Rama Setu: India’s Unique Symbol and a National Identity

After a lot of efforts, Lord Rama learns about Sita’s abduction by Ravana and that she is been held captive in Ashok Vatika (Lanka). Rama reaches the island (now called Rameshwaram) and stands at the shores of the sea, in despair, and looks at the unending vastness of the sea, with angst and helplessness, wondering how can this giant blue be crossed? He then fasts, meditates, and prays to Lord of Sea, Varuna continuously for three days. Infuriated by the unbearable silence of the sea, Rama picks up his fierce Brahmastra and shoots the arrow into the sea. After all, it was not an ordinary arrow and Rama was not an ordinary hero.

The firing of the arrow caused the water to burn and the earth to explode. Hundreds of meteorites ignited in the sky, mountains rose and the strong winds swayed and toppled the trees.

तिर्यक् च सह नक्षत्रैः सम्गतौ चन्द्रभास्करौ | भास्करांशुभिरादीप्तम् तमसा च समावृतम् || २-२२-८

प्रचकाशे तदाकाशमुल्काशतविदीपितम् | अन्तरिक्षाच्च निर्घाता निर्जग्मुरतुलस्वनाः || २-२२-९

The moon sun and the stars moved obliquely and though the sun's rays lighted the sky, it was enveloped by darkness and shined with a blaze of hundreds of meteors while thunders reverberated with an unparalleled sound in the sky.

Lord Varuna appears out of the waves before Rama, bows before him, and pleads to stop the destruction. To pacify Lord Rama, the sea finds out a way to cross over itself– by building a BRIDGE over it !! The sea assures him that the waves would remain still while it is crossed. And says it would happily hold it till the entire Vanara army crosses it.

सागरः समतिक्रम्य पूर्वम् आमन्त्र्य वीर्यवान् |
अब्रवीत् प्रान्जलिर् वाक्यम् राघवम् शर पाणिनम् || २-२२-२४

The sea approached Rama with joined palms, who stood with arrows in hand, addressing him first as Rama!' and spoke the following words:

विधास्ये येन गन्तासि विषहिष्ये ह्यहम् तथा |
न ग्राहा विधमिष्यन्ति यावत्सेना तरिष्यति || २-२२-२८
हरीणाम् तरणे राम करिष्यामि यथास्थलम् |

"O, Rama! I shall make it possible to see that you can 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."

Not only this, it was Lord Varuna who also suggested Nal, the biological son of Vishwakarma to be the chief architect of the bridge and be accepted by Lord Rama as the chief engineer for this mammoth task. Hence the bridge was originally called "NAL SETU" but as a token of reverence to Lord Rama, it is popularly known as “Ram Setu”.

अयम् सौम्य नलो नाम तनुजो विश्व कर्मणः |
पित्रा दत्त वरः श्रीमान् प्रतिमो विश्व कर्मणः || २-२२-४४ 

"O, excellent man! This one, named Nala, a glorious person, is the son of Vishvakarma; who was given a boon by his father and is equal to Visvakarma." 

एष सेतुम् महाउत्साहः करोतु मयि वानरः |
तम् अहम् धारयिष्यामि तथा हि एष यथा पिता || २-२२-४५

"Let this greatly energetic monkey build a bridge across me. I can hold that bridge. He is just the same as his father."

                                    (Pic Credit: Ram Setu -  A national monument by Bharat Gyaan)

The Construction:

A topography survey was conducted by Nal around the areas of Rameswaram, Dhanuskhodi and Ramnad districts. It was then decided to build a 100 yojna long and 10 yojna wide bridge commencing from Arisalmunai in Dhanuskoti (tip Pamban Island) to Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka.

To commence with the task, the Vanara Sena uprooted trees like Sala, Asvakarna, Dhava, Bamboo, Kutaja, Arjuna, Palmyra, Tilaka, Tinisa, Bilva, along with elephant-sized rocks & stones and transported it through mechanical contrivances and piled them on the seabed. Uproarious noise was created when rocks and trees were caused to fall in the sea. A linear pattern was followed when 100 yojana long strings were drawn to keep the stones and barks intact and in a straight line. It took 5 days to build a 23 yojana long causeway.

ते नगान् नग सम्काशाः शाखा मृग गण ऋषभाः || २-२२-५३
बभन्जुर् वानरास् तत्र प्रचकर्षुः च सागरम् | 

Those army-chiefs of monkeys, who resembled mountains, broke the rocks and trees there and dragged them away towards the sea.

ते सालैः च अश्व कर्णैः च धवैर् वंशैः च वानराः || २-२२-५४
कुटजैर् अर्जुनैस् तालैस् तिकलैस् तिमिशैर् अपि |
बिल्वकैः सप्तपर्णैश्च कर्णिकारैश्च पुष्पितैः || २-२२-५५
चूतैः च अशोक वृक्षैः च सागरम् समपूरयन् | 

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.

शिलानाम् क्षिप्यमाणानाम् शैलानाम् तत्र पात्यताम् || २-२२-६५
बभूव तुमुलः शब्दस् तदा तस्मिन् महाउदधौ |

Then, a tumultuous sound occurred when the rocks were thrown into the sea and when mountains were caused to fall there. 

समुद्रम् क्षोभयामासुर्निपतन्तः समन्ततः || २-२२-६०
सूत्राण्यन्ये प्रगृह्णन्ति ह्यायतम् शतयोजनम् | 

The rocks befalling on all sides perturbed the ocean. Some others drew up strings a hundred Yojanas long (to keep the rocks in a straight line.) 

Well it is great to note that our ancient marine architects who were so illustrious in building a tidal dock at Lothal and the natural stone - turned - wharf to berth the ships at Dwarka, for them erecting a causeway by piling up trees and mountains would have been easy-as-pie.

Ram Setu – A Man-made Structure

There has been an unsettled debate on whether the Rama Setu is natural or man-made. Various excavations and research papers have been written divulging the fact that this engineering marvel is a manmade phenomenon.

S. Badrinarayanan, former Director of Geological Survey of India, says “It is a well-known fact that coral reefs can only form in clean and unpolluted water and these being marine organisms require firm and compact formation as a foundation. Corals grow only in hard rocks. The presence of loose marine sands below these clearly indicates that these are not natural and are transported. Unless somebody has transported and dumped them these could not have come there. This is an ancient causeway and an engineering marvel.”

Even the NASA images clearly establish that the bridge is composed of a series of islands and sand accumulations created by ocean currents which corroborate with various excavations conducted in Ram Setu.

Nasa Image: Pic Credit Adam’s Bridge Formation - Dr. V M Das (iosrjournals.org)

In fact, just a couple of years back, the American archaeologists on Discovery Communications-owned Science Channel, quoted after citing from NASA images that "the 30-mile line between India and Sri Lanka was made up of rocks that are 7,000-years old while the sand on which they are sitting is only about 4,000-years old. Some stones have been brought from afar and set on top of the sand bar island chain suggesting it to be a superhuman achievement.”

Formation: If the marine archaeologists explore the various layers of the vertical section of the bridge, it shall reveal as follows:
1. sea bed at the base,
2. rock outcrops above it,
3. tree remnants and barks,
4. rock boulders
5. small stones and pebbles
6. sand at the top

Interestingly the Valmiki Ramayan text also mentions the same.

(Pic Credit: Ram Setu -  A national monument by Bharat Gyaan)

This engineering feat also shows us that our ancient marine engineers like Nal were well aware of the pore pressure theory incorporated in the bridge formation.

Dimension: The text also mentions the ratio of the length and breadth of the bridge to be 100:10. In reality, the bridge is approximately 35 km in length and 3.5 km in width. 

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णम् शतयोजन मायतम् || २-२२-७४
ददृशुर्देवगन्धर्वा नलसेतुम् सुदुष्करम् |

The celestials and Gandharvas, the heavenly musicians saw Nala's bridge, having a width of ten yojanas and a length of hundred yojanas and which was very difficult to be built.

Depth: The temple record says that the bridge was above sea level till 15th century until a cyclone deepened the channel in 1480.

In 1803, the British gazette too reported that “the bridge was used by people to cross between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka until the middle of 15th Century when there was a breach due to a storm, causing a part of the bridge to be submerged". A copy of the bridge's representation together with its submerged portion in that period is available in the Saraswati Mahal Library in Thanjavur.

Another evidence comes from Madras Presidency Administration Report which mentions about a travelogue of 1744. The travelogue has referred the bridge as,

[Glossary entry: Adam…Called the bridge of Rama.  It really joined Ceylon to India until 1480, when a breach was made through rocks during a storm. A subsequent storm enlarged this and foot traffic then ceased.]

Duration: The bridge was built in a short span of just  5 days !!

14 yojnas on 1^st da

20 yojnas on 2^nd day

21 yojnas on 3^rd day

22 yojnas on 4^th day

23 yojnas on 5^th day

पञ्चमेन तथा चाह्ना प्लवगैः क्षिप्रकारिभिः || २-२२-७०
योजनानि त्रयोविंशत्सुवेलमधिकृत्य वै | 

In that manner, on the the fifth day, the monkeys working quickly constructed twenty-three yojanas of the bridge up to the other seashore.

The Unresolved Theory of Floating Stones

There is a theory behind the mysterious floating stones known as "The Pumice Stone theory". Pumice is a lightweight, hardened form of lava that floats on water. These mysterious floating stones are full of air bubbles and are less dense than water. They will float in the beginning but slowly when the water enters the bubbles driving out the air, the stones sink. And that might be the reason why the Rama Setu is underwater. But the fact is that there are no active volcanoes in Rameshwaram.

As Swami Dayanand Saraswati, a spiritual leader and the founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam says, " that the climate and soil conditions in the Bay of Bengal between the two landmasses did not allow for an undersea volcanic ridge (a long raised strip) as there was no seismic activity in this area.” Hence this theory still remains unresolved and seems to be as puzzling as the stones. Meanwhile, let's just get astonished by these stones and enjoy the divine vibes..!

Textual and other references of Ram Setu

Apart from the 85 shlokas in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the bandh setu also finds mention in Dharmashastras like Mahabharata, Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa, Skanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Angi Purana, Brahma Purana. Various ancient texts, travelogues, epigraphs, inscriptions, the government records of Ocean rim states also acknowledge and preserve this sacred memory and tradition. Not only this it, but is also consecrated in sculptures in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, etc.  Though there are hundreds of proofs of existence of Ram Setu and that it is a man-made phenomenon, let’s have a look at few of such references:

Malabar Bowen Map (1747) drawn by Netherlands shows Ramarcoil I (Ram Temple)

(Pic Credit: Realign Sethusamundram Channel by S. Kalyanaraman)

·         Map drawn by Joseph Parks, Australian Botanical explorer (1788) shows Ramar Bridge (the map is currently in Saraswati Mahal Library, Thanjavur)

(Pic Credit: Realign Sethusamundram Channel by S. Kalyanaraman) 

Travelogues: A book by Alexander Hamilton, 1744, A New Account of the East Indies.

On page 338 , he has provided an exact description of his visit to “zealon” (spelling of Ceylon) by walking on the bridge.

The travel records of Marco Polo by William Marsden, translated from Italian to English in 13^th century also describes amazing places to visit in the eastern part of the world, Ram Setu being one of them.

    (Pic Credit: Realign Sethusamundram Channel by S. Kalyanaraman) 

Texts: In 85 shlokas, Valmiki Ramayan has explained the Setu in detail.

Kalidasa Raghuvamsa also finds mention of Setu as below (Sarga 3, shloka 2)

                  वैदेहि पश्यऽऽमलयाद्विभक्तं मत्सेतुना फेनिलमम्बुराशिम्

                        छायापथेनेव शरत्प्रसन्नमाकाशमाविष्कृतचारुतारम् ॥ १३-२॥ 

While returning in Pushpak Vimana from Srilanka, Rama tells Sita “Behold Sita, my setu of mountains dividing this frothy ocean is like the milky way dividing the sky into two parts”

                 Vedvyas’s Mahabharat also refers to Nal Setu (3.267.45) as

“…which even today, popular on earth as Nala’s bridge is sustained out of respect of Rama’s command.”

Similarly, the construction of the bridge is mentioned in Skanda Puran (III.1.2.1-114), VishnuPuraan (IV.4.40-49), Agni Puran (V-IX), Brahma Puraan (138.1-40). It also finds  mention in   Garuda Puran and Narada Puraan.

Epigraphs:

Hampi inscription of Kri shnaraya Saka (1430) in Epigraphica Indica has also referred to RamSetu.

(Pic Credit : Realign Sethusamundram Channel by S. Kalyanaraman)

Why is it called as Adam’s bridge? 

Only in 1804, the first surveyor-general of East India Company, James Renell called the

 bridge "Adam's bridge" for the first time. There are myriad religious beliefs in Islam and Christianity too as they believe it to be Adam's creation.

Below is a Map when in 1804 James Rennel renamed the bridge as Adams bridge.

                                                         (Pic Credit: Ram Setu by  Kalyanarman)

According to Islam, it is believed that a Muslim legend named Adam crossed it to reach Adam's Peak at Ceylon, and stood atop on one foot spending 1000 years in repentance.

The Ongoing Litigation

There have been numerous efforts by the previous governments to construct a shipping canal project (Sethusamudram) linking the Gulf of Mannar and Bay of Bengal via Palk Strait by dredging the setu which was vociferously opposed by various Hindu religious groups and political parties. It is ironic that governments can re-route the metro rail projects to protect Qutub Minar, which was erected by destroying the existing temples but a shipping canal should be built only by rummaging the setu. Only time will tell when this ongoing litigation process to consider Ram Setu as a national heritage will see the light of the day. The good news is that in the last month the Central Government had approved underwater research to ascertain when and how Ram Setu was formed.

Rama -An integral part of our lives

The land of Bharat which spreads from the Himalayas in the north to the Setu in the south is a mystic land that manifests the amalgam of science and traditions. And Lord Rama is an integral part of this land, its culture, tradition, life, and remains alive in every single person.  Our society has grown up listening to the stories of Lord Rama narrated by our ancestors. If one wishes to know and explore about Ram Setu evidence in temples, texts, inscriptions by kings, coins, architecture, the beliefs of people, he may come across hundreds of such evidence, that after a certain point of time searching for ‘scientific’ references will seem silly. Did you know that the fisherfolk who venture out to collect algae on the shores always take extra care and caution not to damage or cause harm to the rocks or any portion of ram setu? Any act of maiming the setu is believed to bring bad luck and is seen as a divine rebuke.  This is how strongly our belief and faith towards Lord Rama is ingrained in our people. You must have come across heart-touching videos of how poor people have donated for Ram mandir with so much shraddha and with whatever little they have. This is the spirit of Bharat..!! Talk about faith, spirituality, soul, religion and it touches our heart. This is our national mind and national life current which has kept our civilization firmer than any rock in the world with its undying vigor.

Lord Rama teaches us to follow the path of virtue and righteousness. Swami Vivekananda said, “Lord Rama is the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all, the ideal king”. He is a symbol of the victory of right over evil. Lord Rama characterizes how a man should fulfill his moral commitments and should strictly follow his limits so that social order can be maintained. It is precisely due to this fact, he is known as “Maryada Puroshattam” or “The man of limits”.

Rama Setu is Bharat's pride, Bharat's identity and it is our arduous duty to protect our Dharma and preserve its heritage because only a "protected" dharma “protects” the “protector.” May the divine grace of almighty Rama bless us all with wisdom, knowledge, happiness, and victory.

Jai Shree Ram ..!!

          Wishing everyone a very Shubh Ram Navmi.!!

References:

 

·      Rameswaram Ram Setu Protection Movement, Chennai (May 2007), Editor S. Kalyanaram

·      Valmiki Ramayan – Yuddhkanda (valmikiramayan.net)

·      https://www.britannica.com/place/Adams-Bridge

·      Raghuvamsa by Kalidas

·      Mahabharat by VedVyas

·      Historical Rama by D.K. Hari and D.K. Hema Hari

·      Rama Setu a bridge built by Rama by Om Prakash; Odhisha Review; June 2012

·      Adam’s Bridge Formation (Floating of Stones) By Virtue of Prayer Done By Lord Ram Rather than Any Miracle Claimed By Hindu Believers. it Was Lawlessness That Triggered By Unconditioned Thought Expression By First order Of Universe, IOSR Journal of Research and Method in Education, Dec 2017

·      Ram Setu – A National Monument by Bharath Gyaan

·      “Floating Stones at Banapur” by Nikunja Bihari Sahu, Odhisha Review , ISSN 0970-8669, August 2018

·      Engineering Marvels of 1.5 Million Years Old Man Rama Setu by Dr. M. Sivanandam, Volume 2, Issue 3, July-Sep 2015