Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram –
First Corridor (First Prakaram)
The Ramanathaswamy,
the Main deity of the temple with his consort Parvadhavardhini Amman are
located in the first corridor of the Temple. The first Corridor is
the oldest corridor as compared with the others. Built in 12th century, and
renovated over various periods. The corridor around Sri Ramanathaswamy &
Sri Kasi Viswanathar Sannadhi is called as First Parakaram.
In the
1st prakaram Sannadhi for Usha Suryan & Prathyusha, Sahasra Lingam,
Cheppu and Stone Thirumeni of 63 Nayanmar, Sekkizhar, Saraswathy
on Pathrapedam, Vinayagar, Sankaranarayanar (Shiva in half and Thirumal
other half), Arthanariswarar with their vahanam Nandhi and Simam, Chandrashekarar
& Gowri in separate peedam, Valli Deivanai Sametha Murugan,
Gajalakshmi, 11 Lingams of Ekatha Rudhrars & Visalakshi amman (Kashi
Visalakshi is in a separate temple like Sannadhi with ardha mandapam &
Vimanam), Sabhamandapam, Jothylingam, Krithika, Chandran, Rohini.
Nandhi Mandapam,
Dhwajasthambham and Balipeedam are at the entrance of first corridor. Nandhi is
of little big (22 feet length, 12 feet width and 17 feet high) made of sudhai.
Viswanathar and Krishnappa Naikar reliefs are on the mandapam pillar. The Nandhi
has Urchavar, Vahanam and moortham like Thirumazhapadi. Navagrahas are on the
north side of Nandhi mandapam.
Maha
Ganapathy Sannadhi Karuvarai is equipped with a vimanam in on the south
side. Devi is on the lap of Vinayagar. Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar
is on the north side. The construction is similar Sri Vinayagar Sannadhi.
Parvatha
Varthini Amman Sannadhi is of separate temple type with Sanctum, Ardhamandapam,
Mahamandapam and corridor. The vimanam is of single tier type with sudhai
sirpangal. Amman temple is on the right of Moolavar temple. Amman is in
standing posture on a padma peedam and Sri Chakram is also installed.
Sandikeswari
is located on the north side facing south. In Amman temple corridor; Santhana &
Sowbakya Ganapathi, Sapthamatharkal (Brahmi, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Vaarahi,
Indrani and Samundi.), Pallikonda Perumal and Palliyarai are located.
Ashtalakshmis are located at the passage from first prakaram.
Sukkiravaramandapam
is located outside Parvadhavardhini Amman Temple. The mandapam has 32 pillars
with reliefs. On the south corner of the mandapam, Sri Kalyanasundareswarar
& Suryan are located and facing east Brahma and Vishnu are located and facing
north. On the North West, Ashtalakshmi is located in a single stone slab. In
the center of the mandapam Nandhi and Dhwajasthambham are located on a separate
platform.
Navasakthi
mandapam is located on the way to second corridor from Sukkiravara mandapam.
Between this and Nandhi mandapam is the Shiva Theertham.