Ramanatheshwarar Temple

Overview

Ramanathaswami Temple is situated at Tirukannapuram in the Tiruvarur locale of Tamil Nadu , India. Committed to Shiva, the temple is situated in the town of Tirukannapuram in the middle of Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai. The verifiable name of the spot is Ramanatheeswaram . The directing divinity is Shiva. He is called as Ramanathaswami. His consort is known as Sarivarkuzhali.The temple is connected with Rama why should accepted have loved Shiva at Tirukannapuram alongside Rameswaram to exculpate him of the wrongdoing of slaughtering Ravana.The temple has been lauded by Sambandar in the Thevaram. The temple is frequented by individuals looking for relief from sins conferred by them. It is one of the places of worship of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams.The temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Saint Gnanasambandar.This is the 77th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns. Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Aipasi Annabishekam and Skanda Sashti in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple. The visitors are advised to contact the temple administration in advance. Sage Agasthya appears worshipping Lord Kasi Bhairava in the prakara. It is said that this Bhairava was installed by Sage Agasthya. It is noteworthy that Tirukannapuram temple of Lord Sowriraja Perumal, one of the 108 Divya Desas is a little away from this temple. Thus the devotees have the double choice of worshipping both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu conveniently at the same time.

About the Temple

Master Somaskanda has an exceptional criticalness in the temple. The icon demonstrates Ambica pulling the Nandhi to a side to empower Lord Sri Rama love Lord Shiva. As uncommon pujas are performed in Lord Sri Rama sanctuaries on Punarvasu Star days (Punarvasu is Sri Rama's introduction to the world star), this puja is performed to Lord Shiva too on this day as Rama revered Shiva here. It is the conviction even now that Sri Rama performs the night puja to Shiva day by day here. Lovers consider this darshan vital. Master Subramania favors from a different altar with a blossom on His left hand and gift lovers by the privilege. In Tiruchendur Lord Muruga holds the bloom in His right hand. Ruler Muruga graces lovers with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. As Lord Rama adored Lord Shiva here, the spot is named Ramanatheeswaram. As Nandhi shrouded the Lord, the spot is additionally named Rama Nandeeswaram. Amid the Aarati to Lord Shiva we may see a Jyoti light on the Linga.

Legend and Stories

A ruler managing this area then, appealed to Lord Shiva for youngster help and performed a yajna. Through His voice, Lord guaranteed the ruler that Ambica would be his little girl. At the point when the ruler set out on chasing, he discovered four female kids, raised them as his own little girls. They were Shiva aficionados by their exceptionally nature. When they achieved age, ruler asked Lord to wed them. Ruler was cheerful to concede lord's wish. They are the Ambicas in four spots – Sarivar Kuzhali in this temple, Vaaitha Tirukuzshal Nayaki in Tiruchengattangudi, Karundhar Kuzhali in Tirupugalur and Vandar Kuzhali in Tirumarugal. They likewise bear the basic name Shoolikambal as they helped a poor pregnant lady convey her tyke amid nonattendance of her mom who was stuck at the other bank of the waterway because of overwhelming surges. Shool or Karu in Tamil implies pregnancy. Karu Katha Ambica is other name of the Mother in the temple. As Ambicas returned late, they couldn't enter the temple. Mother hallowed places are outside sanctuaries in these four spots. Amid the Arthajama pujas (last night pujas) samba rice with pepper, seeragam, salt and ghee is offered as nivedhana, an eating routine recommended for moms after conveyance. Sri Rama needed to execute Ravana and his armed force to save Mother Sita from his bondage. To assuage Himself from the doshas he brought about, He venerated Lord Shiva in Rameswaram and continued to Ayodhya. In transit, He discovered a Shiva Linga under a Shenbaga tree and was prepared to perform a puja. Nandhi the bull vehicle of Shiva took Rama as a common human and forestalled Rama to go near the Linga. Ambica pulled Nandhi and helped Rama to perform Shiva Puja. Rama was cheerful and came back to Ayodhya after the Shiva puja. Master Shiva is commended here as Rama Natheswarar.

The Ramanatheshwarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Rameshwaram. The main deity is Ramanathaswami and the idol is made of sand. It was installed by Sita Devi and the Goddess is Parvatha vardhini. The procedure is to worship (Kasi) Vishwanathar (which was brought by Hanumar) and Goddess (Kasi) Visalakshi first, and then Ramanatha Swamy and Pavathavardhini before proceeding to the other shrines. Since the Goddess Paravthavardhini is present to the right side of Ramanathaswamy, she is considered very special. The Srichakram in the Ambal shrine is considered highly sacred. The Jyothirlingam is present in the North-Eastern corner of the shrine. It is believed to have been installed by Vibheeshanan. If the Deepa Aarathi is shown at the back of the lingam, the front is lit in red and thus, it is called the Jyothirlingam. Poojas are conducted to the Jyothirlingam four times and Kodi theertha abhishegam is done once every day. The first pooja in the temple is conducted for Vishwanathar and Visalakshi. Each night, the golden vigraha of Ramanathaswamy is brought from the Ramanathar shrine to the Sayana Griha and is kept by the side of Goddess Vigraha in the Swing for the Sayana pooja. Early each morning, the wake up pooja or Thiruppalli ezhuchi is conducted. Participating in these poojas is considered highly sacred. At 5:00 AM every day, a Spatika linga pooja takes place. Every Friday night, the Ambal comes in a Golden chariot procession in the third corridor. In the Sukravara mandapam, which is situated just opposite the Ambal shrine, the Ashta Lakshmis are present facing East. There is a Kalyana Sundareswarar shrine here. Exchanging garlands in this shrine removes all obstacles to marriage. In the northern side of this mandapam, there are eight pillars housing Manonmani, Mahendhri, Kowmari, Rajarajeswari, Lakshmi, Kali, Chamundi and Dwarabaliha. In the southern side eight pillars Dwarabaliha, Shivadurga, Manonmani, Vageeswari, Sethupathy, Kadamba thevar, Pradhani, Bhuvaneswari and Annapoorani are present. The junction of the third corridor on the west and the paved way leading from the western gopuram to Setumadhava shrine forms a unique structure in the form of a chess board and it is popularly known as Chokkattan Madapam where the Utsava deities are adorned and kept during the Vasntotsavam (spring festival). The Sethupathy Mandapam is at the entry of the eastern entrance. Raja Baskara Sethupathy’s sculpture is present there. There is also the Anuppu Mandapam and the Thirukkalyana Mandapam. There are 53 Theerthas (holy water bodies) in and around Rameswaram and 23 of them are very important. Bathing in these Theerthas is a major aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The first and major one is called Agni Theertham, the calm shallow water-spread of the Bay of Bengal just about 100 meters in front of the temple. 22 of the Theerthas are placed within the temple. 22 indicates the 22 arrows in Rama’s quiver.

Accessibility

Air

Mannargudi does not have an airport. Nearest airport is Civil Airport. Mannargudi 83 km away Civil Airport (TRZ), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu Mannargudi 136 km away Pondicherry Airport (PNY), Puducherry, Pondicherry

Rail

Instead of Mannargudi one can a get a train to Nidamangalam on regular basis. Mannargudi 13 km away Nidamangalam (NMJ), Needamangalam, Tamil Nadu Mannargudi 23 km away Thiruvarur Junction (TVR), Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu

Road

There are regular buses from other major cities of the country to Mannargudi. Bus Station(s): Mannargudi , Mannargudi