At Rameshvaram in the
state of Tamil Nadu, the deity Shiva manifests himself as "Rama's
Lord." Rameshvar is shown here as a linga, a pillar-shaped item that is
thought to reflect Shiva's symbolic form.
The Rameshvar linga is one of the twelve jyotirlingas, a
network of twelve lingas esteemed extremely sacred and strong, and where Shiva
is said to be present in a specific way.
The legendary charter of the place is based on the Ramayana,
the older of the two Sanskrit epics.
The deity Rama, the epic's protagonist, is said to have
worshipped Shiva here, however there are conflicting stories of when this
occurred.
In other legends, it is to get Shiva's blessing just before
Rama's onslaught on Lanka's demon realm.
Other stories place the devotion after the conquering of
Lanka, as a gratitude ceremony.
In any event, both myths show Rama as a Shiva follower
(bhakta), bolstering Shiva's claim to be the greatest deity of all.
