Rāmanāthapura is a sacred city in the southern part of Bhāratavarsha, in the coastal region near Kāñcī. Chapter 18 of the Rājya Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa tells how it was founded and made holy. Bhagavān Rāma gave the city by a formal land grant, a śilāśāsana (stone inscription), to King Kambukantha of Kāñcī. Hanumān visited Kāñcī and stamped the Rāmamudrā, Rāma’s royal seal, on the inscription. The account also holds a prophecy about a future wicked king and Hanumān’s promise to step in. It names two sacred sites: the Udārarāghava liṅga and the Hṛttāpaśamana tīrtha.

The land grant

The Rājya Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa records that Bhagavān Rāma, as ruler of all seven dvīpas (the seven great islands or continents), gave a formal grant of land and so founded Rāmanāthapura. The grant was written in a śilāśāsana, a stone inscription, which is the traditional form of a lasting royal order. It set out the terms of the gift and the divine authority behind it. The one who received the grant was King Kambukantha of Kāñcī.

Hanumān and the Rāmamudrā

Hanumān came to Kāñcī and with his own hand stamped the Rāmamudrā, the royal seal of Bhagavān Rāma, on the stone inscription. By this the grant stood under Rāma’s own authority, given through his greatest devotee.

The prophecy

With Hanumān’s visit came a prophecy. A wicked king would one day arise who would break the terms of the land grant. Hanumān declared that when this happened he would step in himself and set it right and restore dharma. The inscription, sealed with the Rāmamudrā and backed by Hanumān’s vow, thus carried its own protection into the future.

Sacred sites

Two sacred sites belong to Rāmanāthapura in this account.

Udārarāghava liṅga. This is a Śiva liṅga whose name holds one of Rāma’s names, Udāra-Rāghava, “the generous Rāghava”. It recalls Rāma’s quality of great generosity (udāratā).

Hṛttāpaśamana tīrtha. This is a sacred bathing tank, or body of water. Its name means “that which removes the anguish of the heart” (hṛt, heart; tāpa, anguish or heat; śamana, removal). It was set up as a place of comfort and cleansing, and its healing power is open to all pilgrims.

Sources

Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Rājya Khaṇḍa, Chapter 18