There is in South India a very famous holy place called रामेश्वर and a शिव temple there. राम and others encamped on the sea shore to cross over to लङ्का to release सीता from रावण 's custody. This temple, according to कम्ब , was built by राम at that time. The following story is from the युद्ध काण्ड of कम्ब रामायण .

To make the passage over to लङ्का easy, राम decided to build a great temple at रामेश्वर and install a शिवलिङ्ग in the temple. Under the expert supervision of the great architects, नल and नील , all the monkeys cooperated to build the temple. As ordered by राम , हनूमान् went to कैलास to fetch शिवलिङ्ग . हनूमान् did not return with the लिङ्ग though the auspicious time for the installation was very near. How could the installation be made without the idol and the installation had to be made at the appointed time.

श्री राम stood ready near the installation platform. It was the exact time for the installation of the idol. A divine effulgence was seen to emerge from राम and immediately a शिवलिङ्ग automatically appeared at the spot where rituals were conducted for installation. Everyone was wonder-struck by this mysterious happening.

हनूमान् by now, returned with the लिङ्ग and he felt sorry that the installation of the idol had already been made. श्री राम told him: "Please remove the idol already installed, we shall install a new one."

Happy at the words of राम , हनूमान् entwined the idol with his tail and jumped directly upwards. But, his tail was cut, head clashed against the roof which was broken and हनूमान् fell down unconscious. श्री राम held him up and patted him on the head and हनूमान् was more pleased than ever. Afterwards, to fulfil हनूमान् 's desire and for the prosperity of the temple हनूमान् was made to install the new शिवलिङ्ग in front of the eastern tower of the temple. श्री राम laid down the following rule also. Only after worshipping the idol at the tower, should the God inside the temple be worshipped.

The rule was also recorded there.