Three of the shrines on the Sethu
coast (south eastern coast) of Tamilnadu associated with legends from the Ramayana
are Rameswaram, Devipatnam and Tiruppullaani.
The coastal town of Devipatnam is
also known as Navapaashaanam. Legend has it that Rama
worshipped Shiva (Tilakeswarar) on his way to battle the
demon king Ravana. He is also said to have worshipped Ganesha, Parvati, Aadi
Jagannatha Perumaal and installed nine stones representing the Navagrahas
or the nine celestial bodies. Hence the name Navapaashaanam.
Legend also has it that the name Devipatnam arose from
the belief that Devi (Parvati) founded this site to commemorate her destruction of the
demon Mahisasuran.
There are shrines to Tilakeswarar, Lokanayaki
and Kadaladaitta Perumaal and processional images of Rama with Sita,
Lakshmana and Hanuman.
(Image above courtesy C. Vedanarayanan UK).
