History and Facts About Ram Setu

The ancient holy epic Valmiki Ramayan, there is elaborate description about construction of Setu. Its a great world heritage site India has. The Ram Setu connects the India’s Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka’s Talaimannar. Hindu believe that this ancient bridge was built by Lord Rama, as described in Ramayana.

Apart from Ramayana, the Mahabharata also refers to the continued protection of Nala Setu following Sri Rama’s command. Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsham also refers to the Setu. So does the Skanda Purana(III.1.2.1-114), the Vishnu Purana (IV 4.40-49), the Agni Purana(V-XI), the Brahma Purana (138.1-40).

The core agency, The Geological Survey of India has in its logo, Asetu Himachal, means ….The India from Setu to Himalaya.

The Encyclopedia Britanica defines the bridge thus, “Adam’s Bridge also called Rama’s Bridge, chain of shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of India”.

Recently NASA satellite images indicates clear picture of a broken bridge under the ocean. The heritage of this Ram Setu and the Story of Lord Rama, both are extremely sacred to Hindus.

The geographically Sethusamudram, is a project to create alternative shorter way for ships to cross the Gulf of Mannar. The project was initiated some 150 years back by a British Commander A D Taylor. In 1955, Govt. of India set up the Sethusamudram Project Committee to assess possibility of the project and about five alternative routes were discussed till 2001. The NDA sanctioned a fund to study the project so as to take final decision on the route but the government lost power.

The official web site of project states that Ships coming from West of India and going to Chennai, Ennore, Vishakapatnama, Haldia and Kolkta have to travel around the Sri Lankan coast resulting in increase of travel distance and time. Therefore, to reduce distances between the east and west coast of India and to improve the navitation within territorial waters of India, a alternate route or channel connecting the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay has been envisaged so that the ships moving between the east and west coasts of India need not go around Sri Lanka. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 2,427 crores.

On the decision to destroy Ramsetu and create an alternative route by Government of India, the Hindus have raised their voice. The Governemnt has changed the metro rail route to protect the Qutub Minar, stops a corridor to protect the Taj Mahal’s surroundings. Even a child knows that a bridge was built by Lord Rama, using floating stones to reach to Lanka to rescue Sita anddestroy the evil regime of Ravana.

The movement started to save Ramsetu at the shores of Rameshwaram on April,2007. Two former judges of Supreme Court, Justice K T Thomas and Justice V R Krishna Iyer, none of them close to the saffron side, have warned the government against destroying the Ram Setu.

Local fishermen, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike oppose the present route and are demanding alternative channels, which are available. They say the present channel would destroy marine life and corals. This will kill the trade in shankas(Shells) that has a turnover in excess of Rs 150 crore(Rs. 1.5 billion) per annum. Invaluable thorium deposits would be affected, which are too important for our nuclear fuel requirement.

Thus, the issues concern us all, and should be taken up as Indian without getting falling in party lines and political agendas. The Ram Setu or Adam Bridge belongs to all humanity, being an important heritage site; hence the government should not all it to become another issue affecting Hindu sensitivities. Nobody is opposing the Sethu Samudram Project, only a realignment of the route is being asked, as the present one destroys the Rame Setu.

Why Ram Setu (Sethu) should not be damaged

Ram Setu (Sethu) prevented the tsunami from advancing from Rameshwaram to Kerala.

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 Ramar 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. 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

3. 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. Besides, this bridge is world's oldest man-made structure. It is much much older than the pyramids of Egypt, and the Great Wall of China.

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