Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu holds a truly special place among the twelve Jyotirlingas, since it is the only one said to have been established by Lord Rama himself. You already know Rameshwaram well as one of the four Bada Char Dham, and its story here focuses on why it is also counted among the Jyotirlingas.
FACT: INDIA'S LONGEST TEMPLE CORRIDOR
The Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameshwaram is famous for having the longest corridor of any Hindu temple in India, lined with hundreds of intricately carved pillars stretching for hundreds of metres. Pilgrims often walk the full corridor as part of their darshan.
The Story of Rameshwaram
MYTH: A LINGAM MADE IN DEVOTION, NOT DELAY
After defeating Ravana in Lanka and rescuing Sita, Lord Rama wished to worship Shiva to cleanse himself of the sin of killing Ravana, who despite his misdeeds was a learned Brahmin and a great devotee of Shiva. Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring back a Shiva Lingam for this worship. As the auspicious time for the puja drew near and Hanuman had not yet returned, Sita herself shaped a small lingam out of the sand of the seashore so that Rama's worship would not be delayed.
This lingam, installed by Rama, became the main deity of the Ramanathaswamy temple. When Hanuman finally arrived with the lingam from Kailash, he was saddened to find the worship already complete. To honour his devotion and effort, Rama installed that lingam beside the main one, known as the Vishwalingam, and decreed that it must be worshipped first, out of respect for Hanuman, even to this day.
Since Rameshwaram is already covered in depth on this site, including the full Rama Setu story, the 22 sacred Theerthams, and the connection with the Skanda Purana, please refer to those earlier posts for the complete pilgrim guide, temple timings, and travel tips.
रामेण स्थापितं लिङ्गं रामनाथमिति श्रुतम् ।
यो दृष्ट्वा मुच्यते पापात् जन्मकोटिसमुद्भवात् ॥
Transliteration: Raamena sthaapitam lingam, Raamanatha-m iti shrutam | Yo drishtva muchyate paapaat, janma-koti-samudbhavaat ||
Meaning: The lingam installed by Lord Rama is known as Ramanatham. One who takes darshan of this lingam is freed from the sins accumulated over crores of past births.
Source: Skanda Purana - Rameswara Khanda, Chapter 4 - The Installation of Ramalingam
काश्यां तु मरणान्मुक्तिः रामेश्वरदर्शनात् ।
जन्मान्तरसहस्राणि पापान्मुच्येत मानवः ॥
Transliteration: Kaashyaam tu maranaan muktih, Raameshvara-darshanaat | Janma-antara-sahasraani, paapaan muchyeta maanavah ||
Meaning: In Kashi, liberation is attained at the moment of death. But one who takes darshan of Rameshwaram is freed from the sins of thousands of past births - even while still alive.
Source: Skanda Purana - Rameswara Khanda, Chapter 7 - The Greatness of Rameshwaram
TIP FOR SENIOR PILGRIMS
The 22 sacred wells (Theerthams) inside the temple each involve a short bath ritual; elderly pilgrims can choose a few of personal significance rather than attempting all 22 in one visit.
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Detail |
Information |
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Location |
Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu |
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Nearest Railway Station |
Rameshwaram Railway Station |
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Nearest Airport |
Madurai Airport (about 170 km) |
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Temple Darshan Hours |
5:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM (approx..) |
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Best Time to Visit |
October to April |
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Wheelchair Access |
Available in main corridor areas; some sections have steps |
What Else Can You See Nearby
- Dhanushkodi - the land's end point connected to the Rama Setu story.
- Pamban Bridge - the historic sea bridge connecting Rameshwaram to the mainland.
- Jada Theertham - associated with the Ramayana legend of Jatayu.
CLOSING MYTH: A DEBT OF GRATITUDE
It is said that even a god as great as Rama chose to honour a devotee's effort over convenience, ensuring Hanuman's lingam was never overlooked. Pilgrims still remember this today, always paying respects to the Vishwalingam before the main shrine.
Explore the Other 12 Jyotirlingas
Rameshwaram is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Continue your journey with the rest:
- What is a Jyotirlinga? The Sacred Story Every Hindu Should Know
- Somnath - First Jyotirlinga - Where Lord Shiva First Appeared as Light
- Mallikarjuna - The Jyotirlinga Where Shiva and Parvati Both Reside
- Mahakaleshwar - Jyotirlinga Ujjain - Lord of Time, Master of Death
- Omkareshwar - The Jyotirlinga Shaped Like Om
- Kedarnath Jyotirlinga - Where Shiva Hid from the Pandavas
- Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga - Born from a Demon's Destruction
- Kashi Vishwanath - Lord of the Universe at the City of Light
- Trimbakeshwar - Where the Godavari River Was Born
- Vaidyanath - The Jyotirlinga Ravana Could Not Carry Home
- Nageshwar - The Jyotirlinga That Protects Devotees
- Grishneshwar - The Twelfth and Final Jyotirlinga
- Frequently Asked Questions - The 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva
See all twelve on the 12 Jyotirlingas hub page.