The history of the rameshwaram temple south india is deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology, particularly the epic Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama, after defeating the demon king Ravana in Lanka, sought to absolve himself of the sins incurred during the battle. To do so, he wished to worship Lord Shiva. He instructed Hanuman to bring a lingam (an iconic representation of Lord Shiva) from the Himalayas. However, as Hanuman was delayed, Sita, the consort of Rama, created a lingam out of sand, which Lord Rama worshipped. This lingam is believed to be the one housed in the Ramanathaswamy Temple today.
