Have you ever wondered why Rameshwaram Shivalinga is associated with Lord Ram and the Ramayana period. Who built Rameshwaram Temple and how many thousands of years old can it be? When Lord Rama was establishing the Jyotirlinga in Rameshwaram to conquer Lanka, he needed a priest for this ritual. But the question is why he called his enemy Ravana for this ritual. Is this true or just a story? Along with this, Ram had established only one Shivalinga in Rameshwaram. But today there are two Shivalingas in the temple, so where did the second Shivalinga come from and who brought it. The biggest secret of Rameshwaram is Ram Setu. What was revealed when the American space agency NASA took pictures of Ram Setu from satellite. He surprised the whole world. Is this a man-made bridge or a natural one? This remains the biggest mystery till date. Apart from this, there is another miraculous secret of Rameshwaram. Stones floating in its water. How do these stones float in water? Is it just a matter of faith and miracles or of science? Scientists have done extensive research on this and many facts have come to light from their research report. Knowing which you will know the truth of these mysteries and the 22 sacred ponds hidden inside the temple are also known for their unique stories. These ponds have a deep connection with Lord Rama and the water of each of these ponds has different taste and qualities. How these ponds are related to the rituals of Lord Ram and Ravana is also a big question. The story of the ancient gem hidden in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is no less mysterious. Why is this gem so important and why is it kept so secret? To know the truth of all these mysteries, we will have to travel from Treta Yuga to modern science, so let us try to understand this wonderful confluence of history and science of Lord Ram.
Rameshwaram is one of the most sacred sites of Hinduism, located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is considered one of the Char Dhams and is the 11th Jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. This is the reason why it is also called Kashi of South India. According to religious beliefs, Rameshwaram is related to Treta Yuga. This is the same place where Lord Rama worshiped Lord Shiva before his attack on Lanka. To understand the history of Rameshwaram and its mysteries, we have to go to Treta Yuga. When Lord Ram was in exile for 14 years. During their exile, Lord Ram Lakshman and Mother Sita visited many holy places. Their journey started from Ayodhya and reached Nandigram, Shringverpur, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Dandakaranya forest, and from there to Panchvati. After this Lord Ram reached Lepakshi via Durg and Kishkindha and finally reached Rameshwaram.
Establishment of Shivalinga
After reaching the beach of Rameshwaram, Lord Rama thought of worshiping his idol Lord Shiva for the victory over Lanka. According to Sanatan Dharma, any work starts with special worship and rituals. For this worship, Lord Ram sent Hanuman ji to the Himalayas so that a divine Shivalinga could be brought from there. Hanuman ji immediately left for Mount Kailash. An Acharya was required to complete this ritual. When Jamwant told that there was no qualified Acharya around, Shri Ram took an unexpected decision. He suggested inviting Lankapati Ravana only. Ravana who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and knowledgeable of the Vedas. Was best suited for this ritual. Jamwant ji went to Lanka and invited Ravana. Ravana happily agreed to attend the ritual and reached Rameshwaram taking Mother Sita with him. There, after Ganpati puja, installation of Kalash and Navagraha puja, Ravana asked where is Shivalinga. Shri Ram replied that Hanuman ji would have come with Shivalinga but the auspicious time was about to pass. On this Ravana said that it would not be appropriate to delay. Ask Sita ji to make a Shivalinga of sand. Mother Sita created Shivalinga from the sand of the ocean. Which was called Ramalingam, Ravana performed the puja ritually. At the end of the puja Ravana asked for Dakshina. O Ram, you being present before me at the time of my death will be my greatest dakshina. When Hanuman ji returned from Mount Kailash with Shivalinga, he saw that the puja was over. Hanuman ji became disappointed after seeing this. To honor him, Lord Rama asked that devotees coming to Rameshwaram would first worship the Vishwalingam and then the Ramalingam. That is why there are two Shivalingas in the Rameshwaram temple. This tradition continues even today, thus Ravana played the role of a priest in the establishment of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga. This story is described in Iramavataram written by Maharishi Kamban in Tamil language, although it is not mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana or Ramacharita Manasa.
Construction of Ram Setu
After completing the worship of Lord Shiva, Lord Rama now had to go to Lanka to rescue Mother Sita from the clutches of Ravana. But the problem was that to reach Lanka one had to cross the vast ocean. Ram's monkey army was so large that it seemed impossible to take it across the ocean. Lord Rama prayed to the sea god for three days to provide passage but the sea did not calm down. Then Lord Rama became angry, he shot an arrow of fire on his bow and resolved to dry up the ocean. The sea god appeared in fear and apologized to Lord Rama and said, O Lord, I am immortal and steadfast. I cannot be made dry but I will provide passage for your army. Your monkeys can cross it by building a bridge. The sea god also told that Nala and Neel present in Ram's army are capable of this work. Nala and Neela were peerless warriors of the monkey army and their father was Vishwakarma, the divine architect of the gods himself. According to a legend, Nala and Neel were cursed in their childhood. The curse was that whatever they threw into it would never sink. This amazing power made it possible for Rama's army to build a bridge over the sea. When Lord Rama learned this, he assigned the task of building a bridge over the sea to Nala and Neel. With the tireless hard work of the monkeys and the skill of Nal Neel, this amazing bridge was completed in just five days. This bridge was 48 kilometers long from Rameshwaram to Lanka. This divine story is described in the Yuddha Kanda of Ramayana and proves the glory of Ram Setu.
This question definitely arises in the mind of all of us whether Ram Setu was really built by Lord Ram's monkey army or is it a natural creation. Today we will look at research conducted by science historians and global institutions. Who tried to solve this mystery. Ram Setu is a limestone bridge between Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. Whose length is about 48 kilometers. A detailed description of the construction of Ram Setu is found in the 22nd canto of Yudh Kand of Valmiki Ramayana. Shri Ram ordered the monkey army under the leadership of Nala to build a bridge over the sea. The monkey army under the leadership of Nala and Neel prepared a bridge of 100 yojana in just five days. Which reached Subal mountain of Lanka. Through this bridge, Shri Ram reached Lanka with his army and killed Ravana and was victorious. Tulsidas ji has also described the construction of this amazing bridge in the Lanka Kand of Ramcharit Manas.
“अति उतंग गिरि पादप लीलहिं लेहिं उठाइ।
आनी देहिं नल नीलहि रचहिं ते सेतु बनाइ।।”
That is, monkeys and bears would uproot tall mountains and trees and give them to Nal-Neel, who would carve them and build beautiful bridges. This description is not limited to Ramayana only. There is also mention of Ram Setu or Nal Setu in Skanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Agni Purana, Brahma Purana and Kalidas's Raghuvansh. Ram Setu is also known as Adams Bridge. There is an important link related to history and beliefs.
In Islamic traditions, when Hazrat Adam was expelled from Paradise, it is believed that he stepped on Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka. According to ancient sources, to cross from Sri Lanka to India, they used a bridge which later came to be known as Adam's Bridge. The Western world first mentioned it in the ninth century in Ibn Khuradebay's book Roads and States. In this it was called Set Bandhai or Bridge of the Sea.
In 2002, NASA released some pictures taken from satellite. In which the shape of Ram Setu was clearly visible. These pictures created a stir all over the world. In India these were seen as evidence of the Ram Setu mentioned in the Ramayana. But after a few years, NASA distanced itself from these claims. NASA spokesman Mark Hayes said that photographs taken from space cannot prove the origin or age of any structure. It is impossible to decide whether these structures have been created by humans or are a wonderful work of nature. NASA said that these photographs were misused for political purposes. Despite this, the mystery of Ram Setu is still deeply hidden. Till the 15th century, Ram Setu was above sea level and people could cross it on foot. Till that time the sea storms had not given depth to this area. But a severe cyclone in 1480 badly damaged this bridge and since then it sank into the sea. In 2017, the American Science Channel made a shocking claim about Ram Setu in one of its TV shows. The channel said that scientific investigations indicate that the legend of Lord Rama building a bridge to Sri Lanka may be true. According to him, to build Ram Setu, stones were brought from far and wide and were systematically placed over a series of sandy islands. But the big mystery is how these stones reached there. Geological analysis reveals more interesting facts. Scientists say that the age of these stones is about 7000 years old. Whereas the sand on which it is kept is 4000 years old. This contradiction indicates that this structure visible in the satellite image may not be natural but may have been made by humans. These results give an even stronger basis to the mythological story of Ramayana.
Ram Setu Controversy
The controversy over Ram Setu started when the Sethu Samudram Ship Canal Project was announced near Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. The UPA government launched this project in 2005 under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Under the plan, sand was to be removed by demolishing some parts of Ram Setu so that sea ships could pass easily. The objective of this project was to make Rameshwaram the largest shipping harbor in the country. But this decision created a wave of protests across India. Scientists warned that the tectonic plates beneath this bridge are already weak and any disturbance could lead to a terrible natural disaster. Environmentalists said that this area is home to more than 36 thousand rare marine creatures and plants. Destroying Ram Setu will cause huge damage to this sensitive ecosystem and may also affect the monsoon cycle. Apart from this, BJP and Hindu organizations opposed this project calling it an attack on faith and demanded declaring Ram Setu as a national monument. He said that it is not just a bridge but a symbol of Indian cultural and religious heritage. In 2007, the Congress-led UPA government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. In which it was claimed that there is no scientific and historical evidence behind the Ram Setu built by Lord Rama as described in Valmiki Ramayana. But this statement incited religious sentiments and there were protests across the country. The government soon withdrew its affidavit.
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in collaboration with NASA's I Set 2 satellite prepared a detailed map of Ram Setu. Which is also called Adams Bridge. This map shows the structure of Ram Setu through 10 meter resolution. For this, data was collected for 6 years between 2018 and 2023. This research is important because it provides new information about the construction of this ancient structure and the history of the area. About 98.2 percent of Ram Setu is submerged in shallow water and studies on it are ongoing. Scientists and historians are currently researching on this. The European Space Agency has recently released a stunning photo of Ram Setu. Also known as Adams Bridge, this photo was taken by the Copernicus Sentinel II satellite. This picture has given an opportunity to understand the mystery of Ram Setu in more depth. Scientists and researchers are now busy gathering new information about this structure.
The mystery of the floating stones of Rameshwaram
The floating stones of Rameshwaram have been a subject of reverence and mystery for centuries. It is said that Lord Rama's monkey army built a bridge over the sea using these stones. Which we know today as Ram Setu. The specialty of these stones is that they float in water, which makes them special. According to the research of scientists, the stones used in the construction of Ram Setu could be rocks called Pume. Pumice rock is an amazing stone formed from hot lava coming out of a volcano. The temperature inside the volcano is extremely high. By about 1600 degrees Celsius, when this hot lava flows out of the volcano and meets cool air or sea water, the trapped gases and water begin to escape. Due to this sharp difference in temperature, the lava solidifies and bubbles are trapped inside it, these bubbles make it light and this is the reason why pumice stone floats in water. But there is a question that confuses scientists even today. That is, pumice stones do not always float. Still, the fact that the stones of Ram Setu float on water even after 7000 years is a mystery to everyone. Apart from this, no volcano exists around Rameshwaram today. In such a situation, the question arises that from where did Lord Ram's monkey army collect so many stones? This mystery is still a subject of thought and discussion.
Gandhamadan Mountain is a small sacred hill located about one and a half miles north-east of Rameshwaram town. It is believed that Hanuman ji took his historic leap from this mountain across the sea to reach Lanka. This is the place where Lord Rama organized his huge army to attack Lanka. Today a grand temple is situated on this mountain. Which is called Paduka Temple. The sacred footprints of Lord Rama are worshiped in this temple which is the center of faith and devotion for the devotees.
The mystery of the 22 sacred ponds of Rameshwaram
According to mythology, when Lord Shri Ram was returning with Mother Sita after conquering Lanka, he rested on Gandhamadan mountain. There the sages told Lord Rama that Ravana was a Brahmin and because of his killing he was accused of Brahmin murder. To get rid of this defect, it was suggested to worship Lord Shiva. Lord Rama worshiped Lord Shiva by taking bath in the salt water of the sea in Agni Theertham and was freed from the guilt of killing Brahma. It is believed that by taking a bath here, all the sins of the devotees are erased and it is believed that Lord Rama created these 22 ponds in the Rameshwaram temple complex with his arrows. These ponds are called Teertham and are considered to symbolize the 22 arrows of Lord Rama. The water of these ponds is also a mystery. Amidst the salt water on the seashore, these ponds are filled with sweet water. According to scientists, bathing with this water can cure many physical diseases. According to Skanda Purana, bathing in these pilgrimage ponds is an important part of the pilgrimage to Rameshwaram and is considered as virtuous as penance. Even today it remains a center of amazing faith and mystery for the devotees.
Mystery of the gem located in Rameshwaram temple
Every morning between 4 am and 6 am, devotees get the privilege of Mani Darshan at Rameshwaram Temple. In this particular darshan, a precious crystal made of rhinestone is worshiped as the sacred Shivalinga. According to legend this gem belongs to Sheshnag, who is famous for his divinity and purity. It is believed that the devotees get amazing energy and spiritual peace by seeing this gem. Before Mani Darshan, devotees have to take a dip in Agni Theertham and after that it is mandatory to take bath in Bais Kund. This tradition is to maintain purity and gain spiritual benefits. Rameshwaram and its bridge are very ancient but the Ramnath temple is not that old. Many temples of South India are about one and a half to two thousand years old, but the construction of Ramnath temple started only 800 years ago. The biggest challenge in the construction of this grand temple was the arrangement of stones. There are no big mountains around Rameshwaram from where stones could have been brought. Stones for such a huge temple could not have been available from Gandhamadan mountain which is actually a small mound. Lakhs of tonnes of stones used in Rameshwaram temple were loaded in boats and brought from far and wide. The most unique feature of Ramnath temple is its corridor. This is the longest corridor in the world. Which is famous for its grandeur and architecture, according to the copper plate of the temple, the sanctum sanctorum was built by Sri Lankan king Parakrama Bahu in 1173 AD. The present design of Rameshwaram Temple was prepared in the 17th century. King Kizhavan Sethupathi ordered the construction of this temple and the Sethupathi kingdom and the king of Jaffna also contributed to its construction. This grand temple is the result of the contributions of many individuals and kings. But most of its architecture is believed to be built by the Sethupati kings.
So this was the history and mystery of Rameshwaram Ram Setu and Shivalinga.
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By Anil Paal
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