Spatika Linga Darshan: A Divine Experience at Rameswaram Ramanatha Swamy Temple:

Rameswaram Ramanatha Swamy Temple is one of the most popular places. This shrine received the hymns of Gnanasambandhar and Appar Peruman.It is considered as one of the 12 astrological sites in India. King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram built the temple's world famous long third prakaram. The prakaram is 690 feet long and 435 feet wide with 1212 pillars.Sthala Purana says that Sri Rama worshiped here to remove the sin of killing Ravana!.

Sri Ramabhira fought and killed Ravana to rescue Sita. In order to remove the sin of killing Ravana, Sri Rama consecrated a lingam made of sand. Thus, Thala Purana says that the source was named Ramanatha Swami and Thala was named Rameswaram!Pilgrimage to Kashi and Rameswaram is important in life. Kashi, Rameswaram pilgrims should first bathe in the Agni Theertha at Rameswaram, take sand and theertha and go to Kashi, put the sand in the Ganges and anoint the Agni Theertha to Kashi Viswanadha. Then the acharyas say that they should bring Ganga tirtha from Kashi and perform Abhishekam for Ramanatha.

Ambal Parvata Varthini, the ocean of mercy, has a temple here. Shantha Sorubini. Below the Ambigai Peetha is the Sri Chakram established by Adi Shankara. It is customary to adorn Ambika with sandalwood only on the birth date of Chitra. Tirumal gives a beautiful display in the golam with a school on Adishashan in the Prakaram of Ambal Sannidhi!In the first prakaram there is a shrine where Lord Rama worships the sand lingam erected by Sita.The appearance of Nataraja in a pantal made of tens of thousands of Rudrakshas is wonderful. Devotees pray to Sage Patanjali in the form of a Naga in this Sannidhi to master the art of Yoga and get rid of Naga Dosha.

An extra special feature of this place is... crystal linga darshan. A special darshan is held every morning from 5 to 6 am to the crystal lingam established by Adi Shankar in the sanctum sanctorum. It is praised as unique to any other place. By visiting this crystal lingam and worshiping it in holy tirtha, one can get rid of the curse of pitrus; The Acharyas say that with the blessings of Pitrus, offspring can live strong!