RAMESHSWARAM

Amazing Experience

Rameshwaram, a major pilgrim site about 160 km south-east of Madurai is held in high esteem by all.

The island is in the shape of a conch shell, 55 km by 12 km. It is one of the most prominent holiest pilgrimage places in India. Srimad-Bhagavatam (canto 10 chapter 79 verses 16-17) states that Lord Balarama visited “Setubandha (Rameshwaram)” in the course of His pilgrimage. Lord Caitanya also visited Rameshwaram during His South India tour as mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila Chapter 9 verses 199-209.

It is said that Lord Rama Himself installed the Siva-lingam at this place thus lending added importance to it and this holy place is thus held in high esteem by both Vaishnavites and Saivites.
One more striking feature of Ramanath swamy temple is that pilgrims also come to this temple to bathe in the various ‘tirthams’ in order to obtain spiritual merits. There are 22 ‘tirtham’ wells within the precincts of the temple. Most of the devotees take a dip first in the sea (called Agni tirtham) in front of the temple.


Agni Tirtham is an important holy place in Rameshwaram. After Agnideva returned Sita to Lord Ramacandra, he asked Lord Rama for a place where he could get purified because he had taken Sita away. So Lord Ramacandra asked him to take his bath in the ocean and that place came to be known as Agnitirtha. It is said that anyone who bathes in this place will develop the quality of chastity. Agni Tirtham is only 100 meters in front of the magnificent East Gopuram of the Rameshwaram Temple.

List of places to visit in Rameshwaram: