India (Commonwealth Union)_History or mythology? The long debated question about Ram Setu Bridge is always trending. This exploration might transform mythology into history. In an attempt to explore the truth behind Ram Setu, science was employed to determine if the underwater chain of limestone shoals and coral reefs dividing the Gulf of Mannar from Palk Strait are the remnants of the bridge constructed by Lord Ram. The investigation was given a boost by the Narendra Modi administration, with the government wanting to find more confirmation of the historical existence of Lord Ram. This can only be proved if archaeologists, geologists, and oceanographers find a man-made structure matching the times of the Ramayana.
There is just a handful of historical evidence in the world that connect mythical and historical notions. Ram Setu, popularly called Adam’s Bridge, is one such structure. Recently, the Indian government authorized an underwater investigation to examine the Ram Setu’s structure and identify its age and creation. This research will also aid in determining whether the construction predates the Ramayana period. In addition, there is a call to proclaim Ram Setu a national monument, despite the controversial nature of the topic. Additionally, it becomes more intriguing to study whether it is possible to integrate Indian mythology with contemporary structures.
Pamban Island or Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka are connected by the Ram Setu, which is a series of natural mineral shoals. According to Hindu mythology, the bridge has immense significance, which is described in the Ramayana. In addition, scientists are also doing research to estimate the age of the Ram Sethu bridge, which has also piqued their interest. The Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge is a causeway-like construction that connects Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. The bridge is roughly 50 kilometers long. Additionally, Adam’s Bridge divides the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Strait. Some sandbanks are dry. The water surrounding this building is just three to thirty feet deep.
Many scientific reports state that until 1480, the bridge was totally above sea level, but it was devastated by a storm that struck the region. The waterway was navigable on foot until the 15th century, when it became deeper. There is geological evidence to suggest that the bridge formerly connected India and Sri Lanka by land. According to investigations, the bridge is composed of limestone shoals and a linear series of coral reefs. There is also evidence that it is composed of floating rocks that have been discovered throughout Rameswaram, and there are beliefs that volcanic rocks may float on water. As a result of the shallow water near the coral reef, it is hard for ships to navigate; therefore, they must take circuitous paths to reach Sri Lanka.
The Sethusamudram Project was intended to create a shorter path between India’s Pamban Island and Sri Lanka’s Mannar Island. However, environmentalists warn that the proposal might endanger the reefs that have persisted for thousands of years. Although the Sethusamudram Project was intended to be carried out by deepening the Pamban Pass so that the Rama Sethu could also be conserved, the project is currently at a halt. According to oceanographic studies, the bridge is 7,000 years old. This is consistent with the carbon dating of beaches in the vicinity of Mannar Island and Dhanushkodi.
Ram Setu was originally referenced in the Hindu epic Ramayana by Valmiki. It is said that Lord Rama’s Vanara Sena constructed the bridge, as per Nala’s directions, so that Lord Ram could travel to Lanka and save his wife Sita from King Ravana. According to mythology, the bridge was constructed with floating stones bearing the name of Lord Rama, making it unsinkable. Apparently, Lord Rama prayed to the ocean for a route from India to Sri Lanka in order to rescue Sita from Lanka’s monarch, Ravana. According to the Ramayana (7th century BCE to 3rd century CE), Lord Ram built the Ram Setu bridge with the assistance of an army of Vanaras or monkeys headed by Lord Hanuman in order to reach Lanka.
