Tattva

On the occasion of Ram Navami, would like to flash the light on the Divine RaamSetu which was built by Lord Sree Rama to reach Lanka. Many Hindus start their day with reciting shloka of Ramraksha and pray to Lord Rama. The Ramayana is not only our divine holy scripture but also shows us Dharma and guides us on how we should lead our lives and live with others in the family and society. It is very sad that the current government in India is trying to demolish our cultural heritage and divine symbol Raam Setu, saying that it’s not built by Lord Rama and it is nothing to do with the Ramayana. On the other hand the Sri Lanka government has found evidences of Ramayana in Sri Lanka and is challenging our Indian government.

What is Setu (Sethu) Samudram Project?
The Setu (Sethu) Samudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) is a project that has been approved by the Government of India and its work has been started near Kodand Ram Temple. In this project, Palk Gulf and Gulf Mennar will be linked by making a shipping canal through Rameshwaram Island. This will allow ships and boats to navigate in the passage between India and Sri Lanka without having to circle Sri Lanka (as is being done currently). This may save about 400 nautical miles voyage on the West Coast. This project will connect the National Sea Route. This canal will shorten the length of the sea route for ships. Rs. 21 crore per year for fuel expenditure of ships will be saved.

Danger to Ram Setu (Sethu)
Pictures taken by NASA [National Aeronautics & Space Administration], USA from space show the remains of what appears to be an ages old man-made bridge between Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka. According to Hindu scriptures and belief, Lord Ram and his vaanar sena had built a bridge from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka about 17 lacs 25 thousands years ago. The discovery of Shri Ram Setu by NASA confirms that Hindu scriptures and belief are correct in this matter and that Ramayana is ‘history’ and not “mythology” as is often construed.

The Setu (Sethu) Samudram [shipping canal project] is based on the notion that it is inevitable to break the Shri Ram Setu for easy navigation. This will amount to damaging a monument of both historical and religious importance to Hindus.

Why Ram Setu (Sethu) should not be damaged

Spiritual Significance
1. This is a divine bridge.
2. Lord Rama and his vaanar sena had built it 17 lacs 25 thousands years ago.
3. In Puranas, the importance of Setu is explained in great details, especially in Skanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Agni Purana, and Brahma Purana.

Physical Significance
1. Ram Setu (Sethu) a natural barrier to Tsunami: During the last tsunami, the Rama Bridge (at a high elevation) from the rest of the shoal accumulations acted as a natural barrier preventing the direct devastation of the entire Bharatam coastline south and southwest of Nagapattanam. - Dr. Murthy, Chief editor of the reputed International Tsunami Journal “Science of Tsunami Hazards”
2. Ram Setu (Sethu) prevented the tsunami from advancing from Rameshwaram to Kerala.
3. Threat of Tsunami: Many geologists, earth scientists, and oceanographers have commented critically, against the disastrous consequences of constructing SSCP. Amongst these is the impending devastation of Kerala, which will suck in after implementation of SSCP, after next Tsunami hits it.
Read details: Sethusamudram project and impending Tsunami devastation: http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/1623.html
4. Many naval officials are saying that even after the completion of SSCP, the depth of the canal shall be only 12 meters (about 36 feet), and only small and medium sized vessels shall be able to pass. Large sized vessels and carriers shall not be able to pass.

Social Significance
1. The construction of SSCP is trampling upon the feelings and emotions of millions and millions of Hindus.
2. As one of the world’s oldest man-made structures, this bridge is of great significance not only to Hindus, but all of humankind. It is much older than the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China, and represents a great feat for human civilization.
3. Ram Setu has sentimental, religious and historic value.
4. People have crossed the sea using the Rama-Setu, for many thousand years, until the 15th century.

Better alternative solutions are also available!
According to specialists, a sea route may be prepared for navigation without damaging Sri Ram Setu, by removing the barren sand heaps near the village Mandapam between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkoti railway. This will not only provide a shorter route for navigation but also protect the oldest man-made heritage.

Questions to the Government:
1. Why was the route of Metro passing ‘close’ to Qutub Minar in New Delhi abandoned and later reworked, due to fears of prospective damages to this 815-year-old man-made monument?
2. Why was the project of Taj corridor (which would have made lots of money for our money minded government) put off after the hue and cry of environmentalists as the construction near Taj ‘may’ cause harm to this 359-year-old man-made monument. Please note here that these monuments were not going to be destroyed but were merely ‘feared’ to be damaged.
3. Would any government in China even think about destroying or even altering The Great Wall of China (2695 years old) for the sake of any amount of money?
4. Will any one allow the pulling down of the 4507-year-old Great Pyramids of Egypt in lieu of any uncountable amount of money?

If the answer to the last two questions is NO, then why is this 17,25,000 year-old man-made monument being destroyed for the sake of some coins?

Other Noticeable Events

An attempt to offend Hindus
The drill, which is being used to demolish the bridge, is named ‘Jai Hanuman!’ Thus, as declared by the hermitage, this is a direct attempt to humiliate Hindus. Two such machines taken there have broken down. The government should take a lesson or two from this, says the hermitage.

Shankaracharyas Unite to Save Ram Setu
Shankaracharyas of all four peeths decided to unite in a bid to save Lord Rama’s 17 ½ lakh year old bridge. All Shankaracharya hermitages are making efforts to save Lord Rama’s bridge. What are you doing?

What you can do?
• Send Email, Letter, Fax to President of India.
• Spread awareness about this issue among your friends. Tell your friends.
• Sign an online petition at:  http://www.petitiononline.com/ramsetu/.
• Visit http://www.hindujagruti.org/activities/campaigns/religious/ramsetu/ for more details.

The author, Somnath Paramshetti, is volunteer for Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (www.hindujagruti.org). The aim of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti is to bring awareness on current issues and to unite Hindus around the globe. By profession Somnath is a software engineer and works for ConAgra Foods Omaha, Nebraska.

 Email This Post

 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 5:06 am and is filed under Current Events, Editorials/Reflections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.