Rameswaram

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Rameswaram | type = city | skyline = Rameswaram Gopuram.jpg
skyline_caption = Main Gopuram of the temple
latd = 9.28 | longd = 79.3
locator_position = right | state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Ramanathapuram
leader_title =
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altitude = 10
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 38,035| population_density =
area_magnitude= km²
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
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website =
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Rameswaram (Tamil:ராமேஸ்வரம்) is a town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Together with Kashi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus. Hence, it is a bustling pilgrim centre.

It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to legends, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu(also known as Adam's Bridge) across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Shiva to be absolved of the sin of killing Ravana, hence the name of Shiva, which became the name of the town - Rameswara ("lord of Rama"). Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage centre which is known as the Varanasi of the south.

Ex-president of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, hails from a fishing hamlet called Dhanushkodi situated on the island.

Geography

Rameswaram is located at coord|9.28|N|79.3|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/25/Rameswaram.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Rameswaram] ] It has an average elevation of 10 metres (32 feet). The religious island is spread in an area of 61.8 square kilometers and happens to be in the shape of a conch. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple occupies major area of Rameshwaram.

The island is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge.

Climate

Rameswaram has dry tropical climate, Average annual rainfall is 94cm, Receives mostly from North East monsoon from October to January, Temperature will be around 30°C to 35°C, Highest ever recorded at Pamban station is 37°C and lowest is 17° C. [ [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=36334&refer=&units=metric Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Pamban, India ] ]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Rameswaram had a population of 38,035. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Rameswaram has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 66%. In Rameswaram, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Hindu holy city

Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The masterpiece of South Indian architecture boasts of the largest temple corridor in India. Different rulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple over a period of time starting from the 12th century. The temple comprises twenty two wells where the taste of the water of each well is different from the other.

The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6 m high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned. The perspective presented by these pillars run uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230 m.

According to the Puranas, upon the advice of "Rishis" (sages), Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the "Sivalinga" here to expiate the sin of "Brahmahatya" (killing of a "Brahmin") (Ravana was a Brahmin the great grandson of Brahma).Fact|date=February 2007 Rama fixed an auspicious time for the installation and 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 rituals had been over. To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama had Anjaneya’s "lingam" ("Visvalingam") also installed by the side of "Ramalinga", and ordained that rituals be performed first to the "Visvalingam".

In Rameshwaram Temple, a spiritual "Mani Darshan" happens in early morning everyday. This "Mani" is made of "sphatik" [a precious stone] and in form of "Holy shivling". according to ved this is "Mani" of "sheshnag".

Sethu Karai is a place 22 km before the island of Rameshwaram from where God Ram built a Floating Stone Bridge "Ramasethu" till Rameshwaram that further continued from Dhanushkodi in Rameshwaram till Talaimannar in Sri Lanka as mentioned in the great Hindu epic Ramayana. The ruins of the Ramasethu are submerged under the sea as shot from Gemini 1 satellite of NASA in 2004.

Places to see

References

External links

* [http://www.rameswaram.co.in Rameswaram]
* [http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/places/citiestowns/Rameshwaram.aspx?CatId=C1&SubCat1Id=C1S1&SubCat2Id=C1S1S9 Rameswaram -Tamil Nadu Tourism Site] * http://www.tamilnadu-tourism.com/tamil-nadu-temples/rameshwaram-temple.html

*http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/ontheroad/rameswaram.asp

* [http://withfriendship.com/user/fraud/rameswaram-photos.php Rameswaram - Pictures]
* [http://sss.vn.ua/india/tamilnadu/rameshwaram/indexen.htm Photos of Rameswaram (1280x960), published by author]