Rameswaram Ramanathasamy Temple is one of the oldest temples in India.Rameswaram Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingam temples located in India.

The Rameswaram Temple, which is considered to be close to Kasi, and the Agni Tirtha Sea and Tirtha Wells contain many specialties and spiritual symbols.

Similarly another highlight of the temple is the 3rd floor with identical pillars.

This is a great example of architecture. The circumference of the 3rd floor is 5.10 m wide. The pillars are 9 meters high and are set on a high platform. According to this the temple is one which includes all the shrines, halls and theerthams.

The southern part of the 3rd section is 207 meters long, the northern part is 195 meters long, the eastern part is 137 meters long and the western part is 119 meters long.

The main feature of this prakaram is that a total of 1212 pillars are set in the prakaram. It is also known as the Sokkatan Hall.

Every pillar set in the 3rd floor is very meticulously crafted. Each pillar is a combination of many materials and exemplifies architecture. Seeing so many carved pillars, one would not be surprised and amazed.

This temple was built by King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi who ruled Ramanathapuram. Renovation of the 3rd floor of the Rameswaram temple, which started in 1740, was completed only in 1770.

It is worth mentioning that 250 years have passed since the completion of the 3rd floor of the Rameswaram Temple. Also, during the Maha Kumbabhishekam held at the Rameswaram Temple in 2016, all the 1212 pillars in the famous 3rd Prakaram were repainted. Painted with a light yellow color, the display is glossy.

It is the wish of the tourists and devotees as a whole that this 3rd edifice, which adds pride to the majestic Rameswaram Temple over the past 250 years, should be declared a Heritage Site or UNESCO recognized and placed on its list.

Central and state governments must take action.