Don't Touch Rama's Bridge

September 26, 2007

A Loud Call – " Don't Touch Rama's Bridge "

Ashwin Kumar Iyer

First Hand Layman Witness

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.

September 27, 2007

Sir, You have represented the sentiments as well as logical thinking of every true thinking Indian. This message should spreadfar and wide so that the politicians stay away from tampering with the "bridge" for personal gains of peanuts by destroying a great structure/formation which involves the sentiments of not only Indians but every lover of God/Nature in the entire world.Hari Om.SadhujagN.S.Parasuraman <parasu41To:

Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:23:20 PM Don't Touch Rama's Bridge

Don't Touch Rama's Bridge

A Loud Call – "Don't Touch Rama's Bridge"