PM Modi reached the place where Vibhishan met Shri Ram for the first time, offered prayers in the temple
Before the Pran Pratistha ceremony to be held in Ayodhya, PM Modi has been continuously visiting temples for the last few days. As part of his two-day tour of South India, PM Modi reached Arichal Munai near Dhanushkodi today. It is said about Arichal Munai that Ram Setu was built here.
After this, PM Modi reached Dhanushkodi, where Lord Ram had taken an oath to defeat Ravana. It was from here that he proceeded to Lanka with the sacred soil. These visits have great importance because the PM is going to Ayodhya tomorrow for the consecration of Ram temple.
Importance of Dhanushkodi Temple
This temple is dedicated to Sri Kothandarama Swamy. The meaning of the name Kothandaram is Ram with bow. It is situated at a place called Dhanushkodi. It is said that it was here that Vibhishana met Shri Ram for the first time and sought refuge from him. It is also said that this is the place where Shri Ram coronated Vibhishana.
On Saturday, PM Modi visited Sri Ranganathaswamy and Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy temples in Srirangam and Rameshwaram respectively. His tour of Tamil Nadu’s temples related to Ramayana is taking place just before the Pran Pratistha ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
What is the importance of Arichal Munai and Shri Kothandarama Swamy Temple in Ramkatha?
According to Ramkatha, before the war started, Ravana’s brother Vibhishana had tried to convince Ravana. Vibhishana said that Ravana should return Sitaji and apologize. Ravana considered this statement of Vibhishana as treason and kicked him out of Lanka.
After this, Vibhishan left Lanka and reached the shelter of Shri Ram across the ocean, where he met Shri Ram for the first time. The construction of Ram Setu started from a place near where Shri Ram’s camp was on the sea shore. This place is today called Arichal Munai Point. It is in Dhanushkodi district of Tamil Nadu, at the same place where Vibhishana came to meet Shri Ram for the first time and his coronation took place, today Shri Kothandarama Swamy Temple is built there.
