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This temple has 108 Shiva Lingas.

Lord Rama, after rescuing Sita, performed Shiva Puja in Rameswaram to cleanse Himself of sins that befell on Him in the war.  

While returning to Ayodhya from there, Lord Rama felt that the sins of killing Kara and Dooshana in Janasthanam were following Him. 

He decided to perform Shiva Puaja immediately. The Lord installed 107 Shivalingas and asked Sri Anjaneya to bring one from Kasi thus making the total 108. 

 The main Linga was named Ramalingawami and the one brought by Sri Anjaneya was named Hanumantha Linga.  

A shrine was built for Mother Parvadhavardhini later.

The place is called Papanasam as it destroyed the Papas (sins, Nasam-destroying) Lord Rama, Sri Anjaneya and Sri Sugriva incurred during the Lanka war by killing Ravana and others.  

The place has also the reputation of being praised as East Rameswaram – Keezh Rameswaram.

 Sri Ramalingeswarar temple not only faces west but all the 108 Shiva Lingas are also facing west and therefore, it is natural that the power of the temple is very supreme to benefit the devotees. 

Lord Ramalingaswami is in the main shrine. 

There are 106 Shiva Lingas in 3 rows in a hall

 Hanumantha Linga shrine is outside the temple.  

Barring the Linga in the sanctum sanctorum, devotees are allowed to offer flowers and prayers directly themselves. 

The other significance of the temple is that Kamadenu , the divine cow has an equal place with Nandi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shriva before His shrine. 

 Lord Rama worshipped Kamadenu as advised by Maharshi Agasthya and it is also said that the Rishi himself worshipped the divine cow and continues the worship even now on Pradosham days.  

The idol of Kamadenu is so beautiful with ornaments around its neck.

As the temple is closely related with Ramayana story, there are sculptures of Lord Rama, Sri Lakshmana, Mother Sita, Sri Anjaneya and Sri Sugriva worshipping Lord Shiva. 

There are shrines for Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai, Kasi Visalakshi and Annapoorani in a single shrine and Khala Bhairava, Sani Bhagwan and Sun God adjacent to one another.