2. Rameswaram

Name: Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
Deities: Lord Shiva
Location: Ramachandrapuram District, Tamil Nadu

Rameswaram is famous pilgrimage center in Tamil Nadu. Rameshwaram is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Rameshwaram is a town located on an island separated from the mainland India by the Pamban channel. Rameshwaram is the place where Lord Rama has built the bridge across the sea to Lanka. This is also the place where Lord Rama worshipped Shiva after killing the demon Ravana. This place is known as the Varanasi of the south. Pilgrimage to Kasi is incomplete without the visit to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is Rameshwaram is Sri Ramanatha Swamy.

According to the legend, upon the advice of rishis, Lord Rama installed and worshipped the Siva Linga in Rameshwaram to expiate the sin of killing Ravana who is a Brahmin. Lord Rama sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time, Sita herself made a linga of sand. When Anjaneya returned with a linga from Mount Kailas the linga was already installed and Anjaneya was disappointed. So Lord Rama also installed the Visvalingam brought by Anjaneya along the side of Ramalinga. Devotees first visit the Visvalinga and worship it before visiting the Ramalinga.

The places of interest in Ramaswaram are Ramanathaswamy Temple, which was built in the seventeenth century. There is a place known as Agnitheertham where Rama worshipped Lord . There is a temple called Gandamadana Parvatham 2 kms away from Rameshwaram. A place called Dhanushkodi named after Rama's bow at a distance of 8 kms from Rameshwaram.