Rāmeśvara Jyotirliṅga

Rāmeśvara, also called Rāmanāthasvāmī, is the eleventh of the twelve Jyotirliṅgas, the self-arisen liṅgas of light of Śiva (a liṅga is Śiva’s sacred sign or form). It is at Rāmeśvaram on Pāmban Island, at the southern tip of India, near the Setubandha (Rāma’s bridge).

Its story comes from Śrī Rāma’s war against Rāvaṇa. Standing on the southern shore before crossing to Laṅkā, Rāma offered pūjā to Śiva in a pārthiva liṅga (a liṅga of earth) with sincere devotion, asking for Śiva’s blessing for victory. Śiva was pleased and appeared to grant him victory. At the request of the devas, Śiva made his lasting home there as Rāmeśvara, the Īśvara to whom Rāma offered pūjā.

Location

Rāmeśvaram is on Pāmban Island at the south-eastern tip of Tamil Nadu. It is joined to the mainland by the Pāmban Bridge and separated from Sri Lanka by the Palk Strait. The Setubandha, the causeway built by Rāma’s army of vānaras (the monkey people), is linked with this region. Rāmeśvaram is one of the four dhāmas (the four holy abodes) of Bhārata and one of the most important pilgrimage places in South India.

The Story of Its Origin

Rāma on the Southern Shore

After gathering his vānara army and planning the crossing to Laṅkā, Rāma, the husband of Sītā and the avatāra of Vishṇu, stopped on the southern shore. Before the great battle he longed for Śiva’s darśana (sacred sight) and blessing. With deep devotion and only what the seashore offered, Rāma shaped a pārthiva liṅga from the earth of the shore. He offered complete pūjā with whatever he had: sea water, flowers from the shore, the simple offerings of a devotee far from home.

His pūjā was whole-hearted and sincere. It was the prārthanā of a devotee who knew that the coming battle, however righteous, needed the grace of Śiva.

Śiva Appears and Grants a Boon

Parameśvara, pleased with Rāma’s sincere pūjā, appeared before him. Śiva granted Rāma the boon of victory over Rāvaṇa, a clear promise that Sītā would be rescued and the rākshasa king defeated. With Śiva’s blessing assured, Rāma went on to cross the sea.

Rāmeśvara Is Established

After receiving Śiva’s darśana and boon, Rāma, together with the vānaras, devas and ṛshis gathered there, asked Śiva to stay at this place on the seashore for ever. Śiva agreed. The place where Rāma had offered pūjā to a pārthiva liṅga became the lasting Jyotirliṅga of Rāmeśvara, the Īśvara honoured by Rāma.

The Name Rāmeśvara

Rāmeśvara = Rāma + Īśvara (master, ruler). This Jyotirliṅga takes its name not from the place or from some quality of a devotee, but from the most famous devotee who set it up: Rāma himself. The name keeps Rāma’s act of pūjā alive for ever and makes the bond between the avatāra of Vishṇu and Śiva a central part of this kshetra (holy place).

Śiva and Vishṇu United at Rāmeśvara

Rāmeśvara is the Jyotirliṅga that shows most openly the oneness of Śiva and Vishṇu. This place was set up by Rāma, the avatāra of Vishṇu, for the pūjā of Śiva. It shows that there is no final opposition between Vaishṇava bhakti (devotion to Vishṇu) and Śaiva bhakti (devotion to Śiva). Rāma’s pūjā to Śiva on the seashore, and Śiva’s gift of victory to Vishṇu’s work in the world, together make one of the clearest statements in the Purāṇas of the harmony between these two great streams of devotion.

Why It Matters

Rāmeśvara holds a unique place among the Jyotirliṅgas. It was set up by an avatāra of Vishṇu, which makes it the meeting point of Śaiva and Vaishṇava devotion. The Rāmāyaṇa tradition gives the place its great depth: this is the southern shore of the great crossing, where the battle of dharma against adharma was blessed by Śiva. Pilgrims who come to Rāmeśvaram complete both the Vaishṇava and the Śaiva pilgrimage circuits of South India in a single visit.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 31