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{{Other uses|Kodandarama temple (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Kothandaramaswamy Temple.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Front view of the Kothandaramaswamy Temple at Dhanushkodi]]
The '''Kothandaramaswamy Temple''' at [[Rameswaram]], [[Tamil Nadu]] is a shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity [[Rama]]. Located at a distance of {{Convert|13|km}} from Rameswaram, it forms the southernmost tip of the island.<ref name="Sharma2008">{{cite book|author=Dr. Shiv Sharma|title=India - A Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COHI7LlpkSAC|accessdate=5 June 2013|year=2008|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.|isbn=978-81-284-0067-4|page=730}}</ref> The temple is the only historical structure to survive the [[1964 Rameswaram cyclone|1964 cyclone]] that washed away [[Dhanushkodi]]. The temple has the deities of Rama, [[Lakshmana]], [[Sita]], [[Hanuman]] and [[Vibhishana]]. The temple is surrounded by sea and remains a tourist attraction. It is easily accessible from Rameswaram.

==Historical background==

The temple is estimated to have been constructed about 500-1000 years ago.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite news|title=Kodandaramar Temple : Kodandaramar Temple Details {{!}} Kodandaramar- Rameswaram {{!}} Tamilnadu Temple {{!}} கோதண்டராமர் |url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=287|accessdate=5 June 2013|newspaper=[[Dina Malar]]}}</ref> Rama, the main idol, is depicted as having a bow (Kothandam), and hence the name Kothandaramaswamy for the idol.<ref name=dinamalar/>

The temple is believed to be the place where [[Vibhishana]], the younger brother of [[Ravana]], asked Rama and his [[vanara]] (ape men) army for refuge.<ref name=dinamalar/> According to this tradition, after the abduction of Sita, Vibhishana advised Ravana to return her to Rama.<ref name=dinamalar/> However, Ravana did not listen to the advice, which led to Vibhishana fleeing from Lanka and joining Rama's army. When Vibhishana surrendered to Rama, the vanara army urged Rama not to accept Vibhishana believing him to be a spy. However, Rama accepted Vibhishana under the insistence of Hanuman stating that it is his duty to protect the ones surrendered to him.<ref name=dinamalar/> It is also said that after the slaying of Ravana, Rama performed the "Pattabhishekam" (ascension to king of Lanka) for Vibhishana at this place.<ref name=dinamalar/><ref name="Various2003">{{cite book|author=Various|title=Tourist Guide to South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ta6AD7MNFioC|accessdate=5 June 2013|year=2003|publisher=Sura Books|isbn=978-81-7478-175-8|pages=114–115}}</ref> The story is depicted in painting across the walls inside the shrine.<ref name="Bansal2008">{{cite book|author=Sunita Pant Bansal|title=Hindu Pilgrimage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lzPCOVQGP3wC|accessdate=6 June 2013|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-0997-3}}</ref>

==Location and importance==
[[File:Kothandaramar Temple, Rameswaram.jpg|thumb|The road to the temple.]]
Situated on an island that is surrounded by [[Bay of Bengal]] and [[Gulf of Mannar]],<ref name=dinamalar/> the temple is located {{Convert|13|km}} from Rameswaram.<ref name="BajwaKaur2007">{{cite book|author1=Jagir Singh Bajwa|author2=Ravinder Kaur|title=Tourism Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TVXCiwdwPxsC|accessdate=5 June 2013|date=1 January 2007|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-313-0047-3|page=292}}</ref> When Dhanushkodi was severely affected by the [[1964 Rameswaram cyclone]], the temple was the only structure that survived.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ganapathy|first=Arun|title=A tale of two temples|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-15/spiritual-destinations/29751092_1_sea-water-planets-lord-rama/2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131001031904/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-15/spiritual-destinations/29751092_1_sea-water-planets-lord-rama/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2013|accessdate=7 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=15 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=City Development Plan - Rameswaram|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/Rameswaram/cdp.pdf|publisher=Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) - [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|accessdate=7 June 2013|page=81|format=PDF}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dhanushkodi|url=http://www.ramnad.tn.nic.in/tourism.htm|publisher=Ramanathapuram District website|accessdate=7 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004054/http://www.ramnad.tn.nic.in/tourism.htm|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Swami Vivekananda]] is said to have visited the place after his historic trip to [[Chicago]].

==Sethusamudram project alignment==
After Independence, six alignments were proposed for the implementation of the [[Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project]]. Incidentally, the fourth of the six proposed alignments was dropped because it proposed that a large area around the Rameswaram island, including the temple, be demolished.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pachauri to head six-member experts committee|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/31/stories/2008073161591100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805081628/http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/31/stories/2008073161591100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2008|accessdate=5 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 July 2008}}</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Rama temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Ramanathapuram district]]

Kothandaramaswamy Temple - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 20:46, 21 April 2021