Rameswaram
Daiwik Hotels welcomes you to Rameswaram. This holy pilgrimage has called the devout to its wave lashed shores for centuries. It is a sacred space touched by the divine presence of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Rama and its many temples will bring you peace, joy and enlightenment.
Rameswaram is the southern most Hindu pilgrimage as it is located on an island off the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu. The island has an area of 52 square kilometres and is separated from the mainland by the Pamban Canal and connected by the Indira Gandhi Bridge.
In Hinduism the confluence of the waters of rivers and oceans are considered sacred and Rameswaram is at the site of a rare merging of the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The faithful say the island is shaped like the conch of Lord Vishnu called panchajanya. The island is in the Gulf of Mannar and right across the bay is the island of Sri Lanka, which is just 74 km away.
Rameswaram has much to offer the pilgrim. It is one of the Chaar Dhaams of Vishnu. It is a part of the legend of Rama and most of the temples here are connected to episodes from the Ramayana. It also has one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingams of Shiva. So it is a Harihara Tirtha, a pilgrimage sacred to both Vaishnavas and Shaivas. Rama prayed here to the warrior goddess Durga and so there is a famous temple dedicated to her at Devipattinam.
Rameswaram has been a pilgrimage of many religions for over two thousand years. It is mentioned in both the Valmiki and Kamban Ramayana, where it is called Setu. Rameswaram is listed among the holiest of Hindu tirthas in the Mahabharata and the Puranas and it is also found in ancient Buddhist texts and Tamil literature. The rites and rituals of the temples have been preserved in sacred Agama books. The famous Tamil bhakti poets wrote many songs in praise of the temple of Ramanathaswamy that they described as a “punkoyil” or a shrine of flowers.
Rameswaram has called pilgrims from a time lost in the past. Once it had Buddhist monasteries and King Ashoka came here in the 3rd century BC. The Mahabharata says that Arjuna, Yudhishtir, Balarama, Parasurama and Ashwathama came here to worship at the temples. The Hindu sage Adi Shankaracharya’s visit in the 8th century has been celebrated with a temple. Guru Nanak came here in the 16th century and there is an ancient gurudwara that is a pilgrimage for Sikhs. In the 19th century the modern sage Vivekananda visited Rameswaram and walked to Dhanushkodi to meditate.
At Daiwik Hotel, Rameswaram, we aim to make your tirtha a complete spiritual experience. During your stay with us, we will take care of all your requirements, making sure your journey is a time of both enjoyment and serenity.
