The Sankaracharya of Kanchi Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji performed the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony of Lord Ramanathar at Sri Ramanatha Swami temple ,dedicated to Lord Shiva ,at Rameshwaram. The Maha Kumbhabishekam was held for five days from January 16 to 20 and Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji arrived at the venue on the second day. Kumbhabhishekam for temple is held once in 12 years. The kumbabishekam assumed greater significance as it was organised for the first time with Gopurams (towers) at the southern and northern entrances of the historic temple.

The temple which was believed to have been  there during  the epic Ramayana, had only two towers, the 126 ft nine tier Rajagopuram on the eastern side, facing the sea and 76 ft five tier Gopuram at the western entrance. Before the ceremony the temple authorities had built new 91 ft five tier Gopurams at the southern and northern entrances  adding grandeur to the imposing temple.

The last kumbabishekam was performed on February 5, 2001 and according to source available, kumbabishekams were earlier performed in 1948 and 1975.. For   this 216 vedic scholars participated in the 108 Haven pits ( fire pit) . The deity is  one of the 12 Jyotirlingams located in South India. The Seer  also attended the pooja being performed at the Yaga shala .

Sri  Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji today went into the sanctum sanctorum along with the main Kalasham and witnessed the samprokshanam which was done and later adorned the  idol of Sri Ramanatharswami  with a Golden Crown weighing 1.5 kg of Gold .Thousands of devotees including the judges of the Tamil Nadu high courts participated.