"In the eighteenth incarnation (of Lord Krishna), the Lord appeared as King Rama. In order to perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing the atheist King Ravana, who was on the other side of the sea" - Srimad Bhagavatam
(@PTI) Space images taken by
NASA reveal a mysterious ancient bridge in the Palk Strait between India and
Sri Lanka. The recently discovered bridge currently named as Adam´s Bridge
is made of chain of shoals, c.18 mi (30 km) long.
The bridge´s unique curvature and composition by age reveals that it is man
made. The legends as well as Archeological studies reveal that the first
signs of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to the a primitive age,
about 1,750,000 years ago and the bridge´s age is also almost equivalent.
This information is a crucial aspect for an insight into the mysterious
legend called Ramayana, which was supposed to have taken place in tredha
yuga (more than 1,700,000 years ago).
In this epic, there is a mentioning about a bridge, which was built between
Rameshwaram (India) and Srilankan coast under the supervision of a dynamic
and invincible figure called Rama who is supposed to be the incarnation of
the supreme.
This information may not be of much importance to the archeologists who are
interested in exploring the origins of man, but it is sure to open the
spiritual gates of the people of the world to have come to know an ancient
history linked to the Indian mythology.
Comment From Hugh Joseph (10-12-02)
I
read the story headlined above with great interest. This is a story of major
significance, as understanding its implications will turn the entire world
of Science and History on its head. This bridge, according to accounts in
the Ramayana and the Srimad-Bhagavatam, was constructed in the age know as
Treta, over 2 million years ago.
How did the writers without super space-ranging satellites know about the
existence of this bridge? In these ancient accounts, written over 5,000
years ago, we find discussions of, among other things, space travel, inter
planetary travel, what we call UFOs and what we mistakenly call ETs. This is
not only the History of the planet Earth, but also of this Universe, (a
mediocre universe among many millions of universes.)
Here one can also learn the real undisguised and uncontaminated truth about
God. Our man-made religions are of little or no value when compared to the
stunning and breathtaking revelations found in the pages of the
Srimad-Bhagavatam, Ramayan, Bhagavad-gita, etc.
Here is the way the "Srimad Bhagavatam" describes the event:
Text 22
nara-devatvam apannah
sura-karya-cikirsaya
samudra-nigrahadini
cakre viryany atah param
Translation:
"In the eighteenth incarnation (of Lord Krishna), the Lord appeared as
King Rama. In order to perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He
exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing
the atheist King Ravana, who was on the other side of the sea".
Purport (by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
The Personality of Godhead Sri Rama assumed the form of a human being and
appeared on the earth for the purpose of doing some pleasing work for the
demigods, or the administrative personalities, to maintain the order of the
universe. Sometimes great demons and atheists like Ravana and Hiranyakasipu
and many others become very famous due to advancing material civilization by
the help of material science and other activities, with a spirit of
challenging the established order of the Lord. For example, the attempt to
fly to other planets by material means is a challenge to the established
order. The conditions of each and every planet are different, and different
classes of human beings are accommodated there for particular purposes
mentioned in the codes of the Lord. But, puffed up by tiny success in
material advancement, sometimes the godless materialists challenge the
existence of God. Ravana was one of them, and he wanted to deport ordinary
men to the planet of Indra (heaven) by material means without consideration
of the necessary qualifications. He wanted a staircase to be built up
directly reaching the heavenly planet so that people might not be required
to undergo the routine of pious work necessary to enter that planet. He also
wanted to perform other acts against the established rule of the Lord. He
even challenged the authority of Sri Rama, the Personality of Godhead, and
kidnapped His wife, Sita. Of course Lord Rama came to chastise this atheist,
answering the prayer and desire of the demigods. He therefore took up the
challenge of Ravana, and the complete activity is the subject matter of the
"Ramayana". Because Lord Ramachandra was the Personality of Godhead, He
exhibited superhuman activities which no human being, including the
materially advanced Ravana, could perform. Lord Ramacandra prepared a royal
road on the Indian Ocean with stones that floated on the water. The modern
scientists have done research in the area of weightlessness, but it is not
possible to bring in weightlessness anywhere and everywhere. But because
weightlessness is the creation of the Lord by which He can make the gigantic
planets fly and float in the air, He made the stones even within this earth
to be weightless and prepared a stone bridge on the sea without any
supporting pillar. That is the display of the power of God.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam First Canto, Chapter 3, text 24, 1972)
Here's the account from the "Ramayana" of Sage Valmiki:
"At Rama's command, those lions among the monkeys entered the mighty forest
with alacrity in hundreds and thousands on every side and those leaders on
the simian tribes, tearing up the rocks, which in size they resembled, and
the trees also dragged them to the sea and they covered the ocean with Sala,
Ashvararna, (list of tree names).Those foremost monkeys transported those
trees, with or without roots, bearing them like so many standards of Indra
(the king of heaven) and they heaped (list of tree names) here and there.
With the aid of mechanical devices, those powerful colossi dug up stones as
big as elephants and rocks, and the water suddenly spouted into the air only
to fall instantly. Thereafter those monkeys churned up the sea by rushing
into it on all sides pulling on the chains.
"That immense causeway constructed by Nala in the bosom of the sea was built
by the arms of those monkeys of formidable exploits and it extended over a
hundred leagues.
"Some brought trunks of trees and others set them up; it was by hundreds and
thousands that those monkeys, like unto giants, made use of reeds, logs and
blossoming trees to construct that bridge, rushing hither and thither with
blocks of stone resembling mountains or the peaks of crags, which, flung
into the sea, fell with a resounding crash.
"The first day those monkeys resembling elephants, or immense energy, full
of high spirits and exceedingly merry, erected fourteen leagues of masonry.
The second day, those highly active monkeys of formidable stature set up
twenty leagues. Bestirring themselves, those giants threw twenty-one leagues
of structure over the ocean on the third day and on the fourth, working
feverishly, they built up twenty-two leagues in extent. The fifth day, those
monkeys, industrious workers, reached to twenty-three leagues distance from
the further shore.
"That fortunate and valiant son of Vishvakarma (architect of the demigods),
leader of the monkeys, constructed a causeway worthy of his sire over the
ocean and that bridge erected by Nala over the sea, the haunt of whales,
dazzling in its perfection and splendor, was like the constellation of Svati
in space.
"Then the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas (living beings superior to humans) and
supreme Rishis (great sages) assembled in the sky, eager to see that
masterpiece, and the gods and Gandharvas gazed on that causeway, so
difficult of construction, that was ten leagues in width and a hundred in
length built by Nala.
"Those monkeys thereafter dived, swam and shouted at the sight of that
unimaginable marvel that was almost inconceivable and caused one to tremble!
And all beings beheld that causeway thrown over the ocean and by hundreds
and thousands of kotis (millions), those monkeys, full of valor, having
built that bridge over the immense repository of waters, reached the
opposite shore.
"Vast, well-constructed, magnificent with its wonderful paved floor, solidly
cemented, that great causeway like unto a line traced on the waves,
resembled the parting of a woman's hair.
"Meanwhile Bibishana (brother of Ravana who joined Rama), mace (club) in
hand, held himself ready at his post with his companions in case of an enemy
attack. Thereafter Sugriva addressed Rama, who was valiant by nature, saying
"Mount on the shoulders of Hanuman and Laxmana (brother of Rama) on those of
Angada. O Hero, vast is this ocean, the abode of whales; those two monkeys
who freely range the sky will transport you both."
"Then the fortunate Rama and Laxmana advanced thus and that magnanimous
archer was accompanied by Surgriva. Some monkeys strode forward in the
center, some threw themselves into the waves, some sprang into the sky,
others marched on the bridge, some ranged through space like birds, and the
terrific tumult of the trampling of that formidable army of monkeys drowned
the roar of the ocean.
"When those simian troops had passed over the sea by the grace of Nala's
causeway, the king ordered them to camp on the shore which abounded in
roots, fruits and water.
At the sight of that masterpiece that had materialized under the command of
Raghava (another name of Lord Rama), despite the difficulties, the gods, who
had drawn near with the Siddhas and Charanas as also the great Rishis,
anointed Rama in secret there, with water form the sea, and said: "Mayest
thou be victorious over thy foes, O Thou, who are a God among men! Do Thou
rule over the earth and the sea eternally!"
Thus in various auspicious words, did they acclaim Rama in the midst of the
homage offered to him by the Brahmins."
(The Ramayana of Valmiki, Yuddha Kanda)
Comments welcome
hughjoseph@aol.com
Note: Lord Krsna's incarnation Rama, appeared as a human being because
only a human being could kill Ravana, due to certain benedictions that he
had been given.
Note: The monkeys mentioned here as comprising Rama's army, were not
ordinary monkeys. They were in fact greatly powerful demigods who appeared
on this earth to assist the Lord in his pastime of subduing this atheistic
demon, Ravana.
Note: There are 4 ages, or yugas, rotating through time like the 4 seasons: Satya, 1,800,000 yeas long; Dvarapa, 1,200,000 years long, Treta, 800,000 years long and Kali, 432,000 years long. In this most recent yuga cycle, the Dvarapara and Treta yugas were reversed. This event took place about 2 million years ago.
Ram Sethu: Scientific evidence of ancient human activity
Ram Sethu ( called Adam's Bridge by the British ) which is seen as one of Hinduism's holiest sites, is an ancient chain of shoals that once linked India's southern areas to Sri Lanka's northwest. It is being destroyed by the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal Project (SCCP) to create a navigable waterway in the narrow sea dividing the two countries.
By S. Kalyanaraman
copyright© 2004 Bharat Prakashan(Delhi) Ltd.
Scientific evidences point to human
activity in ancient times on both sides of Ram Sethu as found by Deptt. of
Earth Sciences and ocean technologists of Bharatam. This area should be
declared a protected monument under the Protection of Monuments Act and
declared as a World Heritage site by the Government of India and advised to
UNESCO.
The Geological and geophysical survey of the Sethu-samudram Project clearly
reveal that Rama’s bridge appears to be a major
Geological feature. The surveys reveal that to the north of Ram Sethu on the
Palk Bay side, the formation have undergone down faulting and the Ram Sethu
came up as an up thrown block. This geomorphic feature is seem to be
continuous and verified both by bathymetry survey and NASA land image.
One could clearly see that this is but a continuous feature with minor
depressions upto about 100m width. In consonance with these things there are
inter tidal marine sandy islands. These depressions and the islands appear
to be neotectonic feature resulting in changes in bathymetry.
It is a well established scientific phenomenon that there has been a major
glaciation period (ice age) with glacial maxima at about 18,000 years BP.
This feature has been observed and studied in several parts of the world
with the help of submerged Corals. During the glacial Maxima, the sea level
was about 130m lower than what is today. This is evidenced both on the east
and west coast of India, where submerged Corals occur around 1 to 2m water
depths and they are clear indicators of near coastal zone.
The Ram Sethu ridge is a major marine divide. It separates the furious Bay
of Bengal sea and sediments in the Palk bay and the very calm placid waters
of the Gulf of Mannar. This ridge like feature is similar to the “Allaband”
that was formed after a major earthquake in Arabian Sea in the early 19th
century. In the Allaband, a long stretch of about 90km length and about 0.5
to 4km wide zone got uplifted because of a major tectonic event that was
responsible for the earthquake. Since this event occurred in the recent past
and such huge track of land was raised, people called that it is happened
due to the will of Allah and named it Allaband.
The Ram Sethu is a similar feature but formed much earlier due to tectonic
causes that were prevalent in these areas. However, during the last ice age
(18,000 year BP) the entire area from India to Sri Lanka and further south
and southeast were contagious land due to the highly lowered sea level. As
and when there were major melting of glaciers both from the mountains as
well as from the Antarctic area, the sea level was rising. These features
were well recorded and studied by several submerged Coral formations all
over the world. About 7,300 years BP the sea level in the southern part of
India was about 3.5 m above the present level. This has been deciphered by
Dr. P.K. Banerjee, who studied Corals that found in the land part as of
Pamban, Rameswaram, and Tuticorin etc. Subsequently the sea level went down
and rose +2m above than what is today between 5000 to 4000 years B.P.
The Geological logging of the bore holes drilled by NIOT in the inter tidal
areas of Ram Sethu reveals very interesting details. In all the bore holes
the top portion is seen to be occupied by recent marine sands. In almost of
all the boreholes between 4.5 and 7.5m the borehole intersected hard
formations, which have been found to be calcareous sand stones and corals.
It is to be pointed out here that Corals are comparatively less dense,
compact and somewhat easy to carry. The Corals normally grow atop compact to
hard formations for the purpose of stability, and as the sea level rises,
the Coral colony grows up vertically to maintain water depth of 1 to 2 m,
which is essential for their survival. It is always observed that these
Corals have continuous vertical growth like Lakshadweep, Andaman’s, and Gulf
of Mannar Natural Park. These have always been found to grow on hard rock
bottom. In the case of Ram Sethu area, we observe that the Coral formations
hardly occur 1 to 2.5m in length and resting on loose marine sands. Most of
these coral rock pieces are seem to be rounded pebbles of corals. These
things appear to point these coral rock pieces and pebbles have been
transported and placed in these areas.
Since the calcareous sand stones and Corals are less dense than normal hard
rock and quite compact, probably these were used by the ancients to form a
connecting link to Sri Lanka, on the higher elevations of the Ram Sethu
ridge and this is analogous to modern day causeway.
In support of these observations there are many archaeological and
geoarchaeological evidences on the south east coast of India around
Rameswaram, Tuticorin and the western coast of Sri Lanka. There are raised
Teri formations that supported a rich assemblage of mesolithic—microlithic
tools indicating the presence of strong human habitation and activity in
these areas as early as 8000 to 9000 years B.P and as recent as 4000 years
B.P. On Sri Lanka side there are indications of human habitation extending
to late Pleistocene (about 13,000 B.P) based on bone and fossils of human
and animal form.
All these point to a flourishing human activity on both side of Adams Bridge
and probably when the sea levels were just right the link between India and
Sri Lanka could have been established.
Source: Dept. of Earth Sciences, Government
of India (March, 2007)
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