Kashi – Rameswaram connection – here is a rationalist’s considered view – take it or leave it!
According to legend, by using it the launch pad to attack Lanka to retrieve Sita from Ravana, Lord Rama sanctified Rameswaram. And on His return from Lanka, he stopped here to worship Lord Siva for absolving his sin (brahmahatti dosha) in killing the brahmin, Ravana.
Legend has it that Rama asked Anjaneya to get a Viswa lingam, the presiding deity of Kasi, to perform the ‘dhosha nivarthi puja’ – Kashi is also known as ‘moksha puri’, being the abode of kala Bhairav’ who wards off such sins!
Anjaneya, on his way back from Kasi, was intercepted by Sage Narada who insisted Anjaneya also do the puja with a separate lingam as he had also killed many in the battle with Ravana. Hence he flew back to Kasi to get one more lingam. Since Anjaneya did not turn up on time and as the auspicious time was running out, Sita made a lingam out of sand, and the puja was performed in time. Much to his dismay, when Anjaneya returned with the lingams, he noticed that the puja had already been performed. However, he implored Rama to substitute the lingam made out of sand with his Viswa lingam. Rama readily agreed and asked Anjaneya to remove it. With all his might Anjaneya tried to lift it but was unsuccessful and fainted. When he regained consciousness, Rama assured him that the Viswanatha lingam would be installed north of the one that was consecrated by Him.
The one first installed by Rama goes by the appellation Ramanatha Swamy and the other as Viswanathar. Further Rama enjoined that the first puja henceforth be performed to Viswanathaswamy and then to Ramanathaswamy which is followed till date. And the second one was installed at the Anjaneya temple here.
It is believed that the well water ‘Agni theertham’ used by Sri Ram to perform linga Abhisheka, to ward off the ‘brahmahathi dhosha’, is simulated by the Hindus to get rid of ‘pitrudhosha’! But taking this well water to Kashi to perform abhishekam to Kashi Viswanath – followed by doing abhishekam with Ganga jal to Rameswaram linga, could be a later addition that crept in the customs. Is this custom prevalent among North Indian Hindus too?? This could have been prescribed to make people visit these two far lying holy temples (at least once in their lifetime) which was a humongous task those days!
Why would wavering Hindus otherwise go to temples at least on Fridays, if not sanctified as most ‘auspicious’?
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