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News: At the 2026 BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen before an image of the Ramanathaswamy Temple’s 1,212-pillar corridor.
About Ramanathaswamy Temple
- Location: Ramanathaswamy Temple is located in Rameswaram on Pamban Island, Tamil Nadu.
- Religious Association: It is a historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva at the site after returning from Lanka.
- Architectural Style: The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture.
- Historical Evolution:
- 12th century: The Chola kings built the first stone temple, which later developed through successive additions.
- Later period: The Pandya and Vijayanagar rulers expanded the temple, while Krishna Deva Raya made significant gifts in 1513.
- Nayaka period: The Sethupathi kings of Ramnad became guardians of the temple and played a key role in shaping its present form.
- 17th century: According to an 1885 report by Henry Hardy Cole, the temple in its present form was rebuilt after repeated earlier sackings.
- Key Architectural Features:
- Grand corridors: The outer corridor has 1,212 intricately carved pillars, each about 6.9 metres high, with the corridors extending roughly 1.17 km.
- Visual depth: The parallel rows of pillars create a striking effect as they appear to converge towards a distant point.
- Lofty gopurams: The eastern Rajagopuram rises 126 feet across nine levels.
- Sacred water bodies: The complex has 36 water bodies, including 22 sacred wells (theerthams).
- Intricate sculptures: The pillars feature floral motifs and mythical creatures.
- Sacred sanctum:The sanctum houses Lord Ramanathaswamy, one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.
