The first leg of Kashi Yatra – Dhanushkodi & Rameswaram

Kashi, the holy city holds a special place in Hindu Religion. For Hindus or for that matter any person who do yatras to holy places, Kashi Yatra is a significant one. The yatra starts with a pilgrimage to Rameswaram, where Lord Rama did pooja to Lord Shiva, Shri Ramanatha Swami in Rameswaram Temple.

Dhanushkodi

One has to take Sankalpa (after taking bath without using soap in a dharmshala/hotel room/house in the morning) at Dhanushkodi sea shore. The priest will draw a Dhanush (bow and arrow) in sand and do Sankalp. Then take a dip at the sea and without using any dry cloths make 3 lingams out of the sand where the Sankalp was done. They are named, Sethu Madhava, Veni Madhava (in centre and the bigger lingam) and Bindhu Madhava.  After Aavahana and Puja, Sethu Madhava and Bindu Madhava lingams are dissolved/ consigned in the sea and Veni Madhava is to be taken to Kashi in an appropriate vessel (the material differs at Kshetras where it is intended). The sand named Veni Madhava to be dried in shade one or two days at home and kept in puja room till one takes it to Kashi.

Dhanushkodi

Rameswaram
Then with the same wet clothes, you can proceed to the North Entrance of the Temple from where you can take holy dip of 22 theertha inside the temple. A person will take the water from the well/theertha and pur it over you. Proceed to the next well until the last one which is well organised. Change to the fresh vastra at the dress changing place or at the priest’s place afterwards, as per convenience perform Theertha Srardha for one’s ancestors there either as a full or as a Hiranya Srardha ceremony with five Brahmin priests. After Srardha, Bhoj is offered to the priests along with karta and family.

Rameswaram East Entrance

Rameswaram is one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam. The Ramanathaswamy temple with its magnificent, imposing structure, long corridors, aesthetically carved pillars, the temple is adorned with a towering 38-metre ‘Gopuram’. The temple itself was built by rulers since the 12th century with Sethupathy Maravar beginning the construction of the grand Ramanathaswamy temple that boasts of the ‘Third Corridor’, completed by his successor, Maravar – the longest one in Asia with a 197-metre span from East to West and a 133-metre span from South to North, the third largest in the world! It is said that Swamy Vivekananda offered prayers at this temple in 1897. It is also one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam.

Famous Third Corridor, Rameswaram

Lord Rama is also believed to have sanctified this place by worshipping and glorifying Lord Shiva before embarking on constructing the 'bridge' with the help of vanara sena, and hence marks the confluence of Shaivism and Vaishnavism and is thus revered by both Shaivites and Vaishnavites alike. There is a strong belief that bathing in the 22 ‘Theerthas’ or natural springs inside the temple complex is a step forward in enlightenment. Rameswaram has rightly been declared as one of the National Pilgrim Centres in the count.

Nearest railway station: Rameswaram. At present trains run upto Ramanathpuram / Mandapam only as bridge construction work across the strait and redevelopment of Rameswaram railway station is going on.

Temple Timings: 
4 am to 5 am - Puja
5 am to 6 am - Devotees allowed for ticketed darshan of spatika lingam
6 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm - Devotees allowed (normal as well as ticketed)
Bathing at 22 theerthams aka wells - ticketed from North Entrance of the temple

Tiruppullani: Temple Timings: 7:00 am – 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm – 8:30 pm
The temple is at a distance of 12 km from Ramanathapuram, is an ancient temple dedicated to Athi Jaganatha Perumal (Lord Vishnu), is 44th of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavites. It is believed that King Dasaratha performed a Yagna, in want of a child, so people who do not have children come to this place praying for blessings to have a child.

Tiruppullani

It is also believed that Lord Rama while on his way to Lanka to fight Ravana, had requested Samudra Raja, the God of Ocean to allow a way through the ocean to Lanka. Lord Rama had offered prayers lying on Kusa grass; which is known as Dharba Sayanam.

Thiru UttaraKosa Mangai: Temple Timings: 6:00 am to 11:00 am & 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The nearest railway station is that of Ramanathapuram at a distance of 18 km. Lord Shiva is in his self-manifested form (Swayambulinga) at this temple. The majestic Nandi in the outer precinct is known as Pradosha Nandi. This temple town is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva transferred the secrets of Vedas to Parvati. The idol of Nataraja made out of emerald is an uncommon sight not found in any other temple. It is known as Maragadha (emerald) Natarajar wholly smeared with sandal paste. The sandal paste is removed only once in a year to perform abhisheka.

Thiru UttaraKosa Mangai

There is Sthal Vruksha - Jujube Tree/Ber Tree/Elandai Maram - which is centuries old. (Below left) The extensive renovation work is being carried out in the temple. (Below right)

Second Leg will continue...