Rama Setu: world heritage

Rama Setu: UOI appoints 6 member Pachauri committee to reexamine channel project. Sri Rama and Sri Hanuman will protect Setu.

Rameshwaram Rama Setu Raksha Manch has put forward the objective of the protection movement: Save Rama Setu, Declare Rama Setu a national monument and world heritage, Declare Rameshwaram divyakshetram as was done for Tirumala. The movement continues until these objectives are achieved. Our leaders have resolved: we shall save Rama Setu at all costs. This is our resolve.

With the blessings of Sri Rama and Sri Hanuman and the tireless, honest and patriotic efforts of many bandhu, advocacy teams consisting of dedicated aatman like Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Bhupender Yadav, Yogishwaran, Anish Gupta, Bharat Kumar, Parvatha Rao, Soli Sorabjee, Parasaran, KK Venugopal, Krishnan Venugopal, Vaidyanathan, D Kuppuramu and thousands of bharatiya and experts like Dr. CSP Iyer, Dr. Madhav Nalapat, Dr. Gopalakrishnan, Dr. Ramesh Athavale, Dr. Badrinarayanan, late Dr. Subramanian, Shri GP Srinivasan, Smt. Jayashree Saranathan, Sadagopan, Tarun Vijay, Kanchan Gupta, and millions of bharatiyas who demonstrated the sangha s'akti the rashtram shall prevail. We shall not allow the Rama Setu to be demolished the way Taliban destroyed Bamiyan Buddha calling the statue a mere stone. Veda Vyasa has said that it is Sri Rama's command to protect Rama Setu (raamasyaajnaa), he said. This is our guide post. I can't name them all, as tears roll down my cheeks, they are in millions who have shown us the way and guided us, many want to remain unnamed, because they are people who have sacrificed their entie lives for the glory of the rashtram.

Words of s'ubha kaamanaayen are enough to respond to the call of the millions of bandhu. They are our treasure. They have made sure that their collective voice is heard. Dharmo rakshati rakshitah.

The battle is still joined against the asuras. The final victory will be the celebration when the entire bharata varsha goes to Rama Setu to celebrate the world heritage, our privilege to be in the times of churning the ocean, samudra manthanam. This samudra manthanam has to become the moment of renaissance for Bharat mahaan. We shall get there, acknowledging again and again that we are only nimitta maatram. In this quest of the aatman for the paramaatman, Sri Rama, the maryada purushottama, the avatara purusha will show us the way. It is our duty to pray, with the blessings of pujya swamiji's like Dayananda ji, Pejawar ji, Sadhu-sant marga darshan mandali of the Manch, guidance of the people of 6.5 lakh villages of Hindusthana who have yearned for the protection of Rama Setu. The battle has just been joined. We have miles to go to serve this punya bhumi and restore dharma in the polity. The disconnect between the polity and the samajam has to be rectified. Sangha will lead us. We have to ensure the empowerment of every village, every aatman in every village. We have miles to go. Hey, paramaatman, show us the way. We shall tread the path shown by our pitru-s, our ancestors whom we remember on ashadha amavasya day as we dip in the Rama Setu dhanushkodi waters. The collective memory of our ancestors which we cherish is our strength, our beacon of hope, the guide for abhyudayam which is dharma according to Kapila muni's vais'eshika sutra.

dharmo rakshati rakshitah. Dharma protects those who protect dharma.

Namaskaram. Kalyanaraman

TN fishermen prefer fish than Sethu
Sam Daniel
Wednesday, July 30, 2008, (Chennai)

While the Sethusamudram channel is being fought in the Supreme Court, for over a lakh fishermen in Rameswaram it's the settlement of the Katchatheevu issue that matters most.

It's an island that the Indian government had gifted to Sri Lanka in 1974. But over the years their fishing area has shrunk. And over the last twenty years, around two hundred Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu have fallen prey to bullets fired by the Lankan navy for trespassing into Lankan waters.

The Lankan government is accused of not honouring the agreement that allows Indian fishermen to fish around Katchatheevu and dry their nets in the island.

With a dwindling catch in Indian waters, fishermen want restoration of fishing rights around Katchatheevu. They suggest a long-term lease agreement to fish in Lankan waters.

"Many of us are struggling without proper food. The government could retrieve Katchatheevu in the interest of fishermen but it's focusing only on Sethusamudram channel project. They should stop it first," says one of the fishermen.

"It should be like an exchange. Indian fishermen should be able to fish in Lankan waters and vice versa," says Bose, President, TN fishermen's Association.

Successive state governments have done little to solve this crisis. Following criticism, the ruling DMK is now championing the cause and had even observed a hunger strike recently.

The Centre has promised to take up this issue with Sri Lanka in the forthcoming SAARC summit in the island.

There is anger among fishermen over government's indifference in resolving the Katchatheevu issue. They want the government to stop its undue interest in the Sethusamudram channel project and ensure their livelihood first.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080059350&ch=7/30/2008%201:58:00%20PM

Government to examine shorter sea-route, sparing Ram Setu
July 30th, 2008 - 1:26 pm ICT by IANS

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) The central government Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to appoint an expert committee to examine the feasibility of an alternate alignment for a shorter sea-route around India's southern peninsula, sparing the Ram Setu. Senior government counsel Fali S. Nariman gave this information to a bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.

The court had earlier suggested the government examine the feasibility of an alternate route for the Sethusamudram shipping channel.

The Adam's Bridge or Ram Setu is a 48-km long chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Mannar in Sri Lanka's northwest. Many Hindus believe that it was the bridge Lord Ram's army built to cross over to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita.

The bridge faces some damage due to the dredging for the Setusamudram canal to create a navigable waterway between India's southern tip and Sri Lanka.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/government-to-examine-shorter-sea-route-sparing-ram-setu_10077630.html

Alternative alignment on Sethu being considered: Govt
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NEWSX
30 July, 2008 03:51:09
The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the possibility of pushing the Sethusamudram project through an alternative alignment to avoid any damage to Ram Sethu is being given serious consideration by the government.

The government's view was conveyed by senior advocate Fali S Nariman to a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan hearing the issue.

Nariman told the bench that he had received a response from the Prime Minister to a letter written by him on the suggestion put forward by the apex court on the issue of exploring the possibility of an alternative alignment between Dhanushkodi and Rameshwaram island.

"The suggestion of Supreme Court for alternative alignment including a canal cutting through the portion between Dhanushkodi and Land End on Rameshwaram Island has been given serious consideration in the government," the response from PMO to Nariman's letter said.

The Court was informed that PMO has decided to set up an expert committee headed by noted scientist R K Pachauri, Director General of Tata Energy Research Institute, to look into the suggestion.

The Committee has been asked to submit its report as quickly as possible.

"The Committee will quickly examine the feasibility of the alternative alignment suggested by the Supreme Court for the Sethusamudram shipping canal project between Dhanushkodi and Land End on Rameshwaram island keeping in view the technical aspects, cost benefit analysis, social and cultural impact, environmental impact, law and order aspects and any other related matter," the PMO letter said.

The PMO's response placed before the bench said that the Committee may co-opt other experts and institutions to facilitate its work and decide its own procedure for conducting its proceedings.

Nariman had yesterday said that he would soon inform the court about the response of the government on his letter to the Prime Minister.

http://howrah.org/india_news/20581.html

R K Pachauri heads panel on Ram Sethu
(Raja Chaurasia) Publication Date 30/7/2008 12:10:30 PM(IST)

New Delhi: India Government has appointed a six-member committee to consider issue of alternative route to save Ram Sethu.

The Centre told the Supreme Court that the possibility of pushing the Sethusamudram project through an alternative alignment to avoid any damage to ''Ram Sethu' is being given serious consideration by the government.

The government's view was conveyed by senior advocate Fali S Nariman to a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan hearing the issue.

The expert committee will be headed by noted scientist R K Pachauri, Director General of Tata Energy Research Institute. The Committee has been asked to submit its report as quickly as possible.

The Committee will quickly examine the feasibility of the alternative alignment suggested by the Supreme Court for the project between Dhanushkodi and Land End on Rameshwaram island keeping in view the technical aspects, cost-benefit analysis, social and cultural impact, environmental impact, law and order aspects and any other related matter.

http://mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=8177

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 (14:40:21)

Govt to examine shorter sea-route, sparing Ram Sethu

New Delhi: The central government today informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to appoint an expert committee to examine the feasibility of an alternate alignment for a shorter sea-route around India's southern peninsula, sparing the Ram Sethu. Senior government counsel Fali S Nariman gave this information to a bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

The court had earlier suggested the government to examine the feasibility of an alternate route for the Sethusamudram shipping channel.

The Adam's Bridge or Ram Sethu is a 48-kilometer long chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Mannar in Sri Lanka's northwest. Many Hindus believe that it was the bridge Lord Ram's army built to cross over to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita.

The bridge faces some damage due to the dredging for the Sethusamudram canal to create a navigable waterway between India's southern tip and Sri Lanka. (IANS)

http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/30July2008_79909.html

Ram Sethu controversy IANS
Centre to examine shorter route for Sethu project
Wednesday, 30 July , 2008, 13:14
Last Updated: Wednesday, 30 July , 2008, 15:03


Adam bridgeNew Delhi: The Centre of Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to appoint an expert committee to examine the feasibility of an alternate alignment for a shorter sea-route around India's southern peninsula, sparing the Adam's Bridge (Ram Sethu).

Full coverage: Ram Sethu row

Senior government counsel Fali S Nariman gave this information to a bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

The court had earlier suggested the government examine the feasibility of an alternate route for the Sethusamudram shipping channel.

The Adam's Bridge or Ram Sethu is a 48-km long chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Mannar in Sri Lanka's northwest. Many Hindus believe that it was the bridge Lord Ram's army built to cross over to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita.

The bridge faces some damage due to the dredging for the Sethusamudram canal to create a navigable waterway between India's southern tip and Sri Lanka.

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14727183

'Murasoli' accpets Ram-Sethu as a holy place!




http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=216003



Sethu: DMK quotes Ramayana

N Ravikumar


Chennai, July 29: Rushing to the defence of the Centre's stand in the Supreme Court that Lord Ram himself had destroyed Ram Sethu after crossing over to the home territory, the DMK has come out with exact quotes from Kambaramayana which supports the Centre's contention.


Countering a report in an English daily quoting pro-Hindutva journalist Mr Cho Ramasamy who had asserted that no such verses were found in any part of Kambaramayana, an article published in DMK organ `Murasoli' quoted the stanza from Kambaramayana which says "Lord Ram destroyed the bridge using an arrow so that the bridge should not be an obstacle to passage of ships".

The exact Tamil verse given is "Marakkalam Iyakka Vendi Varisilai Pudhaiyal Keeri".


The next three lines of the stanza says "those who travel near the place where the demolished bridge lies will be absolved of their sins and will be equivalent to the Gods".
The article written by a senior advocate Mr M S Venkatachalam asked "If Lord Ram himself has destroyed the Ram Sethu saying that it should not be an obstacle to ships, why some people are opposing it in the name of Ram himself".


"Lord Ram himself had said that those who pass near the demolished bridge would be absolved of their sins. If a canal is dredged, several ships can pass near the demolished bridge and the people travelling in them will be absolved of their sins", the article said quoting Kambaramayana.


The writer also gave the details about the chapter and the stanza's number in Kambaramayana. The article also questioned Mr Cho Ramasamy's knowledge in Tamil literature and asked if he was an expert in Kambaramayana. The article has also used ironical epithets like `great scholar' and `great poet', while referring to Mr Cho Ramasamy since most of the Tamil scholars have ridiculed Mr Cho Ramasamy's knowledge of Tamil as he cannot write a single sentence in proper Tamil without mixing Sanskrit words.







From Jayasree





Evam Ethath puraa vruththam aakhyaanam bhadhram asthu va: |

pravyaaharatha visrabdham balam vishNO: pravardhathaam ||
(6-131-121)


Let this story that happened in an olden time be of good to you.

Let the power of Vishnu grow in all worlds.


So saying Kavi Valimiki concludes his epic.

This verse, being said everyday by thousands of people

at the end of their parayana of Ramayana / Sundara khanda

is supposed to increase the power of presence of Vishnu in this world.

Rama does not come by himself to defend or destroy someone,

every time dharma is challenged.


The recital of his name or his story itself is taking care of the needs of the times.

Now this miracle has happened with the die-hard haters of Rama and his fame.


With all the outbursts and ridicules on Rama and his historicity,

the DMK Chief and his party's mouth-piece,

are in effect giving credence to the existence of Rama.


By saying that Rama broke the Sethu,

they accept that Sethu existed.

By accepting Ram Sethu,

they accept that Ram existed!


But in quoting a verse from Kamba Ramayan

(this is not found in many olden editions

but only an interpolation as shown in this link

http://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2008/07/sethu-in-kamba-ramayanam.html)

they have also demonstrated that knowledge and intelligence

do not always go hand in hand.

Mere knowledge of Tamil is not enough,

if one lacks the intellect to interpret the verses in Tamil.

Such intellect is not possible in the absence of knowledge

of the root texts which are in Sanskrit.

Thus their diatribe against Cho also is flawed.



Let us look at how their interpretation is false.

The verse quoted by them is this:

Marakkalam iyanga vendi,Varisilai pudaiyal keeri th

Tharukkiya idathhu,Pancha pdhagarenum saarin,

Perukkiya ezhu mundru piraviyum, pinikal neengi

Nerukuriya amararkku ellam nin needhi aavar anree.


The same verse also has appeared in some quotes

with 'pudhaiyaal' as 'kudhaiyaal'.

'Kudhai' is the bottom part of the arrow.

'Pudhai' is the bunch of arrows.

First let them make it clear whether it is kudhai or pudhai.

I am saying this to show that the verse had been mutated/

with respect to some letters.



The other place where I find such mutation is

the very first word – 'marakkalam' (ship)

which they are relying on to 'blast' Ram sethu.


The 'marakkalam' (ship) seems to be

the mutated form of 'marukkaamal' (means 'without objection').

Look at the 'yedugai'

(the 2nd letter of the first words in each line rhyming with each other)

of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines.

The 'ru' in all these 3 lines do not go well with 'ra' of marakkalam in the first line.

It will be appropriate to have 'ru' yedugai in the first line too

and it does not result in 'thaLAi thattudhal' (adheres to the grammar of the words)

It must be

"marukkamal iyanga vEndi".

That is, in order to make the rule of Rama-neeti be adhered to

without any objection or opposition,

the 'kudhai' of Rama made a mark on Ram Sethu to declare

that those who worship there will be relieved of sins of 21 births.



If we analyse the verse deeply,

we see the purpose of 'breaking' (keeri).

This verse gives 2 reasons for this.

One is for making the ships sail (marakkalam iyanga vendi)

and another is for removing the sins accumulated in 21 births.


What Rama really intended to do?

To help people get their sins removed?

Or to make way for ships?

If ships could cross that stretch,

a question comes why Rama didn't think of crossing the sea by ships.

Even catamarans would do to cross this stretch.

When he was able to get his huge army to build a bridge across the ocean in just 5 days,

he could have easily constructed catamarans or

even sailable ships in record numbers in record time

with the help of the vanaras.



But he didn't.

Or it didn't occur to him to cross the ocean in ships or catamarans.

Why?

One reason we can deduce is that

this part of the ocean was not a navigable one in his times.

The sea had been rough,

and this can be made out from the description in Valmiki Ramayana.

The description of the sea after they reached the shore,

is indicative of rough waters and rough weather.

(Yuddha khanda – chapter -4)


Based on this line of reasoning, we can say that

making a way for ships was not in the agenda of Rama.



Now about 'kudhai'.

Kudhai is the bottom portion of the arrow.

(Senthamizh agaraathi by NC Kandaiya pillai, 1950 edition).

It is not the sharp piercing tip.

When will someone do the 'keeral' with the bottom of the arrow?

to mark the area for some purpose.

The purpose is told in the next lines

which is about the sanctity of the place for propitiation.



If the word is 'pudhai', which means a bunch of arrows,

it would mean that a bathing ghat was made

by means of shooting arrows on the ground.

The ensuing lines on propitiation make it known that what was done

was creation of a place for taking holy dip!



The verse seems to be a declaration

that those who take a dip there

would be relieved of the results of 'pancha maha paadhakam,

and the sins accumulated over 21 births

and would be disease free.



By quoting this verse,

the DMK has accepted that Ram sethu is a holy theertham.

The verse also indicates that Ram sethu has been once used by people.

Then what prevents them from declaring it as a monument?


Foot note:-

The verse quoted by Murasoli is the succeeding verse of this:-

ஆவினை, குரவரோடும் அருமறை முனிவர்தம்மை,
பாவையர் குழுவை, இன் சொல் பாலரை, பயந்து தம் இல்
மேவின அவரை, செற்றோர், விரி கடல் சேது வந்து
தோய்வரேல், அவர்கள் கண்டாய், சுரர் தொழும் சுரர்கள் ஆவார்.


From this context it is deduced, that the 'keeral' was done

only for propitiation and not for movement of ships.

The 2 verses read together make this clear.

ஆவினை, குரவரோடும் அருமறை முனிவர்தம்மை,
பாவையர் குழுவை, இன் சொல் பாலரை, பயந்து தம் இல்
மேவின அவரை, செற்றோர், விரி கடல் சேது வந்து
தோய்வரேல், அவர்கள் கண்டாய், சுரர் தொழும் சுரர்கள் ஆவார்.


மரக்கலம் இயங்கவேண்டி, வரி சிலைக் குதையால் கீறித்
தருக்கிய இடத்து, பஞ்ச பாதகரேனும் சாரின்,
பெருக்கிய ஏழு மூன்று பிறவியும் பிணிகள் நீங்கி,
நெருக்கிய அமரர்க்கு எல்லாம் நீள் நிதி ஆவர் அன்றே.

http://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2008/07/murasoli-accpets-ram-sethu-as-holy.html

Comment by Dr. K. Gopalakrishnan (30 July 2008, personal communication):

This is in continuation of my earlier comments on the recent Kamba Ramayan controversy, in view of the submissions by counsel Mohan on behalf of Govt.

The verse quoted by Mr.Mohan is the one on Sl.No. 171 in V.M. Gopalakrishnamachariyar's (VMG) version of Kamba Ramayana (given as annexure-VMG2 in my earlier communication).

It can be seen from the explanatory notes to that verse by VMG himself states that " villin nuniyal sethuvai keeri udaithu vazhivitta varalatrai 'vidhi muhatrath kooraathu anuvadhamuhatrath koori' peravaithaar".


In normal Tamil, the words 'vidhi muhatrath kooraathu anuvadhamuhatrath koori' mean 'nermuhamaha kooraamal oru uthesamaha koori'.

The English translation the entire explanatory comment of VMG will be as follows:

"Ram,a while traveling on board of Pushpaka Vimaana, told the incident of making incision with his bow on Rama Sethu for the purposes of easy passage for wooden crafts (wooden ships) not directly but in a circumstantial and circumspect way".


This would otherwise indicate that even VMG had doubts about the authenticity of this verse being an original one by Kamban. That was the reason why VMG stated in the explanatory comments that Rama told about this incident not directly but in a circumstantial and circumspect manner.

The main reason for this will be that this important event of breaking the bridge built with great perfection by the vanara sena was made as only as a passing reference by Rama on board of the aircraft. Even in the first verse describing the greatness and purity of Rama Sethu (No.166), describes only the building of the bridge and not the breaking of it. No mention is made anywhere in Kamba Ramayana or in any other version, about the breaking of bridge in the narration of events between the actual building of Rama Sethu and Rama boarding the pushpaka Vimaana.


Also the more authenticated version of Kamba Ramayanam is the one published by the "Kamban Kazhagam: edited by 15 Tamil Scholars, who had identified the later inserted verses (migaipaadalgal) and removed them, and the quoted verse is not included in the corrected version published by them.

Note from GP Srinivasan dated 30 July 2008:

Clarification offered after Consulting Dr.T.N.Ramachandran on Kamba Ramayana



* The virgin named Kappai and the father of Skanda (Lord Siva) are entrusted with the safeguarding of the Divine Bridge by Rama. These two are posted there for the purpose. With his ineffably great bow Rama makes a mark on the opening (mouth) of the divine bridge. Then he moves away with the incomparable Sita and his ocean like Army.



* Note: The above is an interpolated one included at page 59 of the section related to the interpolated verses in Murray edition, 1959.Preceding this verses there are also many other interpolated verses celebrating the glory of the Divine Bridge or Cause way.



* Why should Rama appoint these two divine powers?



* The scratching is done where the causeway begins. It is just an identification mark made on the bridge. From there the cause way extends upto Ceylon. From the marked place the Bridge should be guarded by Kappai and Siva.



* We should thank Fali. S.Nariman for citing the verse, though interpolated, which speaks to the careful safe guarding of the Bridge or Cause way by two divine Powers who were appointed by Lord Rama to safeguard the Bridge.



* The information furnished to Nariman is by DMK Pundits. It is this DMK party which publicly burnt the Kamba Ramayana, the Periapurana and other puranams.


How to understand Puranic interpretations?

Yes, we have seen the available Padma , Skanda puranas etc. indeed Padma Purana does have the statments, and hence we have to approach it in the following manner.



Details relating to Geography at the time when the Sethu was constructed must be remembered. There were not in existence then Rameswaram, Danushkodi etc. The great Sea divided India from Ceylon. Rama chose then a place from where the cause was to be constructed. This causeway connected the southern end of India with Ceylon. Completing his mission when Rama returned some places came into existences which were known as Rameswaram, Danushkodi, etc. These places were ushered into existence by Rama for the benefit of mankind. The puranas say that for carving out these places a small portion marking the beginning of Sethu was utilized by Rama. The word "Keeri", speaks to the slicing as well as identifying by Scratching or Marking. These are ideas developed by the puranas not found in Valmiki Ramayana or the Kamba Ramayana, which came into existence thousands of years after Valmiki's Ramayana. Adopting the view of the puranas a few verses stand interpolated in the Kamba Ramayana.