to purify devotees physically and spiritually.
The first and most important is Agni Theertham, located at the Bay of Bengal.

Daily Pooja Timings

Temple Hours

  • Morning: 4:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Evening: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Daily Poojas

Pooja Name

Timing

Thiruvanandal Pooja

06:00 AM – 06:15 AM

Vilan Pooja

07:00 AM – 07:15 AM

Kalasandhi Pooja

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Uchi Kaala Pooja

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM

Sayaraksha Pooja

06:00 PM – 06:15 PM

Ardhajama Pooja

08:30 PM – 08:45 PM

Festivals & Celebrations

Monthly Poojas

  • Pradosham
  • Karthigai Deepam
  • Amavasai
  • Chathurthi
  • Sashti
  • Monthly Sivarathri

Weekly Poojas

  • Somavara Pooja (Mondays)
  • Dakshinamurthy Pooja (Thursdays)
  • Ambal Procession (Fridays)
  • Navagraha Pooja (Saturdays)

Special Utsavams

  • Velli Ratha Urchavam (Silver Car Procession)
  • Pancha Moorthi Utsavam
  • Thanga Pallakku Urchavam (Golden Palanquin Procession)

Visitor Guide

Map


How to Reach

  • From Madurai: 155 km
  • Rameswaram Bus Stand: 3 km
  • Rameswaram Railway Station: 2 km

The temple is located on Pamban Island, connected to mainland India via the spectacular Pamban Bridge.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

Agnitheertham

0.1 km – Sacred seashore for holy dips before darshan.

Hanuman Temple

0.2 km – Famous for floating stone exhibits of Rama Sethu.

Gandhamadhana Parvatham

2.3 km – Legendary hillock with Rama’s footprints.

Pamban Bridge

12.4 km – Historic sea bridge connecting Rameswaram to the mainland.

Contact Information

Phone: 04573–221223
Email: rameshwaramtemple@tnhrce.com

Address:
Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple
East Car Street, Rameswaram
Ramanathapuram – 623526, Tamil Nadu

Official Website:
https://rameswaramramanathar.hrce.tn.gov.in/