About Ramanathaswamy Temple:
- It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on Rameswaram Island in the state of Tamil Nadu.
- History:
- The first stone temple was built here by the Chola kings in the 12th century, and additions were made by kings of the Pandya dynasty and the rulers of Vijayanagar.
- Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara came here in 1513 after conquering Lanka and made magnificent gifts to the temple.
- The Sethupati kings of Ramnad became the guardians of the temple during the rule of the Nayakas, and they finally completed the temple.
- The Temple is one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam, meaning "pillar of light".
- Of the 12 Jyotirlingas, 11 are in the north, and only Ramanathaswamy is in the south.
- It is one of the four Char Dham shrines. The other three are Dwaraka, Puri, and Badrinath, all located in the north.
- It is the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva among the four Char Dham shrines.
- Architecture:
- The temple is renowned for its stunning Dravidian architecture, characterized by towering gopurams and intricate carvings.
- Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a high compound wall (madil) on all four sides of the temple premises.
- The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
- The temple’s interior features extensive halls between enormous colonnades on platforms.
- The colossal granite walls are marked by intricate carvings and depictions of Hindu deities.
