Rameswaram (रामेश्वर).—There is in South India a very famous holy place
called Rameswaram and a Śiva temple there. Rāma and others encamped on the
sea shore to cross over to Lanko to release Sita from Ravana’s custody.
This temple, according to Kamba, was built by Rāma at that time. The
following story is from the Yuddha Kanda of Kamba Ramayanam. To make the
passage over to Lanka easy, Rāma decided to build a great temple at
Rameswaram and install a Shivalinga in the temple. Under the expert
supervision of the great architects, Nala and Nila, all the monkeys
cooperated to build the temple. As ordered by Rāma, Hanuman went to Kailash
to fetch Shivalinga. Hanuman did not return with the lingam though the
auspicious time for the installation was very near. How could the
installation be made without the idol and the installation had to be made
at the appointed time. (Great wisdom people might orally say the Lanka was
in MALDIVES, BECAUSE 100 YOJANA USED IN MANY PLACES IN Valmiki Ramayanam
measured that distance)
Rāmeśvara (रामेश्वर) refers to one of the various Ghats of
Varanasi (Benares) mentioned in the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī authored by
Varadarāja (A.D. 1600-1650), a pupil of Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita.—Varadarāja in his
Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī refers to several works which ought to be studied by a
Pandit. In the same text are listed some Ghats of Benares (Varanasi) [e.g.,
Rāmeśvara]. This contemporary list of Ghats would be useful for the history
of Benares topography.
Rāmeśvara (रामेश्वर) is the name of a temple situated near Halasi—a
town in Khanapur Taluk, Belgaum District in Karnataka, India. [...] On a
hill about 1.9 km. south-west of the town is a pilgrimage place known as
Rāmatītha. [...] A short distance to the south west of Halsi, on a rocky
outcrop, is a natural water tank with two temples. Dedicated to Śiva as
Rāmeśvara, the main building is a simple stone structure with a maṇḍapa.
The pillars of the hall stand in the tank proper. The spire over the
sanctum is similar in style to the Varaha Narasimha and it probably dates
to the same period. A third ruined temple, with only some walls and parts
of the door frame, is located a short distance to the south.
Then what is Kerala Rameshwar? { I am rewriting the Kerala
History}
According to the legends, Lord Parasurama created the land between
Gokarna and Kanyakumari. Lord Parasurama the sixth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu was the son of Sage Jamadagni and Renuka. As a
mark of repentance for Kshatriya Nigraha sin, Parasurama meditated at
Gokarna and invoked Lord Varuna (the Lord of the Oceans). Parasurama asked
him for a boon. To absolve himself of the sins he had committed, he wanted
to donate some land to the Brahmins.
There was no land available because he already donated the whole land he
obtained by the 21 round Kshatriya Nigraha to Sage Kashyapa. Lord Varuna
told Parasurama that he would give him as much land as he wished. He told
him to fling his Parasu (axe) from where he stood at Gokarna. The land from
Gokarna till the point where the axe landed would be given to him was the
boon that Lord Varuna promised him. The throw of the `axe’ from Gokarna to
Kanyakumari created Kerala. Parasurama donated this land to the Brahmins
and settled Brahmins there in 64 Gramams or villages.
32 out of the 64 Gramams are in the Tulu speaking region (in between
Gokarnam and Perumpuzha) and the remaining 32 Gramams are in the Malayalam
speaking region (in between Perumpuzha and Kanyakumari) in Kerala. Those in
Kerala listed in the Keralopai, the narrative of Kerala history are :
1. Payyannoor 2. Perumchelloor (Talipparambu) 3. Alatthiyoor
4. Karanthol 5.Chokiram (Shukapuram) 6. Panniyoor 7. Karikkau
8. Isaanamangalam 9. Thrussivaperoor 10. Peruvanam.
11. Chamunda (Chemmanta) 12. Irungatikkootal (Iringalakkuda)
13. Avattiputhur (Avittathoor) 14. Paravoor 15. Airanikkulam
16. Muzhikkalam 17. Kuzhavur 18. Atavur 19. Chenganatu
Chengamanadu) 20. Ilibhyam 21. Uliyannoor 22. Kalutanatu.\
23. Ettumanoor 24. Kumaranalloor 25. Kadamuri 26. Aranmula
27. Tiruvalla 28. Kidangoor 29. Chengannoor 30. Kaviyoor 31. Venmani
And 32. Neermanna (Niranam).
After the creation of these gramams, Parasurama had consecrated 108
Shiva temples and 108 Durga temples for the well-being and prosperity of
the people in Kerala . Among these 216 temples, the Lord Shiva of Gokarnam
Mahabaleswara Temple in the north and Goddess Kumari of Kanyakumari temple
in the south were considered as the protectors of Kerala. The rst Shivalaya
created by Parasurama was the Thrissivaperoor Vadakkunnatha Temple and the
last one was the Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple.
The names of these temples were given in the famous 108 Shivalaya Nama
Stothra. This stothra is written in Malayalam and is anonymous. There are
many temples with the same place names. Also some old names do not exist or
their names have changed. So I have included temples with the same place
names as a single group in this 108 shivalayas. So in this list you can nd
more than 110 Shiva temples in Kerala. It is clear that this stothra was
composed in Thrissur region of Kerala because 64 temples were located in
this region(9 in Palakkad district, 43 in Thrissur district and 12 in
Ernakulam district). District wise distribution of rest of the temples are
– 4 in Thiruvanathapuram, 5 in Kollam, 3 in Pathanamthitta, 6 in Alappuzha,
11 in Kottayam, 1 in Idukki, 7 in Malappuram, 4 in Kozhikkode, 1 in Vayanad
and 5 in Kannur. Now 2 temples are in Karnataka and one is in Tamil Nadu.
The full version of this stothra is given below.
*108 Shivalaya Nama Stothra*
Sreemad Dakshina Kailasam Sree Perooriraveeswaram
Sucheendram Chowaram Mathoor Trippangott atha Mundayoor
Sree Mandhamkunnu Chowalloor Panancheri Korattiyum
Puramundekkatt Avungannoor Kollooru Thirumangalam
Trikkariyooru Kunnapram Sree Velloor Ashtamangalam
Iyranikkulavum Kainoor Gokarnam Eranakulam
Paarivaloor Adattum nal Parippil Chathamangalam
Paraparambu Trukkooru Panayooru Vyttila
Vaikom Rameswaram randum Ettumanoor Edakkolam
Chemmanthatt Aluva pinne Thirumittakkottu Cherthala
Kallattupuzha Trukkunnu Cheruvathooru Ponganam
Trukkapaleeswaram moonnum Avittathoor Perummala
Kollathum Kattakampala Pazhayanooru Perakom
Athampally Ambilikkadu Cheranellooru Maniyoor
Tali nalum Kodungalloor Vanchiyoor Vanchuleswaram
Panjarkulam Chittukulam Alathoor atha Kottiyoor
Truppalooru Perumtatta Truthala Thiruvallayum
Vazhappally Puthuppally Mangalam Thirunnakkara
Kodumboor Ashtamikkovil Pattanakkadu Thashtayil
Killikkurussiyum Puthoor Kumbhasambhavamandiram
Someswaram cha Vengaloor Kottarakkara Kandiyoor
Palayoorumahadeva Chelloor atha Nedumpura
Mannoor Truchaliyoor Srumgapuram Kottooru Mammiyoor
Parampum tali Thirunavaya Kaarikkodu Cherthala
Kottappuram Muthuvara Valappaya Chendamangalm
Thrukkandiyoor Peruvanam Thiruvaloor Chirakkalum
Ipparanjava noottettum bhakthiyothu padikkuvor
Deham nasikkiletheedum mahadevante sannidhow
Pradoshathil japichal ashesha duritham kedum
Yathra yathra shiva kshethram tatra tatra namamyaham
Then there is one more in the above list:
Two Rameswaram Mahadeva Temples are included in the 108 Shivalayams. The
second one is the Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple located at Amaravila near
Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram district. This temple is situated on
the bank of Nayyar river. Rameswaram is 2.5 Km away from the Amaravila
check post in NH 47. Local people believes that Lord Rama worshipped
Mahadeva at this place and hence the name Rameswaram. The east facing Shiva
Lingam is inside the circular sreekovil. There is also a Parvathy
prathishta facing west inside the Sreekovil. Ganapathy and Naga devathas
are the subdeities. Thiruvalla Thukalssery Kuzhikkkattu Bhattathiri is the
Tantri of this temple. Rameswaram temple is managed by Travancore Devaswom
Board.
Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple Amaravila Neyyattinkara
The ten days long annual utsavam is in Dhanu (December - January) with
arattu on Thiruvathira day. Shivarathry is also celebrated here and on that
day there will be special poojas for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. Women
from different parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu will offer Ponkala Nivedyam
to Parvathy Devi on Shivarathry day. Large number of devotees will
participate the Bali Tharppana ritual conducted in Neyyar river on
Karkkidaka Vayu day.
Now Parasurama epic story is on one side while the temple of
Rameswaram in Kerala is that of 12th century. One blogger has written that
main deity like Shivalingam or vigraha might be very old but temples were
built much later in the same spot which alone is dated 12th century etc.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2025 at 10:55
Subject: [iyer123] LORD SIVA TEMPLE-RAMESWARAM, QUILON, KERALA
To: Iyer <[email protected]>
*LORD SIVA TEMPLE-RAMESWARAM, QUILON, KERALA*
Dear friends,
Yesterday while watching the Sandhya deepam program in Amirta TV,
deeparadhana at Quilon Rameswaram temple was shown, narrating brief
description of the temple.
It was quite new to me to hear a place by name Rameswaram is there in
Quilon. I thought my posting today can be about the temple. The following
is compilation about the temple from different websites. Hope a divine
reading
Today is Makaravilakku celebration in Sabarimalai. Wish all members once
again a happy Pongal
Gopalakrishnan 14-1-2025
Introduction
Rameshwara Temple in Kollam is dedicated to Lord Shiva, with other deities
worshipped including Lord Ganapathy, Lord Subramanian, Lord Ayyappa, and
Naga devathas, providing a divine experience for visitors seeking spiritual
solace.
It is believed that Kollam Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple is one of the 108
Shiva temples of Kerala and is installed by sage Parasurama dedicated to
Shiva. It is one of the two Rameswaram temples in 108 Shivalaya Sothram.
The Amaravila Rameshwaram Sri Mahadeva Temple is the second Rameshwaram
Temple. The temple is near Amaravila and 2.5 KMs from Quilon bus stand and
Railway station. It is a major temple under Travancore Devaswam board.
Architecture Type Kerala style
Completed 12th century
The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Rameswara facing west. It is
believed that Kollam Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple is one of the 108 Shiva
temples of Kerala and is installed by sage Parasurama dedicated to Shiva
There are two small towers in the west and north sides of the temple. There
is a Copper flag mast in front of Balikkal pura at west. The main sanctum
sanitorium is in rectangular shape and the shrine is decorated with
beautiful stone and wood carvings. Valiyambalam and Balakalpura are common
in Kerala-Dravidian style.
Inscriptions
A pillar set up in the courtyard of Rameswaram temple contains a royal
order of king Rama Kulasekhara, a 12th-century Chera king of Kerala. The
inscription is historically significant for mentioning exact date in Kollam
Era, Manavikrama Punthurakkon, the chieftain of Eranad (Calicut) and Kumara
Udaya Varma, a member of the Venad Royal Family. It is said Kollavarsham,
Malayalam Era has started after construction of the temple;
Subdeities
Ganesha Subrahmanya Dharma Sastha Snake goddess Rakshas
Navagraha Krishna
The main sanctum is in rectangular shape and the shrine is decorated with
beautiful stone and wood carvings. Valiyambalam and Balakalpura are common
in Kerala-Dravidian style.
Overview
Nestled in the heart of Kollam, Kerala, the ancient Rameshwara Temple
stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region. Built in
the Kerala architectural style, this temple dates back centuries, with
inscriptions dating from the 12th to the 16th century, offering visitors a
fascinating glimpse into the past.
As you step into the temple, you'll be greeted by the captivating sculpture
of Vyala, a mythical monster that adds to the temple's allure and mystique.
The temple's serene and peaceful atmosphere invites visitors to immerse
themselves in the spiritual ambiance, making it a perfect place for
meditation and prayer.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Rameshwara Temple is famous for its
well-preserved structure, with ancient stone pillars and intricate carvings
that showcase the architectural prowess of the time.
Visitors often find solace and tranquility within the temple premises, with
many praising the calm and spacious environment that allows for a peaceful
worship experience.
The annual temple festival held in Jan/Feb every year is a highlight,
offering a glimpse into the vibrant cultural traditions of the region.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, a spiritual seeker, or simply looking
to experience the essence of Kerala's heritage, a visit to the Rameshwara
Temple in Kollam promises a journey back in time and a moment of serenity
in the midst of the bustling city.
FAQs on Sri Major Rameshwaram Mahadeva Temple
What is the history of Rameshwara Temple in Kollam?
The ancient Rameshwara Temple in Kollam, Kerala, is believed to be built in
the Kerala architectural style, with inscriptions dating back to the 12th
to 16th century, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region.
What is the significance of the sculpture of Vyala in Rameshwara Temple?
The captivating sculpture of Vyala, a mythical monster, adds to the allure
and mystique of Rameshwara Temple in Kollam, offering visitors a unique
artistic and cultural experience.
What are visitors saying about Rameshwara Temple?
Visitors have described Rameshwara Temple as one of the oldest Shiva
temples in Kollam, offering a serene and peaceful atmosphere. Some
reviewers have highlighted the temple's historical importance and the
traditional festivals celebrated here.
Is Rameshwara Temple a popular tourist spot in Kollam?
Rameshwara Temple is considered one of the best tourist attractions in
Kollam, drawing visitors with its ancient architecture, cultural
significance, and peaceful ambiance for meditation and worship.
What deities are worshipped at Rameshwara Temple?
Rameshwara Temple in Kollam is dedicated to Lord Shiva, with other deities
worshipped including Lord Ganapathy, Lord Subramanian, Lord Ayyappa, and
Naga devathas, providing a divine experience for visitors seeking spiritual
solace.
Are there any special festivals celebrated at Rameshwara Temple?
Rameshwara Temple hosts an annual temple festival in January/February,
offering visitors a chance to partake in traditional celebrations and
witness the rich cultural heritage of Kerala.
Is Rameshwara Temple known for its peaceful atmosphere?
Rameshwara Temple is praised for its calm and soothing atmosphere, making
it an ideal place for meditation, prayer, and experiencing a sense of
tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of Kollam city.
What makes Rameshwara Temple a must-visit destination?
Rameshwara Temple's historical significance, ancient architecture, serene
ambiance, and spiritual essence make it a must-visit destination for
travelers seeking a deeper connection to Kerala's cultural and religious
heritage.
Are there any unique features of Rameshwara Temple that set it apart?
Rameshwara Temple stands out for its ancient origins, association with
prominent historical figures, and the presence of unique sculptures and
inscriptions that offer visitors a glimpse into the region's vibrant past.
Address:
Anchukallumoodu-Kavalai Rd, Valiazhikom, Thangasherry East, Thangassery,
Kollam, Kerala 691007
Hours:
Open ⋅ 5 Am Closes 11 am ⋅ Reopens 5 pm closes 8pm
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