Ramayana - FACTS & EVIDENCES (K. Gopalakrishnan, July 2013)

7/27/2019 Ramayana - FACTS & EVIDENCES (K. Gopalakrishnan, July 2013)

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WHY THIS QUESTION ?

TWO CONTROVERSIES REGARDING RAMAYANA ARE RAGING IN INDIA.1. Rama Janma Bhoomi issue.

1. Rama Janma Bhoomi issue

2. Rama Sethu issue.

Both cases are pending with the Supreme Court of India.

One concerning the Demolition of a Mogul structure-Babri Masjid, whichwas built over pre-existing Hindu Temple, by Hindu activists.

The Other regarding the Attempt at the Destruction of an existing HinduReligious and Heritage Structure-Rama Sethu, by the secularist

Government of India.

The Main controversy in both cases is whether Ramayana was a

Mythology and Rama was a Mythological Figure or Ramayana is aHistorical record of a Historical figure. So a Scientific analysis of all

related Scientific Data is of paramount importance to arrive atproper conclusion.


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FACTS & EVIDENCES -1

1. COMMON SENSE REASONS.

2. AGE OF RAMAYANA

A. FROM HINDU COSMIC TIME SCALE

(i) As per Yuga Cycles

(ii) As per Vishnu Purana

(iii) As per Manu Samhita

(iv) As per Srimad Bhagavatham

(v) As per Swami Yukteshwar Giri

B. ASTRONOMICAL EVIDENCES

(i) By Vedic Astronomyby Dr. P.V.Vartak

(ii) By Modern Astronomy by Pushkar Bhatnagar

C. SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES

(i) Sea Level Changes

(ii) Anthropological Evidencesof Early mans Migration

(iii) Botanical evidences

(iv) Zoological evidences


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FACTS & EVIDENCES - 2 3. HISTORICAL EVIDENCES

A. Lineage of Rama

(i) Ramas Ancestors (ii) Ramas Descendants

B. References in Ancient Literature

(i) Puranas

(ii) Tamil Sangam Literatures

(iii) Other 5th 6th Century Literatures

(iv) References Later Ramayanas in Other Languages

(v) Moghul Time Ramayana and Mahabharata

C. HISTORICAL PAINTINGS

D. OLDER RECORDS AND TRAVELLOGUES

E. REFERENCES IN HISTORICAL MAPS

F. LOGO OF SURVEY OF INDIA

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES

A. From Excavations

B. Inscriptions on Pillars, Plaques and Copper PlatesC. References in Ancient Coinages

D. References in Ancient Temple Sculptures

E. Terracotta Depictions & Sculptures


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FACTS & EVIDENCES - 3 5. GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES

A. Ramas Trip with Maharishi VISHWAMITRA

B. Ramas route during Vanavas and to Sri Lanka

6. GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES FROM TAMIL NADU

7. GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES FROM SRI LANKA

8. GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES FROM TAMIL NADU

9. GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES FROM SRI LANKA

10. GEOTECTONIC EVIDENCES

A. (i)From the present-Day Active zone in South Pacific to the Present-Dayapparently Inactive Rama Sethu Zone

(ii) Rise of hill from mid-ocean in response to horst-graben tectonicsalong both coasts

B. ValmikisDescription of the above site with Ramas arrow piercing theocean & seismic, volcanic and tsunami activities in the ocean

C. Drying up of ocean in the far away north at Markandara by RamasBrahmaastra the present day Taar desert in Rajasthan with trillinos oftons of rock salt below the sands.

11. EVIDENCE FROM BOREHOLES IN RAMA SETHU AREA


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NOT A MYTHOLOGY

COMMON SENSE REASONS

No Mythology has been rewritten in so many languages through thousands of years.In India, apart from at least four more Ramayanas in Sanskrit, there are theJainPaumachariyam in Prakrit,Ramcharit Manas by Tulsi Das in Hindi, SundaranandaRamayana and Adarsha Raghava in Nepali,Katha Ramayana in Assamese,Krittivas

Ramayan in Bengali, Jagamohan Ramayana in Oriya, Rama Balalika in Gujarati,Ramavatar in Punjabi, Ramavatara Charita in Kashmiri, besides the well known KambaRamayanam in Tamil, Ramacharitam in Malayalam,Ranganatha Ramayanam in Telugu

and Torave Ramayana in Kannada.

No Mythology is discussed with so many different explanatory notes in so manylanguages.

No Mythological characters were revered and worshipped through ages in any othercountry by people of varied races, different languages, diverse traditions and habits,

having assorted and multiple types ofdresses and foods.

No Mythological characters have been built with so many temples, memorials and

pilgrimage centres for representing the various incidents of their lives at so manyplaces not only throughout India but also outside like Sri Lanka and many SE Asian

countries.

Lives of no Mythological Characters formed the sources of so many festivals, dances,dramas and other art-forms through many centuries not only throughout India, but

also in many other countries of SE Asia.


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AGE OF RAMAYANA ON HINDU COSMIC

TIME SCALE (YUGAS)

The 4 Yugas and the Hindu Cosmic Time Scale

Satya Uuga 17,28,000 yrs

Treta Yuga 12,96,000 yrs

Dwapara Yuga - 8,64.000 yrs

Kali Yuga - 4,32,000 yrs.

According to Hindu scriptures Rama was born in the FIRST

QUARTER of TRETA YUGA and roughly 5,000 yrs. have passed

in KALI YUGA.

Then Today Ramas age will be around 18,00,000 yrs.

NASA first gave the AGE OF RAMA SETHU as 17,50,000 yrs.


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COSMIC(SIDEREAL ?) TIME-SCALE AS PER

VISHNU PURANA

Time measurement section of the Vishnu Purana Book I Chapter IIIexplains the above as follows:

2 Ayanas (six month periods) = 1 human year or

= 1 day of the devas4,000 + 400 + 400 = 4,800 divine years = 1 Krita Yuga3,000 + 300 + 300 = 3,600 divine years = 1 Tret Yuga

2,000 + 200 + 200 = 2,400 divine years = 1 Dwpara Yuga1,000 + 100 + 100 = 1,200 divine years = 1 Kali YugaTotal of 12,000 divine years = 4 Yugas = 1 Mahayuga

(also called divine yuga)Reckoning of time for Brahma.

1000 Mahayugas = 1 kalpa = 1 day (DAY only) of Brahma(4,320,000,000 human years).

AS PER THIS TIME SCALE, AGE OF RAMA IS ABOUT 6,300 DIVINEYEARS


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MANU SAMHITA YUGA TIME - SCALE

MANU SAMHITA ALSO DESCRIBES THE 4 YUGAS AS FOLLOWS:

Dawn Era Dusk Total Name

400 + 4000 + 400 = 4800 years. Satya Yuga (Golden Age)

300 + 3000 + 300 = 3600 years. Treta Yuga (Silver Age)200 + 2000 + 200 = 2400 years. Dwapara Yuga (Bronze Age)

100 + 1000 + 100 = 1200 years. Kali Yuga (Iron Age)

TOTAL = 12,000 years

(Note this time scale is the same as the Divine years as statedin Vishnu Purana).

AGE OF RAMA ACCORDINGLY WILL BE 6,300 DIVINE OR

SIDEREAL YEARS


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Time structure (Skandam-3; Chapter-11; Srimad Bhagavatam).


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SWAMY YUKTESHWARS YUGA TIME-SCALE - 1

According to Swamy Yukteshwar Giris concept, the sun, with its

planets and their moons, takes a companion star and revolvesaround it in about 24,000 years of our earth

a celestial phenomenon which causes the backward movementof the equinoctial points around the zodiac (PRECESSION OFEQUINOXES).

The sun also has another motion by which it revolves round agrand center calledVishnunabhi, which is the seat of the creativepower, Brahma, the universal magnetism.The cycle of yugas takes place twice in each 24,000 yearrevolution. As the sunrecedesfromVishnunabhi, the yugas pass

in thedescending phase: Satya (4,800 YRS), Treta (3,600 YRS),Dvapara(2,400 YRS), and Kali(1,200 YRS) for a total of 12,000 yrs.As the sun approachesVishnunabhi,the yugas pass in theascending order: Kali (1,200 yrs), Dvapara (2,400 yrs), Treta (3600yrs) and Satya (4,800 yrs) for another 12,000 yrs.


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SWAMY YUKTESHWAR GIRIS YUGA TIME-SCALE - 2

In his book, The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar explains that the ascending phase of

Kali Yuga began in September of 499 C.E. So it followsthat we have been in theascending phase ofDwapara Yuga since September of 1699 CE. Accordingly,the age of Ramayana in the 1st quarter of Treta yuga will be around 8700 BP.-

(ca.6700 BC.)

[Note the 12,000 years ascending and descending yuga cycles are the same asthose described in Vishnu Purana and Manu Samhitha]

Yukteshwars 24,000 yrs cycle is nearly equivalent of the Modern AstronomicalPRECESSION CYCLE OF THE EQUINOXES of 25,920 yrs which are also divided into

4 quadrants.

It would be appropriate to refer at this point in this presentation to the finerdivisions within a year :

12 months per year

30 days per month24 hours per day60 ghatikas per day (1 ghatika = 24 minutes)

60 palas per ghatika6 asus (breathing) one pala

1 asu = 2.5 kasthas (the time interval of 4 seconds)1 kastha = 4 dirgha matras


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FINER DIVISIONS OF TIME

Our Present division of A DAY

24 hours a day; 12 hours (roughly) DAY time, when we are facing SUN

and 12 hours (roughly) Night Time, when we are away from SUN.

60 Minutes per hour; 720 minutes for DAY & 720 Minutes for NIGHT.

60 Seconds per Minute; 43200Seconds for DAY and 43200 seconds forNIGHT.

NOTE THAT THE UNITS OF 43200 (SECONDS) AND 12 (HOURS) ARE THE

SAME AS THE UNITS OF COSMIC YUGAS & DESCENDING AND ASCENDINGYUGAS CONCEPT OF SRI YUKTESHWAR GIRI.

(The basic concept of yuga, Chaturyuga etc. are fundamental, themeasure of a yuga varies on the object being measured. Measures suchas yuga basically denote the ratio and phase, with the scale varying,based on the time-scale of the event being measured. As such, the yugafor COSMIC EVENTS are different from the yuga for SOLAR (SIDEREAL)EVENTS, which are again different from the yuga for EARTH EVENTS.)


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ASTRNOMICAL EVIDENCES

Specific Planetary Configurations will occur only once in many

thousands of years.Many Ancient Hindus, even many Indians of today, are well versed

in the traditional Vedic Astronomy and are producing Solar and

Lunar based Hindu calendars every year for many centuries,

depicting accurately movements of planets, dates & periods of

different eclipses as well as places where they are visible etc.In Valmiki Ramayana precise Planetary Configurations are given

during specific events in Ramas Life, on particular days (Tithies),

Fortnights (Pakshas) and months of Indian Lunar Calendar.

These configurations were verified and corroborated by the use of

Vedic Astronomical computations by many Indian astronomers. Thecomputed data, backwards from the present ,tallies very well

sequentially with Valmiki Ramayana astronomical details, thus

proving them to be Actual Recordings and not mere conjectures or

figments of imagination.


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ASTRONOMICAL EVIDENCES

By Vedic Astronomy Dr. P.V.Vartak

Dr. P.V.Vartak, with same astronomical descriptions of Valmiki Ramayana, butusing manual calculations ,had determined ages of different events of Ramas

life with respect to Gregorian Calendar.

Rama's Birth Date 4th December 7323 B.C

Rama-Seeta Marriage 7th April 7307 B.C

Rama Exiled 29th November 7306 B.C.Hanuman enters Lanka 1st September 7292 B.C

Hanuman meets Seeta 2nd September 7292 B.C.

Setu (Bridge) built 26-30th Oct. 7292 B.C

The War begins 3rd November 7292 B.C

Kumbhakarna is killed 7th November 7292 B.C.Ravana is killed by Rama 15th November 7292 B.C.

Rama returns to Ayodhya 6th December 7292 B.C.

(Vartak,P.V. 1999 The scientific Dating of Rmayana and Vedas,Ved VidnyanaMandal,Pune)


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ASTRNOMICAL EVIDENCES

By Modern Astronomy & use of Computer software

Specific Planetary Configurations will occur only once in many thousands of

years.

In Valmiki Ramayana precise Planetary Configurations are given during

specific events in Ramas Life, on patricular days (Tithies), Fortnights

(Pakshas) and months of Indian Lunar Calender.

These configurations were verified and corroborated by Sri. PushkarBhatnagar by using modern computer techniques involving Planetorium

Software developed by NASA. Bhatnagar could determine very accurately

the date of birth of Rama as well as his correct age during many phases of

his life sequentially and tallying with descriptions given in Ramayana, thus

proving the veracity and authenticity of Valmikis writings.

Such accurate astronomical facts can not come from the wild imagination of

a poet, but only from historical facts.


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ERA OF RAMABHATNAGARS FINDINGS

DATE OF BIRTH OF RAMAValmiki-Around Noon on Navami tithi of Shukla Paksha of lunar

month of Chaitra in Indian Lunar Calender.

Bhatnagar- Between 12 Noon to 01.00pm on 10 January, 5114 BC

(7126 BP-from Present)

DATE OF EXILEValmiki- Rama was 25 years old when he left Ayodhya on exile.

Bhatnagar around 05 January, 5089 BC (age of Rama 25; 5114--

5089), from the planetary positions seen by Dasharatha of his

impending death, which led him to plan to coronate Rama as King.

WAR WITH KHAR & DUSHAN AT PANCHAVATI, NASIK

Valmiki In the later half of 13th year of exile, Rama fought with

Khar- Dushan on an Amavasya tithi coinciding with a solar eclipse

when Mars was in the middle.


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ERA OF RAMABHATNAGARS FINDINGS (CONTD.)

Bhatnagar Solar Eclipse on 07 October, 5077 BC on an Amavasya day,

with Mars in the middle, and on one side were Venus and Mercury, &On the other side-Sun and Saturn. Eclipse could be seen from

Panchavati, Nasik in the Afternoon. It is exactly in the later half of 13 th

year of exile (Jan,5089Oct.5077=+12).

OTHER FINDINGS

Six months later, Bali(Vali)s death was also on an Amavasya day ofAshadh month another Solar eclipse day- 3 April,5076 BC.

After five months, Hanumans meeting with Sita Devi during a Lunar

Eclipse day 12 September,5076 BC.

Hanumans return from Lanka 8 out of 12 constellations seen on

horizon - 14 September, 5076 B.C.

Ravanas death 04 December, 5076 BC.

Ramas return to Ayodhya after Exile 02 January, 5075 BC, on a Shukla

Paksha Navami day of Chaitra month (Jan.5089Jan.5075 = 14 years).


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HINDU COSMOLOGICAL DATING & SEA LEVEL

CHANGES DURING MIOCENE-PLEISTOCENE TIMES

RESEARCH PAPER BY

MALCOLM P.R.LIGHT HAS

SHOWN AUTHENTICITY OF

RAMAYAN WRITINGS AND

CONSTRUCTION OF RAMA

SETHU IN TRETA YUGA.

It has resisted the relentless

erosion of the sea for almost 2

million years and it attests to the

great engineering skills of the

ancient Indian people. It is the

earliest and largest carbon-fibre

reinforced civil engineering

structure known to man and

should be protected as a world

heritage site.
http://bp3.blogger.com/_UwwzmzFWHXA/SIpNFMcDVVI/AAAAAAAACWg/qsPImU9At3c/s1600-h/setu.JPG


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SEA LEVEL CHANGES DURING HOLOCENE PERIOD

Supreme Court mandated excavations of 2002-03 indicate that the earliest

habitations at Ayodhya go back well before 1000 BCE (possibly 1980-1320BCE).

Ayodhya excavations suggest Ram's era fell around 1,000 BCE, when the sealevel was probably six metres below current levels, exposing the entire land-mass near Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar. The odd stretch underwater couldeasily be filled up to create a ford to cross over. A close up of the setu showsfirm edges on both sides (to prevent erosion), suggestive of human agency.

It can be seen from the report that although around 1,800,000 years BP, Indiaand Sri Lanka might have been connected by land, around 7,300 years BP, thesea level in Southern Tamil Nadu coast was about 3.5 m above the presentlevel(of 0 13 m water depth at Rama Sethu). This was arrived at byDr.P.K.Banerji from the study of corals on land around Pamban, Rameswaram,and Tuticorin. This period of sea level increase coincides with the era of Rama

(~7000 years BP), as arrived at from the astronomical evidences ofPushkarBhatnagar. This will thus become a scientific evidence for the oscillations insea level and existence of sea between India and Sri Lanka during Ramas eraand the descriptions in Valmiki Ramayana are authentic.


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ANTHROPOLOGICAL EVIDENCES -

MIGRATION OF EARLY MAN, HOMO-ERECTUS

FROM AFRICA TO S.INDIA IN TRTA YUGA

RESEARCHES BY D.JOSEPH AND G.P.EBERLI HAD INDICATD THATHOMO-ERECTUS, THE EARLY MAN STARTED TO MOVE OUT OF AFRICA

TO INDIA DURING 2.0 TO 1.8 MILLION YRS. AGO (IN TRETA YUGA).

TRETA YUGA REPRESENTS A PRIOD OF RISING SEA LEVELS DURING

WHICH HINDU COSMOLOGY SAID THAT THERE WAS INCREASED RAINFALL AND FORMATION OF NEW RIVERS. DVAPURA YUGA IS A PERIODOF FALLING SEA LEVEL, FOLLOWED BY A RISE AT THE BEGINNING OF

KALI YUGA.

ACCORDING TO JOSEPH AND EBERLI, ADAMS BRIDGE APPEARS TOHAVE BENN CONSTRUCTED BY SUCH HOMINIDS CONNECTING SOUTH

INDIA AND SRI LANKA BETWEEN 1.8 AND 1.6 MILLION YRS. AGO INTRETA YUGA, DURING A PERIOD OF SHARP SEA LEVEL FALL TO SOME

60 METERS BELOW THE PRESENT SEA LEVEL.(Note this the age given at first by NASA for Rama Sethu Bridge)


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BOTANICAL EVIDENCES The research scientists from CPR Environmental Education Centre, Chennai, who

undertook a journey from Ayodhya to Lanka to retrace the life of exile by Ram,

Sita and Lakshman found all the plants, trees, flowers and fruits that have been

mentioned by Valmiki in Ramayan. The accounts given by Valmiki about differentlandscapes, mountains, river basins and forests are accurate. When the Ramayan

was being written, there were thick forests in Naimisharanya, Chitrakoot,

Dandakaranya and Panchavati. The Kishkindha Kanda of Ramayan discusses the

geographical distribution, botanical wealth and forestry. The places Ram chose to

stay during his exile from Ayodhya were full of plants, vegetations and

biodiversity. The poems contain all flora and fauna mentioned in Rig Veda.

In Yuddha Kanda, Valmiki describes the Sanjeevani hill with exquisite medicinal

plants and herbs, brought by Hanuman from the Himalayas to revive the fallen

Lakshmana and others of vanara army by the Brahmaastra.

A hillock named ROMOSOLA or SUMERU PARVAT within the tropical forests ofSri

Lankais reported to contain exquisite flora, fauna and medicinal plants. It standsdistinct from the Lankan topography, giving credence to the theory that this is the

hill that Hanuman brought from the Himalayas.

Another small hillock with similar medicinal plants and herbs is reported from near

Nagarkoil in Tamil Nadu. No such herbs and plants were seen in the surrounding

areas in Kanyakumari district or in the nearby western ghats forests. The above hill

is also thought to be a part of Sanjeevani parvat fallen during its transport.


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ZOOLOGICAL EVIDENCES

Valmiki has mentioned in many places in Aranya Kanda regarding the

existence of dense jungles full oflions and tigers, in Dandakaranya

covering parts ofthe present-day Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The

coexistence of the two cats in this region is hard to imagine now, as these

areas are now the exclusive domain of only tigers and the lions are

restricted elsewhere to the west in Girnar, Gujarat.

The scientists from CPREEC point out that a corollary proof of such

habitat in the past was found in the Bhimbedka caves in Madhya Pradesh

that has 10,000-year-old wall carvings and paintings featuring lions and

tigers together.


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HISTORICAL EVIDENCES

LINEAGE OF RAMA - 1

Rama was the 64thking of Surya Vansh.

In various Hindu scriptures, the lineage of Rama through his 63 ancestors

are traced and recorded.

Also the names his 30 Descendants are also traced and recorded.

SUCH A LONG LINEAGE IS BY ITSELF IS HISTORY &

RAMA IS A HISTORICAL FIGURE AND NOT A MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTER.


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LINEAGE OF RAMA - 2 (63 ANCESTORS)

MANU

IKSHVAKU

VIKUKSI SASADA

KAKUTSTHA

ANENAS

PRITHU

VISHTARASVA

ARDRA YUVANASVA 1

SRAVASTA

BRIHADASA

KUVALASVA

DRADHASVA

PRAMODA

HARYASVA 1

NIKUMBA

SAMHATASVA

AKRSASVA

PRASANAJIT

YUVANASVA 2

MANDHATR

PURUKUTSA

TRASADSYU

SAMBUTA

ANARANYA

TRASADSVA

HARYASVA 2

VASUMATA TRIDHANVAN

TRAYYARUNA

TRISHANKU

SATYAVRATA

HARISCHANDRA

ROHITA

HARITA, CANKU

VIJAYA RURUKA

VRKA

BAHU (ASITA)

SAGARA

ASAMANJA

AMSUMANT

DILIPA 1

BHAGIRATA

SRUTA

NABHAGA

AMBARISA

SINDHUDVIPA

AGUTAYUS

RTUPARNA

SARVAKAMA

SUDSASA

MITRASAHA

ASMAKA

MULAKA

SATARATHA

AIDAVIDA

VISVASAHA 1DILIPA 2

DIRGHABAHU

RAGHU

AJA

DASARATHA


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LINEAGE OF RAMA - 3 (30 DESCENDANTS)

KUSA

ATITHI

NISHADA

NALA

NABHAS

PUNDARIKA KSEMADHANV

AN

DEVANIKA

AHINAGU

PARIPATRA

BALA

UKTHA

VAJRANABHA

SANKHAN

VYUSITASVA

VISVASAHA 2 HIRANYABHA

PUSYA

DRUVASANDHI

SUDARSANA

AGNIVARNA

SIGHRA

MARU

PARASURATA

SUSANDHI

AMARSA

MAHASHWAT

VISRUTAVANT

BRIHADBALA

BRIHATKSAYA


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References in Ancient Literatures 1.Puranas

Rama Sethu is talked about in Muni Vyas's Mahabharata at four places -- Ramopakhayan,Aaranyak Parva, Drona Parva and Dashrath Kathanak Vedavyasa refers to Nalasetu in

Mahabharata

nalasetur iti khyto yo 'dypi prathito bhuvi rmasyj purasktya dhryategirisanibhaMBh. 3.267.45

.... which even today, popular on earth as Nala's bridge, mountain-like, is sustained out ofrespect for [Lord] Rama's command. (Nala was son ofViswakarma).

Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa (sarga 13): Rama, while returning from SriLanka in pushpakavimaana: "Behold, Sita, My Sethu of mountains dividing this frothy ocean is like the milky waydividing the sky into two parts"

Skanda Purana (III.1.2.1-114), Vishnu Purana (IV.4.40-49),Agni Purana (V-XI), Brahma Purana(138.1-40) refer to the construction of Rama Setu. Skanda Purana (VI.101.1-44) describes theinstallation of three Shiva lingas at the end, middle and beginning of Rama Setu and making

the same bridge submerged and thereby creating Setu-Teertham. This is also related inKurma Purana (21.10-61). Garuda Purana (1.81.1-22) lists sacred places including Setubandh

and Rameswar.Narada Purana (Uttara Bhag 76.1-20) extols the greatness of Rama-Setu.TheVayu Puranaand theUttara Kandamentioned twoKosalas, withShravastithe capital ofUttara Kosala and Kausavatiof Dakshin Kosala or Mahakosala. The two Kosalas were oncebelieved to have been under the suzerainty of Rama, who installed his sonLava in North

Kosala and Kusa in South Kosala.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayu_Puranahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushavatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushavatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushavatihttp://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/book-review-is-sri-rama-a-modern-deity-rohit-srivastava/Uttara%20Kandahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sravastihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sravastihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushavatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_(Ramayana)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_(Ramayana)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_(Ramayana)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushavatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sravastihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sravastihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala_Kingdomhttp://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/book-review-is-sri-rama-a-modern-deity-rohit-srivastava/Uttara%20Kandahttp://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/book-review-is-sri-rama-a-modern-deity-rohit-srivastava/Uttara%20Kandahttp://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/book-review-is-sri-rama-a-modern-deity-rohit-srivastava/Uttara%20Kandahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayu_Puranahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayu_Puranahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayu_Purana


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SETHU REFERENCES IN ANCIENT TEXTS

There are many more texts which contain references to Setu: 1. Rigveda,

2. Krishna Yajurveda, 3. Dhanu Smruti, 4. Galavasmruti, 5. Gautama

smruti, 6. Marichi Smruti, 7. Devala Smruti, 8. Parasara Smruti, 9. Valmiki

Ramayanam, 10. Adhyatma Ramayanam, 11. Ananda ramayanam, 12.

Tulsidas Ramayanm, 13. Agneya Puranam, 14. Bhagavata Puranam, 15.

Padma Puranam, 16. Shiva Puranam, 17. Karma Puranam, 18. Skanda

Puranam, 19. Markandeya Puranam, 20. Brahmanda Puranam, 21. MatsyaPuranam, 23. Deyva Ganapati, 24. Periya Puranam, 25. Tiruppugazh, 26.

Thaayumaanavar songs, 28. Dayaasatakam, 29. Venkatadri Vishvaguna

Darsam, 30. Tiruvilaiyadam Puranam, 31. Devaiyulaa, 32. Setu Puranam.

Apart from there, it is rare to find any Bharatilla language ancient

literature without reference to Setu. (Acknowledgement: HinduEndowment Department officer, Shri K. Sundaramurthy, IAS, Chennai,

1980).


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References in Ancient Literatures 2

Tamil Sangam Literature- (I)

1.kadunter iraaman udanpun.ar seetaiyaivalittakai arakkan vavviya jnaanr-

ainilamcer madaran.i kan.d.a kurangincemmukap perunkil.ai

izhaippolindaa anguaar-aa a varunakai yinidu per-r-ikume (Pur-anaanooru

paadal 378)When Arakkan Ravana abducted Sita who came with Rama,

the ornaments removed from her body and thrown by her to the ground,

the monkey families adorned themselves erratically with these

ornaments. People enjoyed seeing this sight.

2.venve_r- kavuniyar tonmudu ko_d.imuzhangirum pauvam iranku mun

tur-aivelpo_r iraaman arumar-aikku avittapal veezh aalam

po_lao_viyavintanr-aal iv azhunkaloore (Akanaanoor-u paadal 70)

Before Sri Rama embarked upon his journey to Sri Lanka, he sat below a

big banyan tree on the banks of the sacred Setu (tiruvan.aikkarai) and

was engrossed in conversation with his friends. The birds on the banyan

tree were chirping. Sri Rama stopped the chirping by his command.


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HISTORICAL EVIDENCESReferences in Ancient Literatures2 ;Tamil Literature- (2)

Besides above ,Rama Sethu is referred in KALITTOGAI, PARIPAADAL,TOLKAPPIYAM(Purattinaiyaiyal/Purattirattu) & MANIMEKALAI.

Ramayana and Rama Sethu are referred in later period Tamil literature

also, such as in Appar and Thirujnana Sambandar Tevarams,

Kalingattuparani, Periyashwar and Kodai Nachiyar Pasurams in Villiputtur

Mahabharatham as well as in 15

th

century Sethu Puranam.


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REFERENCES FROM ANCIENT LITERATURE - 3

Setubandha Kavya in Prakrit by the King Damodara Sen (5th Century).King Pravarasena II (550-600 CE) called Setu bandha or Ravanavaho,

Dasamuha Vadha"

VarahamihirasBrhatsamhita(sixth century AD) which formulates rules for

making images of Rama.

Tulsi Dass Sriramachandramanas describes the decision to construct thebridge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Var%C4%81hamihirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Var%C4%81hamihirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Var%C4%81hamihirahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Var%C4%81hamihira


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HISTORICAL EVIDENCESReferences in Ramayanas

Valmiki describes the construction ofSethu in detail (85 shlokas).hastimaatraan mahaakaayaaH paaSaaNaamshca mahaabalaaH

parvataamshca samutpaaTya yantraiH parivahanti ca Valmiki

Ramayana 2-22-58.

Vaanara having huge bodies, with mighty strength uprooted

elephant-sized rocks and mountains and transported them bymechanical contrivances (yantraih).

Kamba ramayanam in Tamil has a separate sarga calledSetubandha

padalam.Sethuis the water body in which Sri Rama purified himself

from Brammahatti dosha on his return from Lanka after killingRavana. It is located in the sea in Rameshwaram area near

sethubandhanam. Rameswaram is called: Setubandha Rameswaram.


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References in Ramayanas of Other Religions -1

Three BuddhistJatakaswhich form part of theKhuddaka-nikaya, third century BCE,deal with the Ram story, with minor variations.

The Rama story finds mention in three early Buddhist texts,DasharathaKathanam (first-second century AD),Anamakam Jatakam and Dasharatha Jataka

The Dasarath Jataka is set in Varanasi, not Ayodhya; however, Ram gives his sandals toBharat to rule the kingdom on his behalf.

The Nidana of the King of Ten Luxuriesis lost, but survives in a Chinese translation byKekaya in 472 CE.

Similarly, theAnamaka JatakaorJataka of the Unnamed Kingis preserved in Chinesetranslation by Sogdian monk Kan-Seng-hui in 251 CE.

Sri Lanka has many sites associated with Ramayan. Its literary texts includeJanaki-haranaby Kumaradasa, 7th century

Even in other countries we can find versions of Ramayana, like the Tibetan Ramayana,Turkistan's Khotani Ramayana, Indonesia's Kakbin Ramayana, Java's Seratram,Sairiram, Ramkeling, Patani Ramkatha; Indo-China's Ramkerti (Ramkirti),KhamerRamayana; Burma's Ramyagan of Yuto; Thailand's Ramkiyen etc all narrate the storyof Ram in a picturesque way. Scholars also believe that Homer's Illiad and theDionysia of poet Nonus of Rome have surprising similarities with our Ramayana.


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References in Ramayanas of Other Religions -2

The Jain Ramayans are in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa, and Kannada.

The canonical second centuryAnuyogadvaralists many works, including

Ramayanam;

Vimala Suri's Pauma-chariyam, fifth century, is the earliest version,along with Vasudevahindi.

There followed Ramayan ofSvayambhuin Apabhramsa (eighth century);

MahapuranofPushpadant in Prakrit (tenth century);

Pampa Ramayan by Nagachandra (11th century); Nagachandra records a

tradition that the ancient inhabitants of Kishkinda were not monkeys buta tribe whose banner carried the insignia of a monkey.

Jina Ramayan by Chandrasagar Varni (19th century).


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OTHER HISTORICAL EVIDENCES

Chandragupta Maurya's mentor, Kautilya (Chanakya), treated Ramayanand Mahabharat as history. He incorporated the lessons learnt from thehistories of the two era in theAdhikaranachapter dealing withdiscipline, wherein the author ofArthasastraadvises shunning the vicesof lust, anger, greed, vanity, haughtiness and excessive joy, for Ravanperished because he was too vain to restore a stranger's wife;Duryodhan because he would not part with a portion of his kingdom.

The Rama cult was promoted by Madhavacharya Anandatirtha (variously placedbetween AD 1199-1278 and 1238-1317). He devoted seven chapters tothe Ramayana story in the Mahabharat Tatparya Nirnaya and brought an imageof the world-conqueringDigvijayaRama to the south.

Similarly, Narahari Tirtha, probably the same as Narasimha, is recorded in a

Telugu epigraph dated AD 1293, as having set up the image of Rama, Sita andLakshman in the Vaishnava temple near Chicacole, Ganjam district.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narahari_tirthahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicacolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicacolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicacolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narahari_tirthahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narahari_tirthahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narahari_tirthahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata_Tatparya_Nirnayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhwahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhwa


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RAMAYANA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA 1


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RAMAYANA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA - 1 . Sri Lanka believes in the Ramayana and therefore till date has proudly shown the

coronation of Vibhishan in its parliament;Ashok Vatika has been converted into afamous tourist attraction and not only that, the Sri Lankan government is still payingpension to the descendents of Ravan.

Ram's travails made their way to China, Tibet, Mongolia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand,Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and found representation in the visual and plasticarts.

The name "Rama emerges everywhere in Southeast Asia covering two monarchies(Thailand and Cambodia), two Communist countries (Vietnam and Laos) and onedemocracy (Indonesia).The walls of the 9th century Shiv temple Parambanan (Parambhram) of Java and the11th century Angkor Wat Temple of Cambodia are pictorially engraved with the

scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic nation, Ramayana and Mahabharata are

compulsory subjects in most of the universities. The Indonesian version of Ramayana iscalled Kakawin Ramayana in the old Javanese (Kawi) language. The sultan ofJogjakarta supports the daily performance of a leather puppet show of eitherRamayana or Mahabharata in his Palace annexure. He also subsidizes the world's onlydaily performance of a dance ballet based on Ramayana, performed with thePrambanan towers as its backdrop. The highlight of the extraordinary show is that allthe two hundred artistes are Muslims. We ask the leading actors how they performRamayana with such ardent involvement. The spontaneous reply is: "Islam is ourreligion. Ramayana is our culture."

Garuda is the national insignia of Indonesia. The predominantly Hindu territory of Baliin Indonesia has a few thousand Hindu temples, where the strong influence ofRamayana in the sculptures and performing arts are seen.


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RAMAYANA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA 3 & RUSSIA

In the war torn Cambodia, the Buddhist monarchy, which has met manytragedies in recent times, one finds that coronation of King is complete only

with the handing over of ancient gold idols of Shiva and Vishnu by therajaguru to the king. The 11th century built Angkor Wat, the largest stonetemple for any deity in the world, has a nearly 2.7 km circumambulatorypassage with gigantic carvings devoted to the epic stories of the churning ofthe ocean, Ramayana, Mahabharata and so on.

Russian Professor Nicolai Retih notes that Ramayana presents a unifiedperspective of Indian thought.The unequalled spiritual strength of Indian

people, their devotion to protection of their heritage, find expression in Indianthought formed over millennia, not only through art but also through theirlives.

Indo-Soviet cultural relations book notes that Rama, Sita, Lakshmana wereadored by Russians as embodiments of humanism.

The winner of Indias Nehru Prize, Ragli Abashitchev says that every Georgian

family has a copy of the Georgian translation of Ramayana in their homes. It isdisheartening indeed that we Indians do not have even the pride that Russianshave in the Ramayana heritage.


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RAMAYANA AS AN INSPIRATION

.

In all these foreign countries as well as in all parts of India, generations ofpeople are influenced continuously for centuries and Ramayana is depictedin all forms of arts such as literature, dance , drama, music, paintings andsculptures.

Ramayana is popular even today not only in various parts of India, but in SriLanka and other Southeast Asian countries, most of which are practicing otherreligions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and even no-religion(communism). So this popularity is not based on religion (Hinduism), or due to

literary merit (poetry or story telling). The sustained popularity of Ramayana inall these countries with different religious beliefs and varied culture should beattributed to a more Strong Psychological reasoning.

Rama was an embodiment of Dharma and lived a life of noble human being, a dutifulson, loving husband, protector of rishis, tribals and animals from Rakshasa, treating allbeings and human beings as equals, compassionate towards animals and birds, valiantbut considerate even with his enemies during war etc. Only these noble qualities ofRama had inspiredall people from different cultures and religions to revere him forcenturies. NO MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTER, OTHER THAN A MAN LIVED OR LIVING,CAN BE INSPIRATION FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OF VARIED RELIGIONS,LANGUAGES AND CULTURE FOR SUCH A PROLONGED PERIOD. This fact itself willprove beyond any doubt the historicity of Rama and Ramayana.

This was amply proclaimed by the Russian Professor Nicolai Retih.


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REFERENCES IN HISTORICAL PAINTINGS

Razmnama : illustrationto Persian translation ofMahabharata by Akbar

(on left)

A 19th century paintingdepicting a scene from

Ramayana, whereinmonkeys are shownbuilding a bridge to

Lanka

(on right)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharatahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Monkeys_and_Bears_Build_a_Bridge_to_Lanka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vanaras_help_Rama_build_a_bridge.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata


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The ape-army building the bridge.

Illustration by

Balasaheb Pandit Pant Pratinidhi from

a 1916 edition of the Ramayana epic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Building_a_Bridge_to_Sri_Lanka.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhawanrao_Shriniwasrao_Pant_Pratinidhi


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Paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Gond Ram Katha by the tribals drawn from

Madhya Pradesh,Madhubani paintings, Stone Age sculptures of 2nd

century BC, Patta Chitra by artistes of Odisha and paintings from various

South East Asian countrieswere on display at the Ramayan exhibition

organised by the CPRF at Chennai in early 2013.


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Other Records, Travellogues etc

Glossary entry: Adam. Called the bridge of Rama It really joined Ceylonto India until 1480, when a breach was made through rocks during a storm.

A subsequent storm enlarged this and foot traffic then ceasedPartly aboveand partly below water; but when covered has now here above three or four

feet of water

Source:Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency./C.D.Maclean (1903). New Delhi, AES, 3 Vols., 2440 p., Contents: Vol. 1:

Chapters 1-9 Containing: The Principal Articles of the Manual Arranged soas to Conform to the Order of Subjects in the Yearly Presidency

Administration Report. Vol. 2: Appendices Containing: Articles andStatements, Supplementary of the Articles in Vol. 1 Arranged Under

General Heads. Vol. 3: Glossary of the Madras Presidency: A Classificationof Terminology, a Gazetteer and Economic Dictionary of the Province and

Other Information, the Whole Arranged Alphabetically and Indexed.

Travelogue

A book by Alexander Hamilton, 1744, A New Account of the East Indies:Giving an Exact and Copious Description of the Situation, P. 338 describes his

visit to zeloan (alt. spelling for Ceylon) by walking on the bridge.



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References In Other Records & Publications

Research report

Asiatic Society, 1799, Asiatick

Researches: Or, Transactions of the

Society Instituted in Bengal, P. 52

refers to thebridge called Setband

(alt. spelling, setuband like

Allahband; setu-bandha), broken in 3

places. It also notes The people call

it a bridge; or otherwise it appears to

have wood growing on it, and to be

inhabited.


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References in Other records & Publications

Books of Roads & Kingdomsby Iben Khordadbeh (ca.850 CE) refers SetBhandaiorBridge of the Sea.

In the bookThe travels of MARCO POLO, the Venetian (1854),AdamsBridge Area is calledRamarBridge.

In The Ramanathapuram District Gazetteer published by the Governmentof Tamil Nadu in 1972, Mu. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Ministerwrites aforeword and praises the contents as the most valuable and important

document for the general public.

The book refers to Rama Setu(as also calledAdams bridge orNala Setu).

The Rajas of Ramanathapuram are traditionally called sethupathis Protectors and Guardians of Sethu / Rama sethu.


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REFERENCES IN HISTORICAL MAPS


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PURANIC INDIASchwartzbergs Atlas-p.27- The Historical Atlas of South Asia,

The university of Chicago Press, 1978

Rama Setu is shown as Setuka


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MAP DURING ASHOKAN EMPIRE(321 181 BC)

Schwartzbergs Atlas

In an Ajanta painting the

scene of landing of King

Vijay in Ceylon in about

3rd century BC has been

depicted along with

elephants, horses and foot

soldiers which obviously

was possible

only if land route was usedfor travelling from

Rameswaram to Sri Lanka.


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MAP OF SATAVAHAN-SAK-KUSHAN AGE (1-100AD)

(Schwartzbergs Atlas)

Rama Setu used as

land route to Lanka


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MAP DURING RASHTRAKUTA EMPIRE (700-955-AD)

Schwartzbergs Atlas

Land route to

Lanka via Rama

Setu.


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Islamic expansion and changing Western views of

South Asia, 7th-12th centuries (Al-Birunis record)

Schwartzberg Atlas, v. , p. 33.


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Religious and cultural sites, 8th-12th centuries -

Schwartzberg Atlas, p. 34.

SETU is clearly depicted with Adams Bridge only in brackets.


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MAP DURING THE REGIMES OF KHALJIS &

TUGHLUQSCE 1290 - 1390

Map drawn by Joseph Banks Australian Botanical


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Map drawn by Joseph Banks, Australian Botanical

explorer (1788) with J.Rennell shows Ramar Bridge

(Map in Sarasvati Mahal Lib., Thanjavur),


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1804 MAP OF JAMES RENNEL,

THE FIRST SURVEYOR GENERAL OF INDIA

In this map, RAMA SETU is

marked as ADAMs BRIDGE.

In an earlier map prepared by

him with the help of SirJoseph Banks in 1788,

however, Rama Setu has been

marked as Ramas Bridge


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Malabar Bowen map (1747) drawn by Netherlands

shows Ramarcoil I (that is, Rama temple).


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LOGO OF SURVEY OF INDIA

THE LOGO DEPICTS THE EXTENT OFINDIA TO BE FROM

SETHU TO HIMACHALAM

(RAMA SETHU TO HIMALAYAS)

SINCE 1767


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ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES

From Excavations

Excavations in the raised Teri Sand Formations in Tirunelvali

District, Tamil Nadu (Adhitchanallur) had shown a rich assemblage of

mesolithic-microlithic tools indicating the presence of strong Human

habitation and activity during 9000 to 8000 BP.

On the Sri Lankan side, there are indications of Human habitations

extending to Late Pleistocene (BCE 13,000), based on fossils of bones

of human and animal forms.

All these point to flourishing Human activity on both sides of Rama

Sethu during the period of Ramayana.


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ARCHAEOLOGICALEVIDENCES

Historical Inscriptions on Pillars & Copper Plates

The 249 BC ASHOKA PILLAR Inscription atLumbini describes the visit of both RAMA andBUDDHA to Lumbini.

Aparajitavarman Copper Plate

LHernault F. 1978. LIconographie deSubrahmanya au Tamilnad, Institut Francais d

Indologie. Pondichery, p.111, ph. 63.) Thecopper plates indicate that Aparajitavarman

went to Setutirtha.

Parantaka Chola copper plate (10th cent.)

(Nagaswamy R. 1979. Thiruttani and VelanjeriCopper Plates. State Dept. Of Archaeology,

Tamilnadu. Madras.


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Historical Inscriptions (Krishnadevaraya-1508AD)



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13 th Century Aryachakravarthy SETU Coins

of Jaffna

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cd/Coin_Setu_Bull_Rev_a.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Setu_I_Rev.jpg


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Ancient Coins (16th to 17th Centuries)Setupati coinage, 16th and 17th century Obverse: Sri Ganapati, seated.Reverse, in

Tamil, Se-Tu-Pa-(Ti missing). Tamil script.


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Ancient Coins & Seals

Kushan emperor Kanishka had an engraving of the wind-god Hanuman

on his regime's seal.

Emperor Akbar had also similarly depicted Ram-Sita on one of his golden

guineas.

Scenes from Ramayana have been sketched in the Safdarjang Madarsa of

Delhi.

Central India's Dhar and Ratlam principalities had engraved Hanuman on

their seals.

Brass guineas introduced by the Sant regime also had the etchings ofRam and his three brothers, as well as Sita and Hanuman.


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Temple Sculptures - 1

Numerous Temples in India built in the Historical past by kings of

different dynasties are dedicated to Lord Rama.

Paintings and sculptures of Ramayana events abound in many temples

not only in India , also in many SE Asian countries. One such sculpture

in India is from theGupta Period 5th 6th

Century A.D.



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Temple Sculptures - 2

Numerous Temples in India built in the Historical past by kings ofdifferent dynasties are dedicated to Lord Rama.

Paintings and sculptures of Ramayana events abound in many temples

not only in India , also in many SE Asian countries. One such temple is

the PRAMBANAN (Brahmavana) Temple, Java, Indonesia 9th Century

A.D.

Archaeological evidences


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Prambanan Temple Sculptures (9-10thCenturies CE)

Devi Sita talking to Sri Hanuman

Vaanara Sena carrying stones, in their arms andon their heads, to build Rama Setu, followed by Sri

Rama, carrying a sword.

Fish and other sea creatures handling stones fromRama's bridge to Lanka, during the construction of

Nala Setu (Rama Setu).

Source:http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia/2616


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Prambanan Temple Sculptures (9-10thCenturies CE)Note Rama, Lakshmana & Vibhishana marching with vanaras

after victory over Ravana

GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES 1


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GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES 1(Initial Trip with Sage Viswamitra)

Rama went out of Ayodhya in his childhood (13th Year)along with RishiViswamitra and returned after marrying Sita.

The places visited by Rama during this phase of his life are described in

Valmiki Ramayana

23 of these places are traced on ground today which have memorials for

Rama ,commemorating the events connected. Some of these include

Shringi Ashram, Tadka Van, Siddhashram, Gautam Ashram, Janakpur (now

in Nepal), Sita Kund etc.

GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES -2


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GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES 2

(During Vanavas)

Rama went out of Ayodhya again on exile for 14 years in his adulthood

(25th Year)along with Sita and Lakshmana

The places visited by Rama during this phase of his exile are described in

Valmiki Ramayana.

The route taken by Rama from Ayodhya to Lanka had been traced on

ground. 195 places along this route are recognised on ground today (by

Sri. Ram Avtar) which have memorials for Rama ,commemorating the

events connected.

Sri Lanka also has relics of the Ramayana. There are several caves, such as

Ravana Ella Falls, where Ravana is believed to have hidden Sita to prevent

Rama from finding her. The Sitai Amman Temple at Numara Eliya is

situated near the Ashokavana where Ravana once kept her prisoner.

GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES - 3


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RAMAS ROUTE TO LANKA

Rama, Lakshmana and Sita left Ayodhya and went to Sringaverapura -modern Sringverpur in Uttar Pradesh - where they crossed the River Ganga.

They lived on Chitrakoot hill where Bharata and Shatrughna met them and thebrothers performed the last rites for their father. Thereafter, the threewandered through Dandakaranya in Central India, described as a land ofRakshasas, obviously tribes inimical to the brothers' habitation of their land.Tribals are still found in these forests. The trio reached Nasik, on the RiverGodavari, which has sites such as Tapovan where they lived, Ramkund where

Rama and Sita used to bathe, Lakshmankund, Lakshmana's bathing area, andseveral caves in the area associated with their lives in the forest.

Rama then moved to Panchavati where Ravana abducted Sita. The dyingJatayu told them of the abduction, so they left in search of Sita. Kishkinda,near Hampi, where Rama first met Sugriva and Hanuman, is a majorRamayana site. Anjanadri, near Hospet, was the birthplace of Hanuman

(Anjaneya); Sugriva lived in Rishyamukha on the banks of the Pampa(Tungabhadra); Sabari probably also lived in a hermitage there. Rama and theVanara army left Kishkinda to reach Rameshwaram, where the Vanaras built abridge to Lanka from Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.

GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES OF RAMAYANA IN


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SRI LANKA According to the Ramayana, Ravana abducted Sita to Sri Lanka in a flying machine called Pushpaka

Vimanam by the Hindus and Dandu Monara Yanthraya by the Sinhalese Buddhists.

Detailed documents prepared by the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry said the Pushpaka Vimanam couldhave landed at Werangatota, about 10 km from Mahiyangana, east of the hill station of Nuwara Eliya in

central Sri Lanka.

Sita was then taken to Goorulupota, now known as Sitakotuwa, where Ravanas wife Mandodari lived.

Seetakotuwa is about 10 km from Mahiyangana on the road to Kandy.

Sita was housed in a cave at Sita Eliya on a highway that links Colombo with Nuwara Eliya, another exotic

hill station.

A temple dedicated to her exists there. According to the document, Sita is believed to have taken bath inthe mountain stream flowing beside the temple.

North of Nuwara Eliya, in Matale district, is Yudhaganapitiya, where the Rama-Ravana battle took place.

According to a Sinhalese legend, Dunuwila is the place from where Rama shot the Bramshira arrow

(Brahmastra) that killed Ravana. Ravana was making battle plans in a place called Lakgala when the killer

arrow struck him.

Since Ravana was a Brahmin, it was considered a sin to kill him, even in battle. To wash off the sin, Rama

prayed at the Munneswaram temple in Chilaw, 80 km north of Colombo. Rumassala and Ramboda, also in the tea-growing central highlands, are associated with Hanuman.

Believers say that Hanuman dropped the Dronagiri mountain, which he brought from the Himalayas, at

Rumassala. At Ramboda, known for its massive waterfalls, a temple for Hanuman has now sprung up.

The documents state that at the Buddha Vihara at Kelani, near Colombo, there is a representation of Rama

handing over the captured Sri Lanka to Ravanas brother Vibheeshana, who sided with him in his conflict

with Ravana.

GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES ON INDONESIA


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GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCES ON INDONESIA

The verse 'Yatanvanto yavdweepam ______

shishiro naam parvat' (Valmiki Ramayanam;

Kiskindha Khand, Sarg 40, Verse 30-31)

explains that Sughreev had advised the

leaders in his army to visit the eastern

frontiers, in search of Sita, to go to Yavadwipa

(Java) -- the conglomeration of seven

kingdoms, and from there to visit Swarnadeep

(Sumatra) and after Sumatra to visit Shishir

mountain (New Guinea) inhabited by godsand demons, which kisses the sky with its

summit'. Such detailed geographical

knowledge of far away islands can not emerge

from the imagination of poet.

The most important event took place in the history of Indonesia. In November 1949, the Dutch government agreed

to give independence and sovereignty to the Indonesian Islands, except Erian (New Guinea). The Indonesian public

launched an agitation, asking also for the inclusion of New Guinea, but the Dutch government asked for anyirrefutable proof to prove that New Guinea was an integral part of Indonesia.

Then the people of Indonesia, who have a tradition of reciting the Valmiki Ramayana ,quoted above verse of

Sugreevs describing the continuity of Indonesia comprising Java, Sumatra and New Guinea as their evidence.

After reading this ancient irrefutable evidence, the Dutch handed over New Guinea also to Indonesia. New history

was created in Indonesia just because of the Ramayana.

BATHYMETRIC MAP


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Palk Bay Gulf of Mannar RegionShallow, Muddy and sediment

laden Palk Bay.

Deep and Clear Gulf of Mannar.

Rama Sethu separates these two

contrasting seas.

South of Rama Sethu, there is

sudden and steep fall in

Bathymetric contours, indicatingsteep cliff-like feature of Rama

Sethu area on the gulf side.

Occurrence ofCoral Reefs only on

Gulf of Mannar side on both Indian

and Sri Lankan coasts.

Occurrence ofHeavy Mineral Sandsincluding monazite, sillimanite,

ilmenite, garnet, rutile etc. only on

the gulf of Mannar side indicationg

availability of suitable Ocean

Currents for their concentration

and deposition.

Geographical Significance of


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Rama SethuAdams Bridge Feature

It rises as a Very Steep Wall-like Feature rising from the Gulf of Mannar

It is a Strait during monsoon, joining two seas - Palk Bay and Gulf ofMannar

It is an Isthmus connecting two land masses Rameswaram and ThalaiMannar islands under the sea.

It is a unique curvilinear feature.

It is nearly 17 Lakhs years old.

It is a Barrier Zone that separates two contrasting seas.

It is a Protection Zone against Tsunami impacts.

Due to these reasons, Rama Sethu can be declared asan International Geographical Heritage Site andprotected.

SATELLITE IMAGE OF RAMA SETHU 1 (BY NASA)


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SATELLITE IMAGE OF RAMA SETHU 1 (BY NASA)

Space images taken by NASA in 2002 reveal

a mysterious ancient bridge in the Palk Strait

between India and Sri Lanka. The bridge

named as Adam&laqno;s Bridge is made ofchain of shoals, c.18 mi (30 km) long.

The bridge&laqno;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 aprimitive age, about 1,750,000 years ago

and the bridge&laqno;s age is also almost

equivalent.

Later, NASA distanced itself from the claims

saying that what had been captured was

nothing more than a 30 km long , naturally

occurring chain of sand islands. Remotesensing images or photographs from orbits

cannot provide direct information about

the origin or age of a chain of islands, and

certainly cannot determine whether

humans were involved in producing any of

the patterns seen.

SATELLITE IMAGE OF RAMA SETHU 2


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ISRO PICTURE

Government in March, 2007 stated

in Parliamentthat there are no

archaeological studiesthat reveal

the existence of a Ram Setu bridge

between India and Sri Lanka.

However, NASA and ISRO satellite pictures

show the existence of a stretch of land

bridge in the Palk Strait between thecountries

The book Images India by NRSA,

Dept. of Space, states that Satellite

Images reveal an ancient bridge

between India and Sri Lanka in Palk

Straights and archaeological Studies

haverevealed the bridge to date back

to about 1,75,000 years. Its Structure

suggests that it may beMan-made.

(This book is tabled in Parliament in

December,2007)

GEOGRAPHICAL & GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES


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GEOGRAPHICAL & GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCESIN RAMAS&VANARAS ROUTE ACROSS TAMIL NADU

CAUVERY RIVER FLOWING IN A VERY PLACID MANNER WHEN

VIEWED FROM AYAMUKHA PARVATHA (Valmiki).Cauvery flows placidly only from Bhavani through Erode and furthereastwards.

Ayomykha parvatha - IRON ORE-BEARING KANJAMALAI & NAINARMALAIHILLS, SOUTH OF SALEM, TN.

CROSSING TAMBRAPARANI RIVER, CLIMBING AGASTHIYA MALAI (PODIGAIMALAI).

MOVING TO MAHENDRAGIRI HILL (PRESENT DAY HILLS WEST OFTIRUKKURANGUDI.

OCEAN WAVES LASHING AT THE FOOT HILLS OF MAHENDRA GIRI &OCCURRENCE OF MARINE LIMESTONE OF 10,000 YRS. AGE AT THE FOOT

HILLS. THE PRESENT COAST IS FAR AWAY TO THE EAST.

MOVING TO PLACES LIKE TIRUPPULLANI, GANDHAMANA PARVATHAM,

RAMESWARAM.FLOATING STONE IN CONSTRUCTION OF RAMASETHU & OCCURRENCE OF

CORALS AND PUMICE IN THE NEIBOURHOOD.


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&


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AN AMAZING & EXCITING SPECTACLE- 1

A yacht was traveling

in the south Pacific

when the crew came

across a weird sight.Look at

these photos and try

to imagine the thrill

of experiencing this

phenomenon.A BEACH?


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AN AMAZING & EXCITING SPECTACLE -2XCITING

SPECTACLE - 2

NO!!!!

This is not a

beach


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AN AMAZING & EXCITING SPECTACLE -3

It is volcanicstones

(Pumice)floating on

the water.


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WHERE IS THE

VOLCANO?


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AN AMAZING & EXCITING SPECTACLE - 5

UNBELIEVEABLE

SITE SO TAKE

PICTURES. NO ONE

WOULD BELIEVE IT


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THE WAKE

OF SHIP


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AN AMAZING EXCITING SPECTACLE -7

Then this was

spotted,

ash & steam rising

from the ocean..


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A plume of black

ash...

HUGE CLOUD

COVERING RED

EVEN THIS FAR

AWAY


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THEN

THE SKY TURNSBLACK WITH

ASH AND

THE OCEAN GOLD

WITH SUNS

REFLECTION


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AN AMAZING & EXCITING SPECTACLE M- 10

OUT OF THEOCEAN

MOUNTAIN PEAKS

ARISE?


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MORE ERUPTIONS

ASH AND

CLOUDS


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THE MOUNTAINPEAKS RISE HIGHER

WITHIN MINUTES


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CREATION OF

MOUNTAINS&

A brand new island

formed...

CREATION OF A NEW VOLCANIC ISLAND


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CREATION OF A NEW VOLCANIC ISLAND

WEST OF TONGA

Volcanic eruption & formation ofnew Island was sighted by yacht

Maiken during August, 2006near Home Reef, west of TONGAbetween Vavau islands and Fiji.

IT IS PROBABLY DUE TOSUBDUCTIONOF PACIFIC PLATE

ALONGTONGA TRENCH

NOTE THE SERIES OF DEPRESSIONS(TROUGHS) & RIDGES (RISES) IN THE

ENTIRE AREA TO WEST.

Now compare this with our Tamil NaduCoast


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TECTONIC PLATES OF THE WORLD

SHOWING ACTIVE VOLCANOES

See to theEast of

Australia &NNE of

NewZealand

Tonga

Trenchwith

volcanoes


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TECTONIC ACTIVITIES & VOLCANICERUPTIONS


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TECTONIC PLATESCONVERGENT MARGINS(RED) & DIVERGENT MARGINS (YELLOW).

NOTE TENTATIVE SEPARATION OF INDIAN PLATE &BURMA MICRO-PLATE FROM CENTRAL INDIAN-OCEAN

RIDGE


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EARTHS TECTONIC PLATES

(Indian-Australian Plate Boundary Tentative)


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VOLCANOES(RED) & EARTHQUAKES(YELLOW)

ALONG PLATE BOUNDARIES


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TECTONIC PLATES OF THE WORLD

SHOWING ACTIVE VOLCANOES

See to theEast of

Australia &NNE of

NewZealand

Tonga

Trenchwith

volcanoes


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VOLCANOES ALONG PLATE BOUNDARIES

See Volcanic activity shown near Rama Sethu, South India


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VOLCANOES AROUND THE WORLD

See Volcanic Activity shown near Rama Sethu


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FAULTS ORIGINATING FROM INDIAN OCEAN

RIDGE & CARLSBERG RIDGE

NOTE THE N-S

TRENDING 90

E RIDGEAND THE CHAGOS-

LACCADIVES RIDGE

ORIGINATING FROM

SE. INDIAN OCEAN

RIDGE

Relationships Between N-S & NE-SW Fault Systems

From SE Indian Ocean Ridge & Carlsberg Ridge


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From SE-Indian Ocean Ridge & Carlsberg Ridge

Relationships between Fault Systems


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NE-SW, NW-SE and N-S Faults

EMERGENCE & SUBMERGENCE OF VOLCANOES OFF-SHORE


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OF PONDICHERRY & KAKINADA IN BAY OF BENGAL


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HORST-GRABEN (RIDGES-DEPRESSIONS) STRUCTURES IN

CAUVERY SEDIMENTARY BASIN,

TAMIL NADU.

Note the important Mandapam-

Delft high

4 major Deep Crustal Fault Systems

which control the above structures

(Both on-shore&Off-shore).

NNE-SSW to NE-SW,

NW-SE,

E-W and

N-S

Neo-Tectonic Activity along NW-SE to

WNW-ESE Fault in


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WNW ESE Fault in

Rameswaram - Dhanushkodi Island During 1948-49

Neo-Tectonic Activity along NW-SE to

WNW-ESE Fault in


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WNW ESE Fault in

Rameswaram - Dhanushkodi Island During 1948-49

SATELLITE IMAGE -

Vellar (Manamelkudi) Fault Extending Off-shore Into


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Vellar (Manamelkudi) Fault Extending Off shore Into

Palk-Bay

GEOTHERMAL SIGNATURES

F lt S t d S f M if t ti d


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Fault Systems and Surface Manifestations around

Palk-Bay

GEOTHERMAL SIGNATURES

Heat-Flow Map of India Note High Heat flow around


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Heat Flow Map of India Note High Heat flow around

Rama Sethu

Gravity Anomaly of

Ramnad Rameswaram Danushkodi Area


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Magnetic Anomalies within Gulf of Mannar


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Gravity Profiles Within Indian Ocean

Extending into Gulf of Mannar


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Extending into Gulf of Mannar

EMERGENCE & SUBMERGENCE OF VOLCANOES OFF-SHORE



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A recent press report says that

Smithsonian Institute, USA had

identified buried volcanoes in the

Bay of Bengal region from their

research, corraborating the earlierreports.

GEOLOGICAL (GEMSTONES) EVIDENCESON MAHENDRAGIRI

MAHENDRAGIRI IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT TAMIL NADU FROM WHERE HANUMAN


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MAHENDRAGIRI IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, FROM WHERE HANUMAN

FLEW TO LANKA IS DESCRIBED BY VALMIKI IN MANY SLOKAS.

IT IS STATED TO BE GLISTENING WITH NATURALLY FORMED BLUE, RED, YELLOW,

PALE (LOTUS) ROSE, WHITE AND BLACK COLOURED SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES AND

GEMSTONES(SLOKA.5; SARGAM-1; SUNDARA KANDAM).

WHEN HANUMAN PRESSED MAHENDRAGIRI FORCEFULLY WITH HIS LEGS,

BECAUSE OF EXERTED PRESSURE, THE HILL EXPOSED GLITTERING GOLDEN

YELLOW, BLACK, RED AND WHITE COLOURED VEINS OF DIFFERENT ROCKS ON TO

THE SURFACE.(SLOKAS. 18-19 & 27-28; SARGAM-1; SUNDARAKANDAM). GEOLOGICALLY EVEN TODAY THE NORTHERN PART OF MAHENDRAGIRI LYING TO

WEST OF KALAKKADUIN TIRUNELVEL DISTRICT IS KNOWN FOR ROCKS OF

VARYING COMPOSITION AND COLOUR SUCH AS PALE RED AND YELLOWISH RED

PEGMATITES, BLACK DOLERITE/BASIC DYKES AND WHITE QUARTZ, BESIDES

SOME OCHRES (OXIDISED SULPHIDE ORES), ALL OF WHICH OCCUR IN THE FORM

OF LINEAR VEINS. VARIOUSLY COLORED GEMSTONES ARE ALSO RECOVEREDFROM THESE ROCKS.

GEMSTONES DO NOT OCCUR IN ALL PARTS OF TAMIL NADU, BUT RESTRICTED TO ONLY SOME

AREAS SUCH AS MAHENDRAGIRI, KARUR, KANGEYAM ETC.

THIS TYPE OF RARE OCCURRENCE OF GEMSTONES FROM SPECIFIC AREA CAN NOT COME

FROM IMAGINATION.

EARTH MOVEMENTS AND RISE OF HILLS FROM OCEAN-

Evidence from Sundara Kandam - 1


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SLOKAM-15 (SARGAM-1;SUNDARAKANDAM) DESCRIBES THAT DUE TO

PRESSURE EXERTED BY HANUMAN PRELUDE HIS FLIGHT TO LANKA, THE

NORMALLY IMMOVABLEMAHENDRAGIRI SHOOK FOR A SHORT DURATION AND

FRACTURED AT PLACES.

THIS DESCRIPTION REFLECTS THE HIGHLY STABLE NATURE OF MAHENRDAGIRI

MADE UP OF HARD PRECAMBRIAN CRYSTALLINE ROCKS FORMING THE

CONTINENTAL EDGE. THE SHORT DURATION SHAKING PROBABLY REFLECTS AN

EARTHQUAKE.

SLOKAM-17 DESCRIBES SPRINGS OF WATER GUSHING OUT OF FRACTURESFORMED.

THE INITIAL SLOKAS DETAILING HANUMANS FLIGHT FROM MAHENDRAGIRI TO LANKA

DESCRIBE DISTINCT CYLONIC AND TIDAL WAVE CONDITIONS IN THE OCEAN. (SLOKAMS-

50-65;73,77-84,88;SARGAM-1;SUNDARAKANDAM).

IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT FREQUENT CYCLONES ARE KNOWN FROM GULF OF MANNAR

AND RAMESWARAM AREAS EVEN TODAY. Such descriptions of significant Geographicalphenomenon in Potential area can not come from the imagination of a poet.

SLOKAM 88(SARGAM-1; SUNDARAKANDAM) MENTIONS ABOUT FORMATION OF DEEP

VALLEY WITHIN OCEANALONGTHE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. IT PROBABBLY DESCRIBES A

FAULT-SUBSIDENCEIN THAT PLACE, SIMILAR TO DHANUSHKODI FAULT.

EARTH MOVEMENTS AND RISE OF HILLS FROM OCEAN-

Evidence from Sundara Kandam - 2


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LATER VARUNA REQUESTED MYNAKA PARVATHAM (HIRANYANABHAM)

TO RISE FROM THE DEPTHS OF OCEAN TO OFFER A PLACE OF REST FORHANUMAN DURING FLIGHT. HE DESCRIBES THE CAPABILITY OF MYNAKA

TO GROW BOTH VERICALLY AND ACROSS (PROBABY LATERALLY ALSO),

(SLOKAM-103;SARGAM-1; SUNDARAKANDAM), INDICATING A FAULT

UPLIFT (HORST)ACROSS THE PATH OF HANUMAN. THIS HORST MAY

REFER TO THE MANDAPAM-DELFT HIGH ON ONGC MAP WHILE RETURNING FROM LANKA ALSO, HANUMAN IS REPORTED TO

HAVE RESTED ON SUNAABHAM HILL MIDWAY ACROSS THE OCEAN.

(SLOKAM.13; SARGAM-57; SUNDARA KANDAM). THIS SUNABHAM MAY

REFER TO HIRANYANABHAM(MYNAKAM) OR ANOTHER UPLIFTED HILL

SIMILAR TO MYNAKA PARVATHAM. Such descriptions of significant GEOTECTONIC phenomenon in Potential

area can not come from the imagination of a poet.

HORST-GRABEN TECTONISM ALONG TAMIL NADU

SRI LANKA COASTS


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Note the important

Mandapam-Delft High Is it

Mynaka Parvatham ?

Similar Horst-Graben tectonism

experienced on west coast of Sri

Lanka upto Boundary Fault

GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FROM SRI LANKA - 1

WHILE RETURNING FROM LANKA TO MAHENDRAGIRI HANUMAN CLIMBED


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WHILE RETURNING FROM LANKA TO MAHENDRAGIRI, HANUMAN CLIMBEDTHE HILL CALLED ARISHTAM WHICH WAS RICH IN ORES AND MINERALS.(SLOKAS.9,11,18; SARGAM.56; SUNDARAKANDAM).

WHEN HANUMAN PRESSED HIS LEGS FORCEFULLY AS A PRELUDE TO HISRETURN FLIGHT FROM LANKA, THE ROCKSON HILL ARISHTAM GOTPULVERISED.(SLOKAM-22).

DUE TO THE EXTREME PRESSURE EXERTED BY HANUMAN, 100 YOJANA HIGHAND 10 YOJANA WIDE ARISHTAM HILL WAS SENT DOWN THE EARTH ANDWAS PENEPLAINED. (SLOKAMS 26,32,33; SARGAM-56; SUNDARA KANDAM).

THIS IS A BLOCK DOWN FAULTING (GRABEN /DEPRESSION FORMATION),OPPOSITE OF AND COMPLEMENTARY TO BLOCK UPLIFT (HORST / RIDGEFORMATION)WITNESSED IN THE RISE OF MYNAKA PARVATH IN THE INITIALJOURNEY OF HANUMAN TO LANKA.

SUCH BLOCK FAULTING IS COMMON BOTH ON LAND (TAMIL NADU & SRILANKA) AND IN THE IN-BETWEEN SEAS).

GEOTECTONIC KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SPECIFIC AREA CAN NOT COME FROMWILD IMAGINATION OF A POET.

GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FROM SRI LANKA-2


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HANUMAN LANDED ON LAMBAGIRI HILL (ALSO CALLED SUVELA HILL) INLANKA AT THE END OF HIS FLIGHT FROM MAHENDRAGIRI. THIS HILL

APPEARED LIKE HAVING DISTINCT PEAKS; AT PLACES LOOKED WITHOUTVISIBLE PEAKS, APPEARING TO BE MADE OF HANGING ROCKS FROM THECLOUDS.

(LAMBA-TALL, STHAMBHA- PILLAR-LIKE).(SLOKAMS- 226; SARGAM-1&SLOKAM-1;SARGAM-3; SUNDARAKANDAM).

ROCKS HAVING THIS TYPE OF HANGING STRUCTURE IS VERY TYPICAL OF

VOLCANIC ROCKS. SUCH STRUCTURES MAY INDICATE COLUMNARJOINTSOR A VOLCANIC VENT OF VERY VISCOUS LAVA AND HAVING ITSTOP AND SIDES ERODED, THUS EXPOSING HANGING ROCKS. (EG. HANGINGROCKS IN VICTIRIA, AUSTRALIA).

THIS LAMBAGIRI HILL WITH THIS STRUCTURE SHOULD BE IDENTIFIABLE INSRI LANKA. SUCH GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION CAN NOT COME FROM WILDIMAGINATION OF A POET.

IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT HANUMAN FLEW FROM LANKA FROM ANOTHERHILL, ARISHTAM, HAVING DIFFERENT GEOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES.

EXAMPLES OF HANGING ROCK VOLCANICS


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COLUMNAR JOINTS IN RYOLITES, ST. MARYSISLAND, OFF MANGALORE, INDIA

HANGING ROCKS (TRACHYTE LAVAS),VICTORIA,AUSTRALIA

EARTH MOVEMENTS, SEISMICITY&VOLCANIC

ACTIVITY IN RAMA SETHU ENVIRONS


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ACTIVITY IN RAMA SETHU ENVIRONSDESCRIPTIONS IN VALMIKI RAMAYANA

Valmiki Ramayana, Sarga 21, Yuddhakandamdescribes Rama , after Tapus at Tiruppullani

requesting Samudra Rajan to give way for hisarmy , releases the arrow which makes the

earth tremble(earthquake),large volumes of

dark smoke and fire erupts high onto the skyfrom the depths of ocean followed byshower of ashes (a volcanic eruption)

resulting in drying up of a part of ocean (pre-tsunami). This episode is validated by the

heatflow and geotectonic maps of Bharatam

in the Rama Setu region.By simple Imagination, a poet can not

describe such Geo-tectonic episode in aspecifically vulnerable area of Rama Sethu.

RAMAYANA & NUCLEAR EXPLOSION


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BEING ANGRY WITH VARUNA, RAMA FIXES BRAHMAASTRA TO HIS BOW TO DRY UPTHE ENTIRE GULF OF MANNAR OCEAN. VARUNA THEN APPEARS AND SURRENDERSTO RAMA AND PLEADS FORGIVENESS. RAMA FORGIVES HIM, BUT ASKS VARUNA

TO SHOW A PLACE FOR THE BRAHMAASTRA SINCE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ARMED.VARUNA DENOTES A SEA AREA NAMED DURUMAGULYAM WITH AN ISLANDCALLED MARKANDARA, A PART OF ANOTHER OCEAN FAR AWAY IN THE NORTH,WHERE EVIL AVUNARS (AABHEERAMS) ARE GIVING TROUBLES TO ONE AND ALL,AND VARUNA IS UNABLE TO CONTROL THEM.

HE REQUESTS RAMA TO SEND THE ASTRA TO DRY UP THAT OCEAN AND DESTROY

ALL THE WICKEDAVUNARS. ACCEPTING, RAMA SENTS HIS BRAHMAASTRA TOTHAT OCEAN AND DRY IT UP AND KILLING THE EVIL DOERS. THAT PLACE ISCONSIDERED TO BE THE PRESENT-DAY TAAR DESERT IN RAJASTHAN.

THAT TAAR DESERT REPRESENTS AN ANCIENT DRIED UP OCEAN HAS BEENPROVED BEYOND DOUBT BY THE DRILLIN OF GSI, WHERE TRILLIONS OF TONS OFROCK SALTARE LOCATED. SUCH A GEOLOGICAL FEATURE CAN NOT BE PENNED

FROM IMAGINATION. IT IS COINCIDENTAL OR RAMAS GRACE THAT IT IN THIS DESRT AREA (POKHRAN)

ONLY BHARAT HAD TESTED ITS NUCLEAR DEVICE (THE PRESENT-DAYBRAHMAASTRA).

GEOLOGICAL STATUS OF RAMA SETHU


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GOVT. AGENCIES & PRO-GOVT. SCIENTISTS

ADAMS BRIDGE (RAMA SETHU) ISNOT MADE UP OF ANY MAN-MADE

BRIDGE STUCTURE, BUT FORMED

ONLY DUE TO NATURAL MARINE

SEDIMENTALOGICAL PROCESSES.

THIS STRUCTURE IS DESCRIBEDVARIOULY BY DIFFENT SCIENTISTS

AS

A GROUP OF SANDY ISLANDS,

SANDY SHOALS, A SPIT, A TAMBOLA,

BARRIER REEF ETC.- EACH ONE IS ADIFFERENT COASTAL FEATURE.

THE STORY OF 5 BLIND MEN TRYING

TO IDENTIFY ONE ELEPHANT.

All these Pro-government geoscientists had not

given any vertical sectionof Rama Sethu.They had not also stated anywhere what type of

Man-made structure or Bridge they searched and

NOT FOUND in Rama Sethu area. Did they search

for any remnants ofSteel and Cement or Lime,

Mortar and Bricks ONLY there?

Does Ramas Bridge Exist? Geographical, Geological &

Geo-archaeological perspectives


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The term Rama Sethu / AdamsBridgehas been defined and

described here to represent thedistinct physiographic featurethatforms the geological, geo-tectonic,oceanic and oceanographic dividebetween PB - GM areas and thatprobably existed for millions of

years.In contrast to this feature, wewould like to define the temporarybridge structurethat was built byLord Ramas army on thisbasement feature as Ramas

Bridge.Usage of the above two termswithout proper definition by manyworkers and Government agencieshave caused much confusion.

Many of the geographicaland somegeological descriptionsofValmikiswritingsare found to be accurate with thepresent day features, denoting the veracityand authenticity of his writings andestablishing Ramayana as a historical factAya Mukha Parvatha and Cauvery river,Tambraparani river, Agasthiya Malai,Mahendragiri and ocean waves, FloatingStones of bridge etc. As such hisdescriptions of Rama Sethu should also beauthentic.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF RAMA SETHU CONSTRUCTION(Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda-Sarg.22;Slokas 45-73


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The army men of Shri Rama utilized

various tools and implementsforuprooting trees like Taar, coconut,mango, ashoka, bakul etc., and withthe help of various yantrastransported these trees, stones, androcks to the seashore. ShilpakarNaldirected the army men to stand with

long ropes/chains on either sideandfilled the space in between withcreepers, trees, stones and boundthem together. The construction ofRama Sethu was completed in 5 daysby connecting existing land routeconsisting of islands, rocks and

shoals.

See the Boundaries looking like ropes &the fillings in between.

(Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarg.22;Slokas 45 73

Nalan, the builder of Rama Sethu comesfrom the lineage ofVishwakarma, the

architect of the Devas. In Thanjavur district,

Tamil Nadu, there exists even today a

Vishwakarma Clan, who are associated

with temple architecture.

Does Ramas Bridge Exist? Geographical, Geological & Geo-

archaeological perspectives Contd..


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Valmikisdescription of Ramas bridge clearly states that it was built with rockboulders, earth and trees, over the pre-existing loose beach sand and other marine

sediments in the seas. Thus it was a rock and earth fill structure supported by logsof wood.

In all probability, this temporary structure would not have withstood the fury of theocean during a period of over 7000 years since Ramayana and would have beencompletely destroyed and removed.

It is possible that some portions of this structure might have been preserved in rarecases where it was covered by later marine sediments andprotected fromdestruction and erosion.

Boreholes drilled along and across RS/AB feature by NIOT and SSCP have indicatedthat within the top 8 to 18m, two layers of loose marine sand sediments, separated

by a central zone are encountered in RS/AB.

NIOT describes the central zoneto be made up ofboulders and pebbles of variedcomposition, such as calcareous sandstone, shelly limestone and corals andinterprets it to be not due to any natural phenomenon, but probably due to humanactivity.

GENERALISED CROS-SECTION OF RAMA SETU

DERIVED FROM BOREHOLE DATA OF NIOT


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DERIVED FROM BOREHOLE DATA OF NIOT

(SECTION NOT TO SCALE)

Similar Boulder Conglomerate Beds are recorded in Mannar on Sri Lankanside

Does Ramas Bridge Exist? Geographical,

Geological & Geo-archaeological perspectives


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SSCP considers that the central zoneis made up ofindurated calcareous sandand all thethree zones are due to natural processes. It is to be noted that the ship used forbreaking this zone got broken and the second rescue ship was also got damaged andcould not be retrieved. Here only SSCP wanted Navys help to BLAST the rocks. It is verydifficult to explain the formation of a hard consolidated rock in between layers of twoloose unconsolidated sand zones by sedimentation.

Similar succession has been reported from Mannar side also.

In order to understand the true nature of this central zone it is recommendedto do largescale pitting to 20m depthtill the second loose marine sand zone is reached in RS/ABfeature and to carry out detailed under-water videographyand close spaced samplingofall thef

Documents

Ramayana - FACTS & EVIDENCES (K. Gopalakrishnan, July 2013)