Rameswaram Temple INDIA

Ramanathaswamy Temple - History

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. Between 1907 and 1925 they renovated the Sanctum Sanctorum and the prakaram(inner most corridor) by replacing the lime stones by black granite with adequate provision for light and ventilation and also arranged for the performance of Ashtabandana Kumbabishekam in 1925; then on 22-2-1947 and the third Ashtabandana Maha Kumbabishegam was performed on 5-2-1975.

Ramanathaswamy Temple - Festivals

S.No	Festival	Beginning	Ending	Durations
1	Mahasivarathri (To be seen) i. Rishaba Vaahana Dharshan ii. Mahasivarathri Abishekam iii. Silver Chariot	Mahasashti krishnapatcham Maasi (February, March)	Mahakrishna Amavasai	10 days
2	Vasanthotsavam	Vaikasa Sukkila Sashti Vaikasi (May - June)	Vaisaka Paurnami	10 days
3	Ramalinga Prathishtai	Jeshta Sukkila Suddha Sashti Aani (May - June)	Ashata Paurnami	3 days
4	Thirukkalyanam (To be seen) i. Rishaba Vaahanam ii. Silver Chariot iii. Thabasu Day iv. Sayanasevai on Golden Pallakku v. Thirukkalyana Day	Aashada Pagula Krishnashtami (July - August )	Siravana - suddham	17 days
5	Navarathri Festival Dasara (Vijayadasami Day)	Bathrabatha Suddha Sukkila Pradhami Purattaasi (September - October)	Dasami	10 days
6	Kantha Sashti	Aasveeja Suddha Sukkila Aippasi (october - November)	Aasveeja Suddha Sashti	6 days
7	Aarudhira Dharshna	Maarkka Seerisha Sudda Sashti Sadhaya Natchatram Maargazhi (December - January)	Maarkka Seerisha Sudda Paurnami	10 days