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I have visited Rama's bridge near Rameshwaram. I went there last
year. Though the place assumes a lot of importance historically and
religiously, there is no sign board or organised tourism to this
place. We had to go asking local residents on the way.

Once we reach the nearby area (there is a newly built small hanuman
temple) we have to take a motor boat to venture close to a kilo meter
into the sea to reach Rama Sethu. Reaching there was not exactly a
great experience, since there was no organised facility. I was told
that a good view of the Sethu can be had during low tide times and
especially during the nights or early mornings, I had chosen such a
time to visit the place. Once I reached the actual Sethu Site, I was
astonished and was in loss of words. The bridge should be easily 40-
50 feet wide (the visible part) and made of huge stones. For a normal
logical mind it certainly does not seem to be a geographical
phenomenon. It certainly looks like a huge manmade structure. At
least that is was the structure of the bridge suggests.

Historical Facts

Let us get into a little bit of history and find out what the said
structure means factually.

This structure of close to 48 kilometers which is 3 to 30 feet deep
through its course and was well above the sea level till the 15th
century. The oldest recorded map that mentions of Rama's Bridge is
the Malabar Bowen Map of Netherlands which is supposed to have been
made in 1747, where the map mentions no name to the bridge but has
mention about a place Ramencoil. Further, the same place is mentioned
again in a 1788 Map of Hindoostan available in the Sarasvathi Mahal
Library, Thanjavur.

This bridge has also been mentioned by James Rennel in his earliest
maps of India 1788 as Rama's Bridge. However, Rennel carefully and
tactfully renamed the bridge as Adam's Bridge in his 1804 version of
the map.

Lying dormant under the waters, the bridge again came into light
after the NASA's satellite pictures released in the early 1990s
created curiosity among historians and excitement among Dharmics.
Tales started going around on the date of Rama's Bridge starting from
1.75 million years to 3500 years. NASA though accepted the
authenticity of the pictures, however refused to comment on the
dating.

Few dating attempts have been made after that. While the Sri Lankan
Archeological Department dates the bridge to close to 2 million years
old, Centre For Remote Sensing, Bharathidasan University dated it
close to 3500 years old.

While existence of this geographical phenomenon is not disputed, no
research has been done to find out neither the man-made nature of the
bridge nor the religious connection.

Religious Questions

For devout Dharmics who assume and believe the said structure or the
geographical formation is a bridge built by Shri Rama, there are
certainly a couple of religious questions that arise often. I have
attempted to answer them supported by Valmiki's Ramayana.

Why did Rama build a bridge instead of crossing over in a ship?

The number of soldeirs in Rama's army was huge. You might have to
build too many ships to cross over. Ramayana says "thousand crore
monkeys crossed over". We can take this number to be a poetic
exaggeration, but the fact remains that the number was on a higher
side. Moreover, the sea god himself says that the waters are rough and
he will not be able to go against nature (even if god wishes, he
shall not breach the law of nature, is the beauty of Sanatana Dharma).

In slokas 2-22-25 to 2-22-28, the King of Ocean says, "O, beloved
Rama! Earth, wind ether, water and light remain fixed in their own
nature, resorting to their eternal path. Therefore, I am fathomless
and my nature is that it is impossible of being swum across. It
becomes unnatural if I am shallow. I am telling you the following
device to cross me. O, prince! Neither from desire nor ambition nor
fear nor from affection, I am able to solidify my waters inhabited by
alligators. O, Rama! I shall make it possible to see that
you are able to cross over. I will arrange a place for the monkeys to
cross me and bear with it. As far as the army crosses me, the
crocodiles will not be aggressive to them."

How was it possible to build such a bridge across the Ocean?

It was a planned effort and did not happen easily. Nala, the son of
Viswakarma, the celestial architect was a good architect as his father.

I am giving below the slokas and their translations on the building of
the bridge. The posting of slokas are too long, but then just read
them, they are wonderful and worthwhile.
Valmiki describes construction of this bridge between Slokas 2-22-50
and 2-22-72

"I am a son born of Visvakarma's own loins. I am equal to Viswakarma.
This god of Ocean has reminded me. The great ocean spoke the truth.
Being unasked, I have not told you my details earlier. I am capable of
constructing a bridge across the ocean. Hence, let the foremost of
monkeys build the bridge now itself. Then, being sent by Rama,
hundreds and thousands of monkey heroes jumped in joy on all sides
towards the great forest. Those army-chiefs of monkeys, who
resembled mountains, broke the rocks and trees there and dragged them
away towards the sea. Those monkeys filled the ocean with all types
of trees like Sala and Asvakarna, Dhava and bamboo, Kutaja, Arjuna,
palmyra,Tilaka, Tinisa, Bilva, Saptaparna, Karnika, in blossom as also
mango and Asoka. The excellent monkeys, the forest animals lifted and
brought, like Indra's flag posts, some trees with roots intact and
some others without roots. From here and there the monkeys brought
Palmyra trees, pomegranate shrubs, coconut and Vibhitaka, Karira,
Bakula and neem trees. The huge bodied monkeys with mighty strength
uprooted elephant-sized rocks and mountains and transported them by
mechanical contrivances. The water, raised up due to sudden throwing
of mountains in the sea, soured upward towards the sky and from there
again, gushed back.
The rocks befalling on all sides perturbed the ocean. Some others drew
up strings a hundred Yojanas long (in order to keep the rocks in a
straight line.) Nala on his part initiated a monumental bridge in the
middle of the ocean. The bridge was built at that time with the
cooperation of other monkeys, of terrible doings. Some monkeys were
holding poles for measuring the bridge and some others collected the
material. Reeds and logs resembling clouds and mountains, brought
by hundreds of monkeys, lead by the command of Rama, fastened some
parts of the bridge. Monkeys constructed the bridge with trees having
blossom at the end of their boughs. Some monkeys looking like demons
seized rocks resembling mountains and peaks of mountains and appeared
running hither and thither. Then, a tumultuous sound occurred when the
rocks were thrown into the sea and when mountains were caused to fall
there. On the first day, fourteen Yojanas of bridge were constructed
by the monkeys speedily, thrilled with delight as they were,
resembling elephants. In the same manner, on the second day twenty
Yojanas of bridge were constructed speedily by the monkeys of terrific
bodies and of mighty strength. Thus, on the third day twenty-one
Yojanas of the bridge were constructed in the ocean speedily by the
monkeys with their colossal bodies. On the forth day, a further of
twenty-two Yojanas were constructed by the dashing monkeys with a
great speed. In that manner, on the fifth day, the monkeys working
quickly constructed twenty-three yojanas of the bridge up to the other
seashore. That Nala, the strong and illustrious son of Visvakarma and
an excellent monkey built the bridge across the sea as truly as his
father would have built it. That beautiful and lovely bridge
constructed by Nala across the ocean the abode of alligators, shone
brightly like a milky way of stars in the sky."

Logical Questions to be Addressed

In the wake of Sethu Samudram Project, it is a known fact that the
historically and religiously important Rama's Bridge would be
demolished to make way for a new shipping canal between India and Sri
Lanka. A few political parties have raised security concerns over
this idea and a few other experts have raised eyebrows on the
economic benefits this project could offer. However, I have done no
research on that subject and would not speak about security concerns
and economic benefits. Besides security issues and economic viability
the said project is attached to an extremely sensitive issue of
history and religion.

It is highly surprising how the said project was approved and cleared
by various departments (especially geology and archeological
departments). It is understandable that the said project has not gone
to their purview because no archeological activity or geological
research is happening in the current site. However, in the wake of
said allegations by various political parties, non-governmental
organizations and religious institutions, these departments could
have made a suo moto response to the Union Ministry of Shipping &
Transport to halt the project till a research is commenced and
concluded in the said site. The ministry in a self-confession in the
parliament has come out with a statement saying that 'no
archeological work has been done in the said Rama's Bridge site'. In
that case, it is highly inappropriate to demolish a structure which
has a historical and religious importance without a proper justified
research backing the decision.

Relevant to this case, there are a few questions that are still
unaddressed, say,

1) First and foremost question is that whether the said bridge is man-
made or a geological phenomenon.

2) If it were a geological phenomenon it would assume a great
importance for geologists and scientists, making it very important
for us to preserve it. It would probably become the oldest natural
rock formation in India and the biggest and oldest natural rock
formation of the world and the only one under the sea.

3) If it were man-made but not built by Rama, still it is of extreme
importance as an archeological site. Probably it would classify as
one of the man-made wonders of the world and the oldest ever man-made
bridge to exist.

4) If archeologists and theologists can prove it to be anywhere
closer related to Shri Rama, the importance would be the greatest,
since it has a religious connotation and probably the biggest find
relating the religion (especially Dharmic) and also of archeological
importance attached with religion.

Answers to these questions would certainly direct us to only one
conclusion – the Rama's Bridge should not be touched for demolition.
It might/might not be a religious site, but it is certainly beyond
even what we call as "precious". It is a natural phenomenon which has
surprised scientists and geologists by its sheer existence.

If Indian government tries demolishing Rama's bridge for enabling a
shipping canal project, I might probably even think that the
government might take Qutab Minar off the place because it disrupts
traffic. I do not think the UPA government would want themselves to
be equated with the Taliban who destroyed Bamiyan Budhas while the
whole world witnessed. In both cases of Taliban and UPA government
the action is the same, destroying of world heritage, while only the
motive is different.

The word of caution is loud and open – Don't Touch Rama's Bridge.

__._,_.___

–
'Always remember that you are absolutely unique
…Just like everyone else'

Vthout Wax,
Rampy

Blog: http://RampyAG.Blogspot.com/