History of 11th Jyotirlinga,Rameshwaram

•   the 11th Jyotirlingam, which is probably one among the foremost important Jyotirlingams after the Somnath temple. We’re talking about the Rameshwaram Jyotirlingam, situated within the Ramnathswamy Temple on the Rameshwaram Island in Tamil Nadu. Rameshwaram directly means the Ishwar of Ram. 
• this is often a crucial constituent of the holiest Char Dham Yatra in Sanatan Dharma, which also includes pilgrimages like Badrinath Dham, the Jagannath Mandir in Puri, and therefore the Celestial City of Dwarka Puri. this is often why the temple is exclusive in itself, since aside from Shiv ji, Bhagwan Vishnu is worshipped also. 
• one among the four Math[s] established by Adi Shankaracharya, named Shringeri Math is additionally established here. The priests of this temple are mostly from the Brahmin community in Maharashtra, who are imparted Deeksha within the Shringeri Math.
•  it had been here that Shri Ram had constructed a bridge of stones, with the assistance of which he could cross the ocean to succeed in Lanka along side his Vanar Sena. Later on, on the insistence of Vibhishana, Shri Ram destroyed the bridge at an area called Dhanushkodi. Even today, one can witness the remnants of the 30 mile long Adi Setu within the sea. The corridor of this Mandir is taken into account together of the longest within the world. 
  
• The length from north to south is 197 meters and from east to west is 133 meters. . the peak of the Gopuram of the temple’s entry gates is approximately 4 meters. Ramnathswamy Mandir is made in a neighborhood of 6 hectares. 
• The glory of Rameshwaram Dham is elucidated as follows  He who is established by Bhagwan Shri Ramchandra ji  at the confluence of the land and sea, along side a bridge of his arrows, I bow reverently to Bhagwan Rameshwarji every single day. 
• How the Jyotirlingam of Rameshwaram was formally established, it's mentioned both in Shiv Puran and Ramayan. consistent with the Lanka Kanda of ShriRamCharitManas, Bhagwan Shri Ram had laid siege around Lanka so as to rescue his wife, Devi Sita. 
• For that, Shri Ram had to cross the ocean with the Vanar Sena, which was an arduous task. Seeing things, Shri Ram invoked the name of Lord Shiva, who suggested him to invite the blessings of the Ocean God, Varuna. However, when despite all the attempts, Varuna Dev still didn't appear before him, Shri Ram was compelled to boost his bow and arrow and involve Varuna Dev.
  
•  Varuna Dev soon appeared before him and suggested him to form a bridge of stones. He also suggested Shri Ram to require the services of Nala and Neela, who were a neighborhood of the Vanar Sena also. Varun Dev also told that if the stones are embossed with the name of Shri Ram, the stones won’t sink, and this is often how Shri Ram reached Lanka. Though Shri Ram was in favor of rescuing Sita without a fight, but when his efforts went vainly, he was forced to select up his weapons and fight. 
• during this war, Ravana’s near and dear ones perished. At last, Ravana was slayed also, and Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya after rescuing Sita. However, Ravana was no ordinary demon. He was the grandson of Maharishi Pulastya and therefore the son of Rishi Vishrawa. He was well versed altogether the Four Vedas and was also a lover of Bhagwan Shiva.
•  this is often why Shri Ram felt remorseful after killing him. The sin of Brahmhatya was now on him. so as to absolve himself from the sins, Shri Ram decided to determine a Shivalingam in Rameshwaram. Shri Ram then directed Hanuman to bring a Shivalingam from Kashi. 
• Being the son of Pawan Dev, Hanuman flew with great gusto. However, the time of the establishment of the Shivalingam was coming close, and Hanuman was nowhere to be found. When Sita ji observed this, she took some sand from the beach in her hands and created a Shivalingam out of an equivalent. 

• Pleased by her actions, Shri Ram established the Shivalingam in Rameshwaram, which is now famous because the Ramalingam. When Hanuman came with the specified Shivalingam, Shri Ram established the lingam next to the Shivalingam made up of sand. 
• the larger Shivalingam later became famous because the Vishwalingam. Both the Shivalingams are still present within the sanctum sanctorum of the Ramnathswamy Mandir and that they are the official Jyotirlingams of an equivalent. 
• There are 24 reservoirs in Shri Rameshwaram, which are considered as ‘Teerths’. it's said that bathing in these reservoirs absolves an individual of all his sins. Devotees drink this water also thanks to the sweetness of an equivalent. it's also said that Shri Ram constructed these reservoirs together with his Amogh arrows. 
• He had brought forward the waters from various pilgrimages for the reservoirs, which is why these reservoirs are called as Teerths today. This temple is additionally important historically. the development of this temple is found first in 1173 AD, when the ruler of Sri Lanka, Raja Parakrama Bahu had constructed the Garbha Griha of the Sanctum Sanctorum. 
• Only the Shivalingam was established there. Since there was no Murti of the Devi, this is often why the temple complex was also referred to as Nisangeshwar Mandir. Following this, within the 15th century, Raja Udeyan Sethupathy and therefore the Vaishyas from the nearby Nagur constructed the 78 feet high Gopuram of the Mandir. 

• Later on, another Devi Bhakt from Madurai had reconstructed the temple. Tirumalai Sethupathy had constructed the southern periphery of the temple within the 16th century. The statues of Tirumalai and his son exist even today. At an equivalent time, Katteshwar Raja Udeyan Sethupathy, deputy to  Raja Vishwanath Naik of Madurai had constructed the long-lasting Nandi Mandapam. 
• The Mandapam is 22 feet long, 12 feet broad and 17 feet high. Setumadhav Mandir situated nearby was constructed by Raja Udeyan Sethupathy and therefore the rich Vaishyas some 500 years ago. within the 17th century, Dalwaya Sethupathy began the development of the eastern Gopuram. 
• By the 18th century, Ravi Vijay Sethupathy constructed the Shayan Kaksha for the Gods and therefore the Goddesses and a Mandapam within the temple complex.  So this was the story of the Rameshwaram Dham’s Jyotirlingam.