Ekantha Ramaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram
Sri
Ekantha Ramaswamy Temple is about six km from Rameswaram Temple on the
main road connecting to Pamban. According to legend, Sri Rama stopped here for
a while he was searching for Sita. With him were Lakshmana, Anjaneya and the
army of monkeys.
This is
the place where Lord Ramachandra spent some time in seclusion. The temple has
also a well which was used to quench the thirst of monkey soldiers of Lord Rama.
This
temple houses a well (Amrutha Teertham - Nectar Well) which was
apparently created by Rama for his army to quench their
thirst. It is also believed that bathing in this Theertham also bless you
with a long and prosperous life.
The
temple is within the jurisdiction of the Thangachi Madam Panchayat. The deity
has been eulogized by Thyagaraja in his composition, ‘Edri Prodhu Ekantha
Ramaiah…’ Skanthasethu Mahatmiyam speaks of the glory of this deity. Sethu
Puranam refers to Amritavapi, the temple’s pushkarani, in which a sage cursed
by Agasthya, took a dip to find relief.
Ekantha
Ramaswami temple is managed by Arya Maharashtra hereditary pujaris and run as
private Trust. Sri Ramnath Pujari (71), a descendant, conducts the daily puja
at the temple. His great-grand father Sri Sethu Bhattar performed consecration
150 years ago and renovated the temple.
In 1951,
his grandfather organized Samprokshanam with the help of Maharashtra Brahmin
Community. In 1963, a philanthropist from Calcutta, Koundhlala Bhangur, donated
liberally for renovation. Consecration took place in 1967, thanks to the
efforts of Neelakanta Pujari, father of Sri Ramnath Pujari.
The
temple is in a dilapidated state with the compound wall and the shrines
crumbling.
Devotees
who wish to contribute may send in the amounts as cheque or draft favoring Sri Ekantha
Ramaswamy Temple, and addressed to Sri Ramnath Pujari, Trustee, Sri Ekantha Ramaswamy
Temple, 79, Middle Street, Rameswaram. Phone: 09843272170.