Ekāntarāmanātha is a sacred tīrtha and Śivaliṅga kshetra in the Setu-kshetra, on the Gandhamādana mountain. It is named for the private counsel (ekānta) that Bhagavān Rāma took here before his great war against Rāvaṇa.

The tīrtha is linked with the tapas of Agastya’s brother, and with the appearance of Bhagavān Śiva, who sent seekers to this holy place. The nearby Amṛtavāpī (“well of nectar”) lies in the same area.

The name

The name Ekāntarāmanātha means “Rāmanātha of the private place”, or “Rāma’s own private lord”. It comes from the tradition that Bhagavān Rāma came to this quiet spot on the Gandhamādana mountain to take counsel in private (ekānta) with his trusted companions. This was before the great battle to rescue Sītā. Because he chose this place for private talk, the tīrtha took its name.

The Śivaliṅga set up at, or linked with, this place is Rāmanātha. It is the lord who is Rāma’s own śikhara (summit).

Agastya’s brother and Śiva’s direction

The holy power of this tīrtha became known in the Purāṇic record when a brother of the great ṛshi Agastya did tapas in the Setu-kshetra, offered to Bhagavān Śiva. Bhagavān Śiva appeared before him and told him to go to the Ekāntarāmanātha tīrtha and to the Amṛtavāpī beside it. This direction from Bhagavān Śiva himself shows the very great spiritual power of this tīrtha within the Setu-kshetra.

Phala

The Setu Māhātmya says that bathing and pūjā at the Ekāntarāmanātha tīrtha lead to Rāma-sālokya, which is dwelling in Rāma’s own realm. The Amṛtavāpī, close by, adds the phala (fruit) of amṛtatva (immortality) for those who come to this part of Gandhamādana.

Sources

Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 13