Ramanathaswamy Temple, Thiru Rameswaram, Thiruvarur
Ramanathaswamy
Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Thiru Rameswaram
Village in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Ramanathaswamy
and Mother is called as Mangala Nayagi. It is considered as Pithru Dosha
Nivarthi Sthalam. People unable to visit Kasi and Rameshwaram can visit and do
pariharam here. It is considered as equivalent to Kasi and Rameshwaram.
Legends
Pithru Dosha Nivarthi Sthalam:
It is
believed that Lord Rama performed Pithru Dosha Nivarthi for his father here in
this temple. Also he worshipped Lord Shiva here to get rid of brahma Hathi
Dosha, as he killed Asuras during the war. Lord Rama also got a boon from Lord
Shiva that whomever visit this place will be relieved from Pithru Dosha and
Brahma Hatti Dosha.
Kothanda Theertham:
To get
water for his Poojas, Lord Rama struck the ground with his bow, as the water
flows from the ground and formed a Pond called as Brahma Theertham and the
place where his bow struck and formed a well is called as Kothanda Theertham.
Mother Seetha done Shiva Puja here:
Mother
Seetha believed to have done Shiva pooja here to get rid of the sin of having
separated from Lord Rama.
The
Temple
The Temple
is facing west with two prakarams and is having five tiered Rajagopuram.
Irattai Vinayagar Shrine is located opposite to the Raja Gopuram. Rajagopuram
is connected to the three tiered second gopuram through granite pillared
mandapam. Nandhi, Kodimaram and Vinayagar are located this Mandapam. Also,
sculpture of Nayaka King with his consort can also be seen here. Artha
Mandapam, Maha Mandapam are located in front of Sanctum. Inner prakaram is
surrounded by granite walls.
Diety is
Swayambu Moorthy and is facing west. Presiding Deity is called as Ramanathaswamy.
Sun rays illuminate the Lingam during 22 to 25 on Tamil Month Maasi. Hence this
Sthalam is considered as Bhaskara Sthalam. Mother is called as Mangala Nayagi. Mother
is located at the entrance of second gopuram and is facing south.
Arthanareeswarar, Bikshadana, Brahma, Durga Agasthya, Vinayaga and
Dhakshinamoorthy are the Koshta Idols surrounding the sanctum walls. Here
Dhakshinamoorthy is seen with his four disciples and two Rishis with their consorts
on top.
There
are shrines of Sthala Vinayagar, Naalvar, Murugan with his consorts Valli and
Deivanai, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Kaliyamman, Jura Devatha, Bhairava,
Chandran, Suryan, Agneeswarar and 63 Nayanmars in the inner prakaram. A big
tank called Brahma Theertham is located to south of the temple and people
perform the rituals on the bank of this temple tank. Rajaraja Chola I and
Rajendra Chola period inscriptions are present in this Temple.
Prayers
Though
the transport facility to this place is poor, people come here in large numbers
to perform the rituals for their forefathers. A big tank is there close to the
Temple and people perform the rituals on the bank of this temple tank.
Connectivity
Thiru
Rameswaram is 10 kms East of Mannargudi. The Temple is located at about 4 Kms
north to Thattankoil located on Mannargudi to Thiruthuraipoondi Road. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Mannargudi and Nearest Airport is located at
Trichy (103 Kms).