Theerthams in Rameswaram
On September 01, 2024The renowned temple town of Rameswaram is a beacon for spiritual seekers as well as aficionados of mythology. Situated at the tip of the Indian Peninsula in Tamil Nadu, this holy land is also one of the Char Dham sites. It is also home to a Jyotirlinga shrine, the Ramanathaswamy Temple. There are 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India, including two in south India.
This seaside town is awash with myths and tales from the Ramayana, and it is also described by devotees and denizens as the land of Sri Rama, one of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, worshipped Lord Shiva here. At this holy site, Shaivite and Vaishnavite beliefs coexist in harmony. As a popular pilgrim spot, the town draws thousands of domestic and international visitors all through the year. Intriguingly, the place abounds with sacred water bodies like wells, tanks, and teppakulams associated with temples called Theerthams. In fact, there are around 64 theerthams on this island. The Skanda Purana refers to 24 of them. Devotees take a holy dip in these theerthams. This is an essential element of the Rameswaram pilgrimage and is equated with penance or ‘thavam.’
Twenty-two of these 24 theerthams are located within the corridor of the Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple. The number 22 refers to the 22 arrows in the quiver of Rama. The first and the most prominent of these is Agni Theertham. It refers to the tranquil shallow waters of the Bay of Bengal that flow close to the temple.
In this article, we shall explore the important theerthams (in the right order) in Rameswaram and their significance and location.
Mahalakshmi Theertham
The first of the 24 theerthams inside the corridor of the temple is the Mahalakshmi theertham. It is found south of the Anjaneyar shrine. At this theertham, Dharmaraja had a holy dip and became wealthy. The belief is that one who takes a holy bath in this theertham will get the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi to gain wealth and freedom from sins.
Savithri Theertham, Gayathri Theertham, and Saraswathi Theertham
These are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th theerthams. All of them are found west of the Anjaneyar shrine. It is said that the water from these sacred wells enabled King Kasibar to get relief from his curse. The belief is that one can be free of Doshas and curses by bathing in these theerthams.
Sethu Madhava Theertham
This is the 5th theertham. One can find a holy tank (teppakulam) in the 3rd corridor of the temple. This beautiful temple tank is filled with many lily flowers, and devotees bathe in it to gain Lakshmi’s blessings and purify themselves.
Gandhamadana Theertham
The 6th theertham is very near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. Bathing in this well can bring purification, relief from sins, divine blessings, and abundance.
Kavatcha Theertham/Swatcha Theertham
The 7th theertham is near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. Bathing in it supposedly ensures that one does not go to hell after death.
Gavaya Theertham
The 8th theertham is also close to the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. Devotees believe that taking a bath in it will give them a shelter under the wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha tree in Hindu mythology.
Nala Theertham
The 9th theertham is near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. It can help devotees to get surya tejas (radiance of the sun) and a place in heaven.
Neela Theertham
The 10th theertham is found near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. It can bring the blessings of Samastha yaga and also grant Agni Yoga.
Sanku Theertham
The 11th theertham, also called Chanku Theertham, is in the inner praharam/corridor. This is where Sage Vatsanabha got relief from his sin of forgetting someone’s timely help. Devotees bathe here to eliminate the sin of ingratitude and gain ambition, imagination, and foresight.
Chakra Theertham
The 12th theertham, also called Chakra/ Sakkara Theertham, is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Surya (Sun) got his golden hand. Taking a bath here can bestow good health.
Brahmahathi Vimochana Theertham
The 13th theertham is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Brahmahathi became free of his sins.
Soorya Theertham and Chandra Theertham
The 14th and 15th theerthams are in the inner praharam (corridor). Taking a dip in these holy wells can bestow knowledge of the past, present, and future times and help them to get the time they desire, that is, Thrikala gnanam and Thrikasi gnanam.
Ganga Theertham, Yamuna Theertham, and Gaya Thertham
The 15th, 16th, and 17th theerthams are in the inner praharam (corridor). It was here that Gnanasruthi Raja gained wisdom.
Siva Theertham
The 19th theertham is also in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Bhairava became free of his Brahmahathi dosham. Taking a bath here eliminates the sins of speaking against Vishnu and Shiva.
Sathyamirtha Theertham
The 20th theertham is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Puhurunu Chakravarthy (Emperor Bururoonu) got relief from his curse. Taking a bath in it can free them from various sins.
Sarva Theertham
The 21st theertham is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Sudharsanar regained his vision and health. Taking a bath here bestows the merits of bathing in all the theerthams and also those in all the 14 worlds to gain all Purusharthas and the blessings of Lord Ramanatha Swamy.
Kodi Theertham
This is the holiest theertham of all and the last of the 22 theerthams, and it is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Krishna became free of the sin of killing Kamsa. It is also where Rama kept the tip of his arrow on earth to bring forth water so that he could perform Abishekham for Shiva Linga.
Other Theerthams in Rameswaram
The theerthams described below are outside the Ramanathaswamy temple complex.
Agni Theertham
It is one of the most frequented theerthams of Rameswaram, and is the beach east of the Ramanathaswamy temple. Childless couples take a dip in it worship Shiva at the temple for progeny blessings. There is a huge crowd of devotees on the beach during full moon and new moon days, which are very auspicious for a holy dip.
Jada Theertham
This theertham is 5 km from Rameswaram and en route to the ghost town of Dhanushkodi. People believe that Rama washed his Jada (long hair) in this place. Bathing here can bestow relief from sins and poverty.
Lakshman Theertham
This huge and serene teppakulam is very near the Ramanathaswamy temple. The belief is that Balarama, an incarnation of Vishnu, got relief from his Brahmahathi dosha here. There is a temple for Shiva at one end of the theertham.
Sita Theertham
It is also very close to the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Here, Dharmarajan got relief from the sin of deliberately deviating from the truth.
Rama Theertham
This is a teppakulam where Dharmarajan was cleansed of his sin of deliberately deviating from the truth. One can see some miraculous floating stones here.
Villoondi Theertham
Villoondi Theertham is roughly 6 km from the Rameswaram bus stand. The location offers beautiful views, and there is a pure water spring inside the ocean. Found a few meters from the shore, this theertham is a marvel, being a pure water well beside the ocean. It is where Rama shot an arrow into the sea to get water for a thirsty Sita. At the spot where the arrow struck, a spring emerged from which pure water gushed. Villoondi means “the place pierced by the arrow.” Devotees can use a 120-foot long walking bridge to access the theertham. The bridge extends into the ocean. The water is very potable and contains no trace of salt.
Mahalakshmi Theertham
The first of the 24 theerthams inside the corridor of the temple is the Mahalakshmi theertham. It is found south of the Anjaneyar shrine. At this theertham, Dharmaraja had a holy dip and became wealthy. The belief is that one who takes a holy bath in this theertham will get the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi to gain wealth and freedom from sins.
Savithri Theertham, Gayathri Theertham, and Saraswathi Theertham
These are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th theerthams. All of them are found west of the Anjaneyar shrine. It is said that the water from these sacred wells enabled King Kasibar to get relief from his curse. The belief is that one can be free of Doshas and curses by bathing in these theerthams.
Sethu Madhava Theertham
This is the 5th theertham. One can find a holy tank (teppakulam) in the 3rd corridor of the temple. This beautiful temple tank is filled with many lily flowers, and devotees bathe in it to gain Lakshmi’s blessings and purify themselves.
Gandhamadana Theertham
The 6th theertham is very near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. Bathing in this well can bring purification, relief from sins, divine blessings, and abundance.
Kavatcha Theertham/Swatcha Theertham
The 7th theertham is near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. Bathing in it supposedly ensures that one does not go to hell after death.
Gavaya Theertham
The 8th theertham is also close to the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. Devotees believe that taking a bath in it will give them a shelter under the wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha tree in Hindu mythology.
Nala Theertham
The 9th theertham is near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. It can help devotees to get surya tejas (radiance of the sun) and a place in heaven.
Neela Theertham
The 10th theertham is found near the Sethumadhava Perumal Shrine. It can bring the blessings of Samastha yaga and also grant Agni Yoga.
Sanku Theertham
The 11th theertham, also called Chanku Theertham, is in the inner praharam/corridor. This is where Sage Vatsanabha got relief from his sin of forgetting someone’s timely help. Devotees bathe here to eliminate the sin of ingratitude and gain ambition, imagination, and foresight.
Chakra Theertham
The 12th theertham, also called Chakra/ Sakkara Theertham, is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Surya (Sun) got his golden hand. Taking a bath here can bestow good health.
Brahmahathi Vimochana Theertham
The 13th theertham is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Brahmahathi became free of his sins.
Soorya Theertham and Chandra Theertham
The 14th and 15th theerthams are in the inner praharam (corridor). Taking a dip in these holy wells can bestow knowledge of the past, present, and future times and help them to get the time they desire, that is, Thrikala gnanam and Thrikasi gnanam.
Ganga Theertham, Yamuna Theertham, and Gaya Thertham
The 15th, 16th, and 17th theerthams are in the inner praharam (corridor). It was here that Gnanasruthi Raja gained wisdom.
Siva Theertham
The 19th theertham is also in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Bhairava became free of his Brahmahathi dosham. Taking a bath here eliminates the sins of speaking against Vishnu and Shiva.
Sathyamirtha Theertham
The 20th theertham is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Puhurunu Chakravarthy (Emperor Bururoonu) got relief from his curse. Taking a bath in it can free them from various sins.
Sarva Theertham
The 21st theertham is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Sudharsanar regained his vision and health. Taking a bath here bestows the merits of bathing in all the theerthams and also those in all the 14 worlds to gain all Purusharthas and the blessings of Lord Ramanatha Swamy.
Kodi Theertham
This is the holiest theertham of all and the last of the 22 theerthams, and it is in the inner praharam (corridor). This is where Krishna became free of the sin of killing Kamsa. It is also where Rama kept the tip of his arrow on earth to bring forth water so that he could perform Abishekham for Shiva Linga.
Other Theerthams in Rameswaram
The theerthams described below are outside the Ramanathaswamy temple complex.
Agni Theertham
It is one of the most frequented theerthams of Rameswaram, and is the beach east of the Ramanathaswamy temple. Childless couples take a dip in it worship Shiva at the temple for progeny blessings. There is a huge crowd of devotees on the beach during full moon and new moon days, which are very auspicious for a holy dip.
Jada Theertham
This theertham is 5 km from Rameswaram and en route to the ghost town of Dhanushkodi. People believe that Rama washed his Jada (long hair) in this place. Bathing here can bestow relief from sins and poverty.
Lakshman Theertham
This huge and serene teppakulam is very near the Ramanathaswamy temple. The belief is that Balarama, an incarnation of Vishnu, got relief from his Brahmahathi dosha here. There is a temple for Shiva at one end of the theertham.
Sita Theertham
It is also very close to the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Here, Dharmarajan got relief from the sin of deliberately deviating from the truth.
Rama Theertham
This is a teppakulam where Dharmarajan was cleansed of his sin of deliberately deviating from the truth. One can see some miraculous floating stones here.
Villoondi Theertham
Villoondi Theertham is roughly 6 km from the Rameswaram bus stand. The location offers beautiful views, and there is a pure water spring inside the ocean. Found a few meters from the shore, this theertham is a marvel, being a pure water well beside the ocean. It is where Rama shot an arrow into the sea to get water for a thirsty Sita. At the spot where the arrow struck, a spring emerged from which pure water gushed. Villoondi means “the place pierced by the arrow.” Devotees can use a 120-foot long walking bridge to access the theertham. The bridge extends into the ocean. The water is very potable and contains no trace of salt.