Features of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga

Rameshwaram Dham, one of the four Dhams of Hindus

It is said that at this very place, Shri Ramchandraji had worshiped Lord Shiva and established his idol before his expedition to Lanka.

In the Puranas, the name of Rameshwaram is Gandhamadan mountain. The main temple of Rameshwaram is 120 feet high.

There is a pond called Jata Teerth at a short distance from Rameshwaram. According to the legend, Shri Ram ji had bleached his hair after the Lankan war.

Shri Ram had established Navagraha here. The bridge started from here, hence it is the original bridge.

It was here that the goddess killed Mahishasura.

There is a place named Dhanushkoti at a distance of about thirty kilometers from Rameshwaram. Due to the confluence of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean here, there is a tradition of performing ancestral rituals by considering it as a Shraddha pilgrimage.

There are 24 wells of sweet water inside the temple. Lord Rama created these water ponds with his arrow.

Any devotee who offers Ganga water at Rameshwaram Dham is freed from life and attains salvation.

It is a beautiful conch shaped island surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.

This story is described in Skandapuran regarding the establishment of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga.

First story according to legend

When Shri Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman and the monkeys reached the sea shore with the army, they saw that the city of Lanka was on the other side of the sea. Started thinking about how to cover the distance of Lanka from the sea. This was a big problem for all of them because they had to bring Sita back from Ravana’s Lanka. Lord Ram used to worship Lord Shiva daily but due to this problem he forgot to worship Lord Shiva that day.

Lord Ram ji suddenly felt thirsty and asked for water. Even before taking the water, he remembered that he had not worshiped Lord Shiva today, then he made the mortal remains of Lord Shiva at the same place and started worshiping with full heart.

He requested Lord Shiva, O Lord! I am in great trouble, please solve my problem. The city of Lanka is on the other side of this ocean, how can we cross it? Ravana has abducted Sita, he is also your devotee and is always proud because of the boon given by you. Please solve my problem.

Then Lord Shiva appeared there and said with a happy heart that you are my dearest devotee, your problem will definitely be solved. You ask for a groom. Then Ram ji said, ensure my victory in the war with Ravana and sit here forever for the welfare of the people. Then Lord Shiva granted him a boon and sat there forever.

Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga Mythological Story

(According to the legend, second story)

Another story is also popular. When Shri Ram ji was bringing back Sita ji after killing Ravana, he first rested on Gandhamadan mountain after crossing the sea. When the great sages and sages came to know that Shri Ram ji had come here with Sita, they all reached there to seek his blessings.

Then the sages told Shri Ram ji that you have been cursed for killing Brahma because you have destroyed the Pulastya clan. Then Shri Ram ji said that you all should tell me the solution to this problem, so that I can become free from sin. Then all the sages said, Lord! You build a Shivalinga here and worship it. Please please Lord Shiva. In this way you can be free from sin.

After listening to the sages, Shri Ram ji ordered Hanuman ji to go to Mount Kailash and bring a Shivling. As per the order, Hanuman ji immediately reached Mount Kailash. But he did not find Shivalinga.

He started doing penance for Lord Shiva there itself. Lord Shiva was pleased with this penance of Hanuman ji and appeared. In this way, after attaining Shivalinga, he immediately reached Gandhamadan mountain. But Hanuman ji was too late.

Shivalinga was to be established there as per the auspicious time told by the sages. Then everyone decided to build and install the Shivlinga themselves and worship it as per the rituals. Then this happened.

After the puja, when Hanuman ji came and saw that the establishment had been completed, he felt very sad and fell at the feet of Shri Ram ji. Then Shri Ram Ji told about the installation of Shivalinga that the Linga had to be installed so that the auspicious time does not pass.

But even then Hanuman ji was not satisfied. Then Shri Ram Ji said that let us uproot this established Shivalinga and re-establish the Shivalinga brought by you. Then Hanuman ji became very happy. As soon as the Shivalinga was uprooted, it did not get uprooted.

He had become hardened. He had become a thunderbolt. Hanuman ji made every effort to uproot that Shivalinga but he could not move it. At last Hanuman ji fell at a distance of 3 kilometers and became unconscious.

Mother Sita started crying out of love and then Hanuman ji regained consciousness and looked towards Shri Ram ji and saw Parabrahma. Then he cried and asked for forgiveness from Shri Ram Ji. Then Shri Ram Ji explained to him that no power in this world can uproot the person by whom this Shivalinga is established. You had made a mistake.

Never make such a mistake again. Showing such kindness towards his devotee, he also installed the Shivalinga brought by Hanuman ji there. Then Hanuman ji became very happy. Thus, the Shivling established by Ram ji was named Rameshwar and the Shivling brought by Hanuman ji was named Hanumadishwar.

There are many tourist places nearby, Sakshi Vinayak Temple, Sita Kund, Ekanta Ram Temple, Amman Devi Temple, Kodandaramaswamy and Villurani Kund etc. When pilgrims come here for darshan, they also visit these other places. In fact, this place is such that, just by seeing Shivalinga, all the sorrows of the devotees go away and they become free from sins.