CHIDAMBARAM | Stamp

| Medium : Acrylics |
| RAMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE | TAMIL NADU | INDIA | 12th Century | 
 
According to the Indian mythology, Rameshwaram is as old as the epic saga, Ramayana. It is said that in this place Rama made a ‘lingam’ to worship Lord Shiva to defeat Ravana.
According to the religious text, the Puranas, Lord Rama was asked by a sage to establish a ‘shivalinga’ to be free from the sins of killing Ravana, the son of a Brahmin. Lord Anjaneya was sent away to bring a lingam from Kailas mountains but did not return on time. So, Sita made the lingam with sand and installed the ‘ramalinga’. On his return from the mountains, Anjaneya was disappointed. Hence, Lord Rama ordered that the ‘visvalingam’ that Anjaneya bought back should also be set up.
According to historians, the outer shell of the temple traces back to the 12th century. The shrine was poorly protected by a hovel first and later, Parakrama Bahu, the King of Sri Lanka attempted in building a sturdier structure around the idol.
This was completed by the Setupathy rulers who belong to Ramanathapuram.