Modi greets BRICS leaders against backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathaswamy temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (September 12, 2026) welcomed BRICS leaders against a backdrop featuring Tamil Nadu's iconic Ramanathaswamy temple, one of the Char Dham shrines where Lord Rama is believed to have performed puja after his victory over the demon king Ravana.

At Bharat Mandapam, where the 18th BRICS Summit is underway, the Prime Minister received the leaders of BRICS nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The leaders shook hands and posed for pictures against the backdrop featuring the iconic Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Welcoming Mr. Xi, Mr. Modi also explained to him the significance of the temple. India is hosting the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13.

It is being attended by the leaders of 11 member countries and 10 partner countries, besides some international organisations. The Ramanathaswamy temple is the only one dedicated to Lord Shiva among the Char (four) Dham shrines, three of which are in northern India (Dwaraka, Puri and Badrinath).

Of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India, 11 are in the north and only the Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga shrine is to the south. Rameswaram is a great pilgrimage destination not only for Saivites but also for Vaishnavites. Considered one of the most important religious duties of Hindus, the Kasi Rameswaram Yatra begins at Kasi and ends after worshipping Lord Ramanathaswamy in Rameswaram.

According to a Tamil Nadu government website, the historic shrine was under the care of a monk up to the 10th century A.D. ALSO WATCH BRICS Declaration adopted: How India bridged Iran-UAE divide In the 15th century A.D., Ramanathapuram King Udayan Sethupathi and a Vaisya from Nagore built the western tower and compound walls.

Following this, a wealthy individual from Madurai built the ‘Amman Sannidhi corridor’ and carried out other renovation works. Subsequently, between 1897 and 1904, the 126-ft.-high nine-tiered east rajagopuram (tower) was completed by the family of a Devakottai zamindar.

According to the Puranas, Lord Rama arrived here along with Sita and Lakshman, and consecrated and worshipped the Shivalinga to expiate the sin of killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin. As its very name implies, Rameswaram is the holy place of Lord Rameswara, i.e., Eswara (Shiva) consecrated by Lord Rama.