Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga
रामेश्वरम् ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग
Shiva as Ramanathaswamy (Lord of Rama)
Meaning: Lord of Rama
Represents the unity of Shaivism and Vaishnavism, and the sanctity of devotion.
Spiritual Benefits:
- Absolving sins, particularly the sin of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahatya).
Rameshwaram is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites and the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is closely associated with Lord Rama, who is believed to have worshipped Shiva here before crossing to Lanka. The temple is also part of the Char Dham Yatra.
According to sacred accounts, after defeating Ravana in Lanka, Lord Rama wanted to absolve the sin of killing a Brahmin (Ravana). He installed a Shiva lingam here and worshipped Lord Shiva. The main lingam is believed to have been made by Sita out of sand, while a second lingam was brought from Kailash by Hanuman.
Scriptural Sources:
Temple Name: Ramanathaswamy Temple
Style: Dravidian
Highlight: The longest temple corridor in Asia.