Rameswaram

Rameswaram, located at southern tip of India has a huge sri Ramalingeshwara temple consecrated by Lord Rama. this temple is said to built in 12th century and is huge one with 300 metres in length and 840 metres in breadth. the courtyards is known for Dravidan architecture. Sri ramalingeshwara shrine is in the first courtyard. next to this Sri Kashi Vishwanath shrine. legend says that after killing Ravana, Lord Rama installed shivalingas here to get rid of Brahmahatya,(Ravana was Brahmin).Lord Rama sent Hanuman to get Shivalingas to Kashi, hanuman could not come with the linga at said time so Sita prepared Shivalinga with sand on the shore while Rama consecrated it and this is known as Ramalingeshwara. Rameswaram is also one of the jyothirlingam kshetra. hanuman was enraged that the shivalingam brought by him was not consecrated Lord Rama consoled him and consecrated that lingam next to Ramalingeshwara and also ordained that pilgrim should first offer poojas to this lingam.other shrines are Goddess Parvathi, Sri Kothandaramaswami, Sethumadhava, Lord Ganapathi,Navagrahas and a huge Nandi(bull) facing Ramalingeshwara temple.
there are 22 Theerthams in temple premises considered auspicious to take bathe in these theerthams. Nearby the temple is Agnitheertham pilgrims take bath in Agnitheertham at sea shore and also offer pinda pradhana for their elders. nearby is Gandhamadana Parvath, which has two floors. the feet of Lord Rama is here. at Dhanushkodi there is temple of Kothandarama temple. it is said that from here the stone bridge for Lanka was constructed by vanaras but the place has been submerged in sea during cyclones. nearby places are Dharbashayanam, navapashanam. it is said that Rama was resting at Dharbashayanam on th holy grass waiting for sea god to give way for him and his army to enter Lanka. at Navapashana it is said that Lord Rama installed Navagrahas in the sea.