Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) Jyotirlinga
రామేశ్వరం
Lord Shiva as Ramanathaswamy · Rameshwaram island, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu
Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 sacred manifestations of Lord Shiva as a self-manifest pillar of light (jyoti-linga). Located in Rameshwaram island, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu.
Significance
Part of the Char Dham (4 holy abodes). The longest temple corridor in India (1,212 metres). 22 sacred wells (theerthams) — devotees take bath in each before darshan.
Mythological Origin
Lord Rama himself worshipped Shiva here to atone for the killing of Ravana (a Brahmin). Hanuman was sent to fetch a Linga from Kailash but Sita created one from sand in the meantime. Rama installed both — the sand-Linga (Sita's) is worshipped first.
About the 12 Jyotirlingas
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest Shiva pilgrimage sites in India. Per the Shiva Mahapurana, when devotees compete to claim Lord Shiva's primacy, he manifested as an infinite pillar of light (jyoti-stambha) at 12 sacred locations. Devotees visiting all 12 in a single lifetime is one of the highest pilgrimages (Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Yatra). Reciting the 12-line Jyotirlinga Stotra ("Saurashtre Somanatham...") daily is said to grant the merit of physical pilgrimage to all 12.
Rameshwaram at a glance
| Form of Shiva worshipped here | Lord Shiva as Ramanathaswamy |
|---|---|
| Telugu name of the shrine | రామేశ్వరం |
| Where | Rameshwaram island, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Order in the traditional list | 11 of 12 |
Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) — frequently asked questions
Why is Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) counted among the 12 Jyotirlingas?
Lord Rama himself worshipped Shiva here to atone for the killing of Ravana (a Brahmin). Hanuman was sent to fetch a Linga from Kailash but Sita created one from sand in the meantime. Rama installed both — the sand-Linga (Sita's) is worshipped first. Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) stands eleventh in the traditional order this site follows, and the form worshipped here is Lord Shiva as Ramanathaswamy.
Where is Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) and what should you know before travelling?
Rameshwaram island, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. The shrine is written రామేశ్వరం in Telugu. Darshan timings, the aarti schedule, the queue and road access all change through the year and this site does not publish them — confirm those with the temple itself before you travel.
Which days are kept for Shiva at Rameshwaram?
Monday is Shiva's day of the week, and the pradosha window on the trayodashi tithi of each fortnight, the month of Shravana and Maha Shivaratri are kept at every Jyotirlinga. None of that is particular to Rameshwaram — the days to look for at this shrine are the ones the panchangam already marks for Shiva.
We do not publish darshan timings, ticket prices or queue lengths for Rameshwaram (Ramanathaswamy) — those change week to week and we have no way to verify them from here. What this site can settle is when: see the 12 Jyotirlinga circuit for the auspicious days ahead, Maha Shivaratri for the principal Shiva night of the year, or the daily panchangam for the tithi and Rahu Kalam on the date you are travelling.