Rameswaram: Divine Island

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Rameswaram, one of the renowned religious centers of India, is a well known sacred spot both for the Saivites and Vaishnavite frente period ferves as one of the cultural centers and pithru oriented spots of the sub continent for several centuries. The history and culture of any region, in the Indian sub-continent, often centers round a temple. This is actually true in the case of Rameswaram, where the temple makes a significant contribution not only to the religious life of the people, but also serves as the nucleus around which the social and cultural life of the people revolves. As this sacred place has the continuous history from very ancient past to this day, the temple there in also has been growing continuously through the centuries starting from a small one at the time of the period of the Saiva Nayanmars to the vast temple complex at the end of the Sethupati period. The temple accommodates, in addition to the sacred thirthas, beautiful architectural buildings and hundreds of marvelous sculptures which not only depict the epic and puranic themes but also reflect the contemporary social, cultural and folk traditions. The present book "Rameshwaraam - Divine Island" explains in detail the spot as a religious as well as the thirtha center and their social and cultural importance in a systematic and scientific manner. It also traces the history art and architecture of the temple. It would be of much useful to the general readers, students and researchers to understand the cultural importance of the sacred spot and artistic beauty and their legendary background.

Dr. G.Sethuraman is a retired Professor of Art History, Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu. He has served as Professor Emeritus in the Madurai Kamaraj University from 2013 to 2015. Put in 36 years of service in the University, he has 73 papers published both in international and national journals in his credit. He has produced 35 Ph.D. scholars and authored more than eighteen books. He has been awarded by the State Government of Tamil Nadu for his book History of Buddhist Art (in Tamil) in 2013. He has been invited by the Ministry of Hindu Cultural Affairs, Colombu, Sri Lanka, for six consecutive years to present papers, chair the seminar sessions and deliver special and inaugural addresses. He was the editor of the Proceedings of the South Indian History Congress for four consecutive years. He continues his research activities with the same spirit even today.

Dr. V. Vedachalam has served in the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology for 34 long years in the capacity of Museum Curator, Senior Epigraphist and Excavator. He sincerely served in the excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology at Karur, Kovalanpottal (Madurai). Thiruththangal, Mangudi, Thondi, Alagankulam, Kiladi, and Kodumanal. He has authored more than thirty books and published hundreds of research articles. He taught archaeology, epigraphy and art to the student community from Tamil Nadu and other States and from Sri Lanka. He delivered Endowment Lectures in many Universities in Tamil Nadu and also served as visiting Professor in those institutions. He visited more than sixteen countries for the purpose of his research works. His book on Parakkirama Pandyapuram was awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards.

Rameswaram, one of the renowned religious centers of India, is a well known sacred spot both for the Saivites and Vaishnavites from a very ancient period. It has served as one of the cultural centers and pithru oriented spots of the sub continent for several centuries. The history and culture of any region, in the Indian sub-continent. often centers around a temple. This is actually true in the case of Rameswaram, where the temple makes a significant contribution not only to the religious life of the people, but also serves as the nucleus around which the social and cultural life of the people revolves. As this sacred place has a continuous history from very ancient past to this day, the temple therein also has been growing continuously through the centuries starting from a small one at the time of the period of the Saiva Nayanmars to the vast temple complex at the end of the Sethupati period. The temple accommodates, in addition to the sacred thirthas, beautiful architectural buildings and hundreds of marvellous sculptures which not only depict the epic and puranic themes but also reflect the contemporary social, cultural and folk traditions. The present book "Rameswaraam - the Divine Island" explains in detail the spot as a religious as well as a thirtha center and their social and cultural importance in a systematic and scientific manner. It also traces the history, art and architecture of the temple.

This work is a collective venture by many who are earnestly involved in this task along with the authors. The authors express their deep gratitude to the District Collector, Ramanathapuram, Commissioner HR&CE, and the Joint Commissioner/ Executive Officer and other officials of Sri Ramanathaswamy temple, Rameswaram for their kind cooperation to publish this book.