Sri Ramalingeswarar Temple is located in Papanasam close to the Temple Town of Kumbakonam. The full name of the Temple is Sri Parvathavarthini Samedha Sri Ramalingeswarar Temple. This Temple is also known as 108 Shivalayam by many Devotees. The Temple has two entrances one from the West and the other is from the North. The Temple is situated on the main road and a North facing entrance leads to the Temple. To the left are few Shops selling Divine Products and to the right is the Temple Pushkarani. Though the Temple has a North facing entrance leading to the Temple premises the actual Temple is West facing. There is a modern multi pillared Mandapam with granite flooring. In this Mandapam is a Sub Shrine in which there is a East facing Nandhi Vaahanam looking towards the Presiding Deity in the Moolasthanam.

Similarly there are two more Sub Shrines in this place and they pertain to Sri Ganapathy and Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Subramaniyar. It is believed that Devotees ought to Pray them first before they enter the Moolasthanam. The actual Moolasthana Mandapam is devoid of multiple pillars as is seen in other ancient Temples. Instead there are multiple thresholds, three in total and all the three threshold looks awesome since they are gold plated. Atop the threshold of the Moolasthanam is a coloured Gajalakshmi Idol. At the first gold plated threshold there are two coloured Dwara Baalakas who seem to stand guard on either side of the Moolasthanam. Overlooking the Moolasthanam is a gold plated Neivedhya Peedam and a gold plated Nandhi Vaahanam which are East facing. In the West facing Sanctum Sanctorum the Presiding Deity of Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy looks resplendent and amazing. He is in the form of huge Shiva Lingam and is supposed to be omnipotent and benevolent to His Devotees. It is learnt that Sri Rama had come here and had installed this Shiva Lingam here and Prayed to Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy. Since this Shiva Lingam had been installed by Sri Rama Himself many call this place as Keezha Rameswaram. The Moolasthana Mandapam has a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Natarajar and Sri Sivagami Ambal and the Urchavamoorthy Idols are also seen within. Around the Koshtam of the Presiding Deity the Idols of Sri Durgai Amman, Sri Brahmma, Sri Chandikeshwarar, Sri Lingothbhavar, Sri Dhakshinamoorthy, Sri Narthana Vinayagar. It is to mentioned here that the Koshta Durgai Amman has been designed in the form of a gold plated Sub Shrine with a Lotus and a Simha Vaahanam. This North facing Sub Shrine of Sri Durgai Amman is fully gold plated and draws several Devotees. There are two Dwara Baalaki paintings on either side of this Sub Shrine.

Similarly there is a South facing Sub Shrine and the Idols in this Sub Shrine are embossed on the walls and they are those of Sri Rama, Goddess Seetha, Sri Lakshmana and Sri Anjaneya Swamy and they are seen Praying to the Shiva Lingam. It is said that after a pitched battle with Ravana and his forces in Sri Lanka, Sri Rama vanquished them and returned to Ayodhya through Papanasam. He felt that the Brahmmahathi Dosham incurred due to the killing of Karan and Dhooshan still persisted and hence installed 108 Shiva Lingams and Prayed to Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy to absolve Him of the Brahmmahathi Dosham. In the adjoining Sub Shrine to the Moolasthanam which is also West facing Sri Rama had installed 106 Shiva Lingams and they could be seen one after the other in tandem. The 107th Shiva Lingam is that of Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy and the 108th Shiva Lingam which is known as Hanumantha Lingam was fetched by Sri Anjaneya Swamy from Varanasi or Kasi. 

The outer peripheral of the Temple has a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Annapoorani and Sri Visalakshi are seen together. Close to this is the West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Kasi Viswanathar and facing Him is a small Nandhi Vaahanam. The next three Idols are all West facing with a centrally seen Sri Saneeswara Bhagawan and He is flanked by Sri Bhairavar and Sri Suryan. The Navagraha Sannadhi of this Temple is seen close to these Idols. Then there are North facing Sub Shrine in which the Idols of Sri Appar, Sri Sundarar, Sri Manickavasagar and Sri Thirugnana Sammadhar are seen but Sri Sekkizhar who is seen in the same Sub Shrine is West facing. There is a South facing Sub Shrine in which the Idols of Sri Sugreevan and Sri Anjaneya Swamy is seen together. This Temple is closely associated to the Epic Ramayana and hence there are Idols of Sri Sugreevan and Sri Anjaneya Swamy. 

The 108th Shiva Lingam is known as Sri Hanumantha Lingam and it was believed to have been brought from Kasi by Sri Hanuman. In this Sub Shrine facing the huge Hanumantha Lingam is a Nandhi Vaahanam. This Hanumantha Lingam's Sub Shrine is outside the Temple and it has to be Prayed last. Flanking this Sub Shrine's threshold are the coloured paintings of two Dwara Balaakas. The Consort here is known as Sri Parvathavarthini and She occupies Her South facing Shrine and could be seen in a standing posture. Facing the Ambal's Shrine is a Nandhi Vaahanam looking towards North. There is a general belief that the Ambal of this Temple could be Prayed only after Praying all the 108 Shiva Lingams.

The Vimanam of Sri Ramalingaswamy is built based on Rameswaram Temple and the Hanumantha Lingam Shrine's Vimanam is built based on Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple design. The Temple has a Temple Kitchen or Madapalli and an Annadhana Koodam where a minimum of 50 Devotees eat daily. The Sthala Viruksham of this Temple is a Palm Tree and the Sacred Tank or Pushkarani is known as Surya Theertham. Devotees come to this Temple to beg for Forgiveness in their duty towards their ancestors. Like Nandhi, Kamadhenu also has an equal importance in this Temple. Festivals like Vinayagar Chathurthi, Kiruthigai, Shivarathari, Navarathri, Aipasi Annabhishekam, Margazhi Thiruvadhirai are celebrated in a grand manner.

It is very strange and odd to see this Temple charging Rs.10/- per head for any individual to enter this Temple which otherwise implies that no Devotees can have a Free Darshan here on any given day. 

Contact Details: Siva Skandan Gurukkal 89408 68846, Govindaraj Staff 70926 24453, 94436 61248, 97901 16514, 04374 221095

Temple Timing: 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 8:30 PM

Distance from Kumbakonam to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 14 Kms

Distance from Sundaraperumal Kovil to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 5 Kms

Distance from Patteswaram to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 9 Kms

Distance from Dharasuram or Darasuram to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 11 Kms

Distance from Nannilam to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 48 Kms

Distance from Alangudi to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 83 Kms

Distance from Nandhipura Vinnagaram or Nathan Kovil to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 14 Kms

Distance from Swamimalai to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 9 Kms

Distance from Valangaimaan to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 14 Kms

Distance from Trichy or Tiruchirappalli to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 94 Kms

Distance from Vaitheeswaran Kovil to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 49 Kms

Distance from Ayyavadi to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 23 Kms

Distance from Thirunageswaram to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 23 Km

Distance from Thiruvidaimaruthur to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 25 Kms

Distance from Mayavaram to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 35 Kms

Distance from Thiruvarur to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 48 Kms

Distance from Mannargudi to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 47 Kms

Distance from Vaduvur to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 40 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 29 Kms

Distance from Srivanjiyam or Srivanchiyam to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 28 Kms

Distance from Thirucherai to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 22 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Papanasam near Kumbakonam is 305 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Papanasam R.S.

For any Suggestions in the Website: T.Ragavachari 98411 40126