It was a family trip to Chennai in April 2026 to attend upanayanam of my co-sister-in-law's grandson. Rameswaram was in our trip planner of our 2018 Tamil Nadu tour but we did not visit the place in the trip. After 8 years of long wait, we got the divine blessings of Sri Ramanatha Swamy.
Day 1 of our South trip dt 17th April 2026 - A Divine Experience - Madurai Meenakshi Temple
Day 2 Morning - Madurai - Rameswaram Road Trip via Pamban Bridge.
Day 2 Evening - Dhanushkodi Sunset Experience
On 19 April 2026, we three (myself, my husband and daughter) experienced one of the most memorable spiritual journeys of our lives in this sacred land of devotion and divine energy - the Spatikalinga darshan.
Even during the early hours, the streets of Rameswaram near the temple were alive with devotion. Pilgrims from different parts of the country walked silently towards the temple.
The right practice is to first have Agni teertha snanam and then have Spatikalinga darshan. By the time we reached the East Gopuram entry point at 4.20 a.m., already there was a very long Q line. Mobile phones and not allowed inside for Spatikalinga darshan. The line moved fast purchasing tickets at the counter.
The line moved silently and as we stepped into the sanctum we went into trance for a while and forgot this materialistic world for a while. It was really a wonderful moment to have a blissful darshan of Spatikalingam that was glowing in the deepam lights.
After darshan we spent some time at the North Gopuram listening to the reverberating morning mantras. A divine and fresh feeling crept within energising our body and mind. We took few pics and walked towards Agniteertham which is situated in front of the East Gopuram of the temple.
Spatikam is a naturally occuring quartz mineral stone which is glass-like, transparent, crystal clear and very shiny.
This spatikalingam was originally in Sringeri Matham and was worshipped by Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya. In 2021, on request by the authorities of Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple, the Spatikalingam was handed over to temple authorities by Sringeri Matham. From then onwards, daily pujas and abhishekams are performed to the Spatikalingam in the garbha griha and is open for darshan.
Made of pure crystal, the Spatikalingam symbolizes purity, divine energy and spiritual enlightenment. During the early morning ritual, the lingam is worshipped with sacred chants and abhishekam.
Spatikalinga darshan removes one's bad karma, purifies the mind and gives inner peace.
It was a Sunday and Q lines were too long. Yet, by the grace of Sri Ramanatha Swamy, we had a wonderful and satisfying darshan that filled our hearts with devotion.
This is the most sacred theertham of Rameswaram. Legend says that Sri Rama took sacred bath in Agni theertham to purify Himself from sin of killing Ravana who was a brahmin by birth. Even Agni Deva (the god of Fire) purified himself in this theertham as he felt that he committed a sin by testing Sita Devi's chastity. Hence the teertham got the name 'Agni Teertham'. In fact Agni / fire is used as a purifying agent for many Hindu rituals. And Agni teertham cleansed the sin of Agni Devi. That's the power of Agni Teertham.
Pilgrims / devotees take a sacred bath in this theertham to wash away their sins and purify their body and souls. As per tradition, devotees first take bath in Agni teertham and then proceed to the 22 theertha snanams inside the temple.
The spiritual atmosphere near the teertham is filled with prayers, rituals, and devotion.
Sacred places deserve reverence and cleanliness and preserving the sanctity of these sacred places should also be considered as a form of devotion.
I tightly held my husband's hand and precariously stepped into the shallow sea waters. Many pilgrims were going deep into the sea but I didn't dare to go. As we took a dip and raised, we had the wonderful view of sun rising from the seawater. The golden rays spread across the waters and devotees shouted in joy. Watching sunrise while standing in the holy waters created an unforgettable spiritual experience.
King Ravana was a brahmin by birth. In the battle Sri Rama kills Ravana and rescues His wife Sita Devi. On the advice of rishis, Sri Rama cleanses / purifies Himself from the Brahmahatya Papam by taking sacred bath in the teerthams and then performing abhishekam to the Sivalingam.
When Sri Rama asks Hanuman to get Sivalingam from Kailasam, He immediately goes on the divine mission but could not return on time. Sages pressurize Sri Rama to install Sivalingam at auspicious time only. Then Sita Devi with makes a Sivalingam with the sacred sand of the seashore. The lingam made of sand is known as Saikata Lingam. The word 'Saikata' means sand.
Sri Rama performs abhishekam to the Saikatalingam. This Sivalingam is the main deity which is worshipped today as Sri Ramanatha Swamy. As Sri Rama Himself worshipped the lingam, it got the name 'Sri Ramanatha Swamy'.
Hanuman returns a bit late with the Kailasa Lingam and when sees that the worship is completed, He gets disappointed and tries to remove / destroy the Saikata Lingam. Inspite of using all His strength, the Sivalingam remains unmoved. Hanuman then realises that Sita Devi made the lingam with Her divine power and was worshipped by Sri Rama Himself.
To honor Hanuman for His selfless devotion, Sri Rama installs the Sivalingam in a shrine beside the sanctum sanctorm and declares that devotees should first worship the Sivalingam brought by Hanuman and then only worship Sri Ramanatha Swamy. And the sacred tradition continues even today.
The temple is famous for having one of the longest temple corridors in the world, adorned with magnificent carved pillars and remarkable Dravidian architecture.
The 22 sacred theerthams inside the temple contain waters with different tastes and spiritual powers despite being located close to one another. Each theertham has its own spiritual significance and legend.
Normally, pilgrims stand in long queues where temple staff draw water from the well in a small bucket and sprinkle the water on the heads of the pilgrims. The official ticket costs around Rs. 25 per person, which we had booked online.
However, because of the huge Sunday crowds and very long queue lines, we decided not to go through the official line. Instead, we engaged a private person who separately drew water from each well in a small bucket and poured one full bucket of water over each one of us. Our minds focused on chanting Siva Panchakshari 'Om Namah Shivay'. He charged Rs.500 per person.
Thus, each of us received 22 bucketfuls of sacred water — one from every theertham. Though physically tiring, it became one of the most spiritually memorable experiences of our pilgrimage.
There are two versions on the origin of these wells.
Version 1: King Ravana was a Brahmin by birth. To get rid of the sin of killing a Brahmin i.e. Brahmahatya Paapam, Sri Rama wants to cleanse and purify Himself. He brings down the waters from different rivers by shooting 22 arrows from His quiver. Thus 22 teerthams / wells / kunds are formed.
Sri Rama requests the rivers to remain in the wells forever for the welfare of His devotees. The sacred rivers bow down before Him and stayed in the wells forever.
Version 2: As per the 2nd version, Sri Rama shots the arrows from His quiver and requests the sacred rivers / teerthams to flow down into 22 wells and quench the thirst of the exhausted Vanaras.
Though these 22 wells are very close to the sea coast, the waters in each of the well has different taste and different temperature levels.
The experience left us refreshed, peaceful, and deeply grateful. We changed clothes After changing into dry clothes, rested for a while and then walked for the special darshan. We had booked the tickets online and once again had a blessed darshan of Sri Ramanatha Swamy.
After those blissful spiritual moments in and around the temple, we were back to our room. We rested for a while and later visited House of Kalam - the ancestral home of our former President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.
The visit was deeply motivating and emotional and my daughter really enjoyed the visit. She keenly observed the photographs, achievements, personal belongings and inspiring life story of Dr. Kalam. It beautifully reflects how simplicity, discipline, hard work and dreams can transform an ordinary person into one of the most respected personalities of our country.
The place is a powerful source of inspiration to youngsters.
Rameswaram teaches devotion, humility, discipline, purity, and responsibility.
A family travel story by Sobha Kalyani.
Day 1 of our South trip dt 17th April 2026 - A Divine Experience - Madurai Meenakshi Temple
Day 2 Morning - Madurai - Rameswaram Road Trip via Pamban Bridge.
Day 2 Evening - Dhanushkodi Sunset Experience
Day 3 - Spatikalinga Darshan, Agniteertha Snanam at Sunrise and 22 Teertha Snanams
After returning from Dhanushkodi on Day 2, we had night darshan of Sri Ramanatha Swamy. We retired to our hotel room in and went to bed early as we were damn tired. The next day morning we went to Spatikalinga darshan and had Agniteertha Snanam at sunrise. From there we had 22 teertha snanam i.e. sacred bath from the 22 wells' water.Rameswaram – The Sacred Land of Ramanathaswamy, One of the Dwadasa (12) Jyotirlingams
Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations for Hindus. The place is revered as one of the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Kshetrams. This ancient temple is a divinely meeting point of Shaivism and Vaishnavism as, Sri Rama has installed the Shivalingam here and worshopped. The temple is located on the shores of the sacred sea. The holy 22 teerthams, majestic corridors and timeless legends not only make Rameswaram just a tourist destination but it gives a spiritually transformative experience to every pilgrim.
Early Morning Journey for Spatikalinga Darshan
It was still dark when we started from Rameswaram Grand towards the South Gopuram of the temple in an auto-rickshaw, carrying a pair of clothes for changing after the sacred teertha snanams.Even during the early hours, the streets of Rameswaram near the temple were alive with devotion. Pilgrims from different parts of the country walked silently towards the temple.
The right practice is to first have Agni teertha snanam and then have Spatikalinga darshan. By the time we reached the East Gopuram entry point at 4.20 a.m., already there was a very long Q line. Mobile phones and not allowed inside for Spatikalinga darshan. The line moved fast purchasing tickets at the counter.
The line moved silently and as we stepped into the sanctum we went into trance for a while and forgot this materialistic world for a while. It was really a wonderful moment to have a blissful darshan of Spatikalingam that was glowing in the deepam lights.
After darshan we spent some time at the North Gopuram listening to the reverberating morning mantras. A divine and fresh feeling crept within energising our body and mind. We took few pics and walked towards Agniteertham which is situated in front of the East Gopuram of the temple.
Spatikalinga Darshan Ticket and Timing
Spatikalinga darshan also known as Mani darshan is a special darshan open to devotees daily for one hour from 5 a.m to 6 a.m. There is no advance booking of tickets but are sold on the day of darshan only. Price - Rs.50/- per person.Spatikam is a naturally occuring quartz mineral stone which is glass-like, transparent, crystal clear and very shiny.
This spatikalingam was originally in Sringeri Matham and was worshipped by Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya. In 2021, on request by the authorities of Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple, the Spatikalingam was handed over to temple authorities by Sringeri Matham. From then onwards, daily pujas and abhishekams are performed to the Spatikalingam in the garbha griha and is open for darshan.
Made of pure crystal, the Spatikalingam symbolizes purity, divine energy and spiritual enlightenment. During the early morning ritual, the lingam is worshipped with sacred chants and abhishekam.
Spatikalinga darshan removes one's bad karma, purifies the mind and gives inner peace.
It was a Sunday and Q lines were too long. Yet, by the grace of Sri Ramanatha Swamy, we had a wonderful and satisfying darshan that filled our hearts with devotion.
Significance of Agni Theertham
Pilgrims / devotees take a sacred bath in this theertham to wash away their sins and purify their body and souls. As per tradition, devotees first take bath in Agni teertham and then proceed to the 22 theertha snanams inside the temple.
The spiritual atmosphere near the teertham is filled with prayers, rituals, and devotion.
Sunrise Bath Experience at Agni Theertham
Agniteertham was heavily crowded and we were disturbed on seeing the pathetic condition of the sacred place. Pilgrims are showing much interest in taking sacred dip in the teertham without bothering about maintaining the sanctity of the place. There is no proper maintenance. Many of them were polluting the waters by throwing all kinds of trash into the sea including the wastes after performing their rituals and tarpanam to their forefathers on the seashore.
I tightly held my husband's hand and precariously stepped into the shallow sea waters. Many pilgrims were going deep into the sea but I didn't dare to go. As we took a dip and raised, we had the wonderful view of sun rising from the seawater. The golden rays spread across the waters and devotees shouted in joy. Watching sunrise while standing in the holy waters created an unforgettable spiritual experience.
Rameswaram Sri Ramanatha Swamy Temple - History and Sthalapuranam
Rameswaram, the island town and Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple are very sacred as the places - Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi - are is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana.King Ravana was a brahmin by birth. In the battle Sri Rama kills Ravana and rescues His wife Sita Devi. On the advice of rishis, Sri Rama cleanses / purifies Himself from the Brahmahatya Papam by taking sacred bath in the teerthams and then performing abhishekam to the Sivalingam.
When Sri Rama asks Hanuman to get Sivalingam from Kailasam, He immediately goes on the divine mission but could not return on time. Sages pressurize Sri Rama to install Sivalingam at auspicious time only. Then Sita Devi with makes a Sivalingam with the sacred sand of the seashore. The lingam made of sand is known as Saikata Lingam. The word 'Saikata' means sand.
Sri Rama performs abhishekam to the Saikatalingam. This Sivalingam is the main deity which is worshipped today as Sri Ramanatha Swamy. As Sri Rama Himself worshipped the lingam, it got the name 'Sri Ramanatha Swamy'.
Hanuman returns a bit late with the Kailasa Lingam and when sees that the worship is completed, He gets disappointed and tries to remove / destroy the Saikata Lingam. Inspite of using all His strength, the Sivalingam remains unmoved. Hanuman then realises that Sita Devi made the lingam with Her divine power and was worshipped by Sri Rama Himself.
To honor Hanuman for His selfless devotion, Sri Rama installs the Sivalingam in a shrine beside the sanctum sanctorm and declares that devotees should first worship the Sivalingam brought by Hanuman and then only worship Sri Ramanatha Swamy. And the sacred tradition continues even today.
The temple is famous for having one of the longest temple corridors in the world, adorned with magnificent carved pillars and remarkable Dravidian architecture.
The Sacred 22 Theertham Snanam Experience
After a sacred bath in Agniteertham at sunrise, we walked with wet clothes to the temple for the famous 22 Theertham Snanam.The 22 sacred theerthams inside the temple contain waters with different tastes and spiritual powers despite being located close to one another. Each theertham has its own spiritual significance and legend.
Normally, pilgrims stand in long queues where temple staff draw water from the well in a small bucket and sprinkle the water on the heads of the pilgrims. The official ticket costs around Rs. 25 per person, which we had booked online.
However, because of the huge Sunday crowds and very long queue lines, we decided not to go through the official line. Instead, we engaged a private person who separately drew water from each well in a small bucket and poured one full bucket of water over each one of us. Our minds focused on chanting Siva Panchakshari 'Om Namah Shivay'. He charged Rs.500 per person.
Thus, each of us received 22 bucketfuls of sacred water — one from every theertham. Though physically tiring, it became one of the most spiritually memorable experiences of our pilgrimage.
Importance and Significance of the 22 Theerthams
Each of the 22 teerthams inside the temple corridor and Agnitheertham have their own importance and significance and are highly sacred.There are two versions on the origin of these wells.
Version 1: King Ravana was a Brahmin by birth. To get rid of the sin of killing a Brahmin i.e. Brahmahatya Paapam, Sri Rama wants to cleanse and purify Himself. He brings down the waters from different rivers by shooting 22 arrows from His quiver. Thus 22 teerthams / wells / kunds are formed.
Sri Rama requests the rivers to remain in the wells forever for the welfare of His devotees. The sacred rivers bow down before Him and stayed in the wells forever.
Version 2: As per the 2nd version, Sri Rama shots the arrows from His quiver and requests the sacred rivers / teerthams to flow down into 22 wells and quench the thirst of the exhausted Vanaras.
Though these 22 wells are very close to the sea coast, the waters in each of the well has different taste and different temperature levels.
Benefits of Having Bath in the 22 Theerthams
- Mahalakshmi Theertham - devotees are blessed with health, wealth and prosperity.
- Savithri Theertham - gives purity of thought, virtue and spiritual wisdom.
- Gayathri Theertham - enhances spiritual energy and mental clarity.
- Saraswathi Theertham - this theertham is important for students as they are blessed with knowledge, wisdom and success in education.
- Sethu Madhava Theertham - removes sins.
- Gandhamadana Theertham - purifies the mind and grants inner peace.
- Kavacha Theertham - gives divine protection from negative effects.
- Gavaya Theertham - for physical and spiritual purification.
- Nala Theertham - Nala and Neela are the two main architects of Ram Setu. A bath with waters from this well helps in removing obstacles.
- Neela Theertham - give strength and determination.
- Sangu Theertham - Sankhu / sankham is the divine conch of Sri Maha Vishnu. A bath with this well water, gives positive energy and sacred vibrations.
- Chakra Theertham - Sudarshana Chakram is the celestial disc of Sri Maha Vishnu. A bath with the sacred waters of this well destroys all negativity.
- Brahmahathi Vimochana Theertham - relieves from severe sins and karmic effects.
- Surya Theertham - improves health and vitality.
- Chandra Theertham - brings peace and emotional balance.
- Ganga Theertham - relieves from all sins and gives salvation / moksha.
- Yamuna Theertham - gives divine blessing and purity.
- Gaya Theertham - gives the results of performing ancestral rituals and blesses forefathers.
- Siva Theertham - purifies the soul.
- Sathyaamirtha Theertham - gives truthfulness, righteousness and virtuous living.
- Sarva Theertham - gives the collective power / effect of all the sacred river waters.
- Kodi Theertham - the holiest among the 22 theerthams and grants immense spiritual merit.
Our Divine and Refreshing Experience
The continuous pouring of sacred water from the 22 wells though was physically exhausting, it was spiritually energizing. We could not make out the difference in taste and temperature of the waters.The experience left us refreshed, peaceful, and deeply grateful. We changed clothes After changing into dry clothes, rested for a while and then walked for the special darshan. We had booked the tickets online and once again had a blessed darshan of Sri Ramanatha Swamy.
House of Kalam – An Inspiring Visit
The place is a powerful source of inspiration to youngsters.
A Journey of Faith and Spiritual Purification
Our pilgrimage to Rameswaram on 19th April 2026 became far more than a temple visit. The divine Jyotirlinga darshan and Spatikalinga Darshan, sacred Agniteertha snanam at sunrise and 22 theertha snanam are spiritually uplifting. Every moment of the spent at this sacred place carried deep spiritual meaning.Rameswaram teaches devotion, humility, discipline, purity, and responsibility.
My Final Thoughts
Our pilgrim places are not merely tourist destinations but they are sacred places that are filled with centuries of faith and devotion. Everyone of us should have the responsibility to preserve the sanctity of the place and collectively protect these divine destinations towards future generations. Every visit to an ancient Hindu temple brings peace to the mind, purity to the sould and devotion to the heart.A family travel story by Sobha Kalyani.
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