The Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana tells us that Rama halted at this very spot before launching his campaign against Lanka. He was a devoted follower of Shiva, and he wished to offer puja to Shiva before crossing the sea.
According to the Ramayana, Rama installed a Shivalinga here and performed puja. The linga was made of sand, since no stone linga was available at that moment.
The Shiva Purana also mentions this place. Shiva resides here as Rameshwar — meaning the Lord of Rama, or the Shiva worshipped by Rama.
The temple stands on Rameswaram island, at the southeastern tip of Tamil Nadu. Lanka is not far from here. The Ramayana also speaks of the bridge being built from this very region.
According to the Valmiki Ramayana, Rama himself offered puja to Shiva at this very spot.
What makes Rameshwar distinctive is that it is the only one among the twelve Jyotirlingas that is also counted among the Char Dhams. Rameswaram is the southernmost of the four Char Dham sites on mainland India.
The Ramanathaswamy temple is built in the Dravidian style. Its corridors are among the longest in any Indian temple. The temple complex also houses 22 theerthas (sacred water tanks), and bathing in them has traditionally been part of a devotee's visit.
- The temple is open throughout the year, and devotees come daily for darshan.
- The complex has 22 theerthas (sacred tanks) — tradition holds that devotees bathe in all of them.
- The temple's long corridors with their finely carved pillars are a sight in themselves.
- Maha Shivaratri and the month of Shravan are times of special observance here.