Rameshvaram

(“Rama’s Lord”) Sacred site (tirtha) on
an island off the coast of the state of
Tamil Nadu in the Palk Strait, which separates Sri Lanka from the mainland.
Rameshvaram is one of the most important sacred sites in India, for several different reasons. It is one of the four
dhams associated with the philosopher
Shankaracharya, which mark the geographical boundaries of the subcontinent. It also has specific mythic
associations that make it holy both to
devotees (bhakta) of Shiva and Vishnu,
two of the most important Hindu
deities. For Shiva’s devotees, the pillarshaped image (linga) of Shiva there represents the god in his manifestation as
Rameshvar (“Rama’s Lord”). This image
is also one of the jyotirlingas, a network
of twelve lingas deemed especially holy
and powerful, and at which Shiva is said
to be uniquely present. For Vishnu’s
worshipers, Rameshvaram is held to be
the place from which the god Rama
staged his attack on the demon kingdom of Lanka. According to tradition,
upon Rama’s return with his rescued
wife Sita, the image of Rameshvaram
was consecrated in gratitude for his success. Rameshvaram also has very old
connections with the sacred city of
Benares, and even today pilgrims come
from there bearing Ganges water to
offer to Shiva.