Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram –
Temple Corridors (Prakarams)
There
are three corridors in the Temple named as “Kovil prakarams”. The
outer corridor is flanked on either side by a continuous platform with large
number of pillars, each adorned by intense sculptures. The longest
corridors are the north and south corridors which from each end present a vista
of receding columns and one cannot fail to marvel the grandeur and precision of
the art ancient architects and artisans. The temple has long corridors inside
between huge colonnades on platforms above five feet high.
The
second corridor is formed by sandstone pillars, beams and ceiling. The junction
of the third corridor on the west and the paved way leading from the western
gopuram to Sethumadhava shrine is designed as a chess board and called
Chokkattan Mandapam. The Utsava (processional) deities are decorated and kept
in this mandapam (hall) during the Vasantotsavam (spring festival), on the 6th
day of the festival in Adi (July–August) and Masi (February–March) conducted by
the Sethupathi of Ramnad.
The
outer set of corridors is reputed to be the longest in the world at 6.9 m height
and 400 feet long in the east and west and about 640 feet long in the north and
south. The inner corridors are about 224 feet in the east and west and about
352 feet in the north and south. The width varies from 15.5 feet to 17 feet in
the east and west and width varying between 14.5 feet to 17 feet in the north
and south. The total length of these corridors totals 3850 feet.
There
are about 1212 pillars in the outer corridor with a height of 30 feet from the
floor to the center of the roof. Most of the 4,000 brilliantly carved pillars
feature individual themes and are aligned in a special way. The carved granite
pillars are mounted on a raised platform and its uniqueness lies in the fact
that the rock is not indigenous to the island, but was brought in from other
parts of Tamilnadu across the sea.
First Corridor (First Prakaram):
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Second Corridor (Second Prakaram):
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Third Corridor (Third Prakaram):
For
brief details, please refer below link;