Today temples stand at all the places where he performed these yagyas at Rameswaram, Devipattinam and Tirupullani. The most sacred is the Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram that has a jyotirlingam of Shiva.
After a mighty battle Rama triumphed, killing Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarana and son Indrajit. Then riding the celestial chariot, the pushpak ratha he came back to Rameswaram with Sita. Here he decided to perform an antyeshti yagya, or the funeral rites for Ravana. He also did a prayaschitta yagya, a religious rite of atonement because he had killed Ravana who was a Brahmin. With this yagya he hoped to appease Shiva as Ravana was a great devotee of Shiva and the god was displeased at his death. Today the great Ramanathaswamy Temple stands at the place where this yagyas took place. So at Rameswaram, Rama an avatar of Vishnu worships Shiva who is addressed as Ramanathaswamy, the lord of Rama. The shivalingam in the Ramanathaswamy Temple is considered to be one of the twelve sacred jyotirlingams. Also the tirtha is important for funeral rites and pind daan, the worship of ancestors, because of the yagya by Rama. If you are planning for Rameshwaram trip, then book your hotel at Daiwik - one of the best 4 star hotels in Rameshwaram.
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