Difference Between Kasi and Rameswaram
Kasi and Rameswaram are the holiest places for the Hindus in India.
Two of the twelve Jyothirlingam shrines are in Kasi Vishwanatha the temple and in the temple of Sri Ramanathaswamy in Rameswaram.
As Kasi in the North, Rameswaram is in the South
The devotees are allowed to touch and carry out abhishekam in sacred Jyotirlingam, with water of Ganges, the milk and flowers while in Rameswaram the traditional form of worship is followed.
The Hindus offer worship in Rameswaram for prosperity, and liberation from the real world is the objective behind worshipping in Kasi.
The Hindis think that their pilgrimage in Kasi is incomplete without a pilgrimage in Rameswaram
Kasi and Rameswaram are the oldest Hindu centres of pilgrimage in India. Kasi is in the north of India and Rameswaram is at the end of the South of India, 3200 kms apart.
Kasi is the other name for the ancient city Varanasi. It is also called by the name Benaras. It is located on the banks of Ganges of river and it is the primary reason of its inviolability. It is found in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Rameswaram is found on the other hand in the Indian state of Tamilnadu. It is found on the Island of Pamban and is 50 kilometres of the Island of Mannar in the country of Sri Lanka.
Hindu mythology says that Rameswaram is a place where from the Lord Rama constructed a bridge taking help of monkeys to recover Sita when she was captured by Ravana, the king of Lanka.
Kasi is thought to be the holiest place in the world by the Hindus and one can wait for years to have a pilgrimage there for at least once in his life. Kasi is the home of the Temple Viswanatha where the residing god is the lord Siva. Siva is venerated in the form of Jothilinga in this temple.
The Hindis think that their pilgrimage in Kasi is incomplete without a pilgrimage in Rameswaram also. The lord Siva is the residing god in the Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple of Rameswaram also and in the same form of Jothilinga with the name. Among the twelve Jothilingas, two are present in these two temples.
Except the Hindus, the Jains and the buddhists consider Kasi as very holy. Gautama Buddha gave his first lecture in Sarnath which is near Varanasi.
Kasi drew a lot of importance owing to his nearness in Ganges of river. There is about the hundred Ghats in Varanasi adjoining Ganges. Some of the Ghats are for the purpose of taking holy dip in Ganges and to carry out religious rituals while some are used as the sites of incineration. The Hindis believe firmly that a holy dip in Ganges in Kasi would make them get rid of all their sins. The death in Kasi is considered to be very holy in sense that the person is not intended to have been born once again. Oblations are given to the dead kith and kin with firm belief that they would be happy in the other world. Those who are unable to visit Kasi take a holy dip in Agnitheertham and give oblations to their forefathers in Rameswaram.
There are 36 springs of water in Rameswaram of which 22 are in the temple of Ramanathaswamy and these waters is told have curative characters. They consider that bathing in these waters has huge significance. Agni theertham of the temple alludes to the ocean while Koti theertham is found in the very temple.
The Hindis think that you must continue pilgrimage in Kasi in a group while you must go alone to Rameswaram.
Kasi is a home to music traditions. Benaras Gharana of Hindustani music style developed in Kasi.
One thousand pillar corridors in the temple of Sri Ramanathaswamy, the foot of Rama, the Idols of Naga in the temple of Ram and in Sita Kund are some of the good places to visit.