Every once in a while, the world comes across events, discoveries and architectural pieces that generate a lot of controversies, debates and arguments. For instance, the first photograph of the Loch Ness Monster or Nessie, the city of Atlantis, and so on.
The Rama Sethu, also known as Adam’s Bridge is very much real, there is no debate regarding that, but what has caused controversies, is the multitude of tales surrounding its origin.
What is Rama Sethu?
Rama Sethu, is a bridge made completely out of naturally formed limestone shoals, and it is situated somewhere between the Mannar Island, off the coast of Sri Lanka, and Rameshwar Island, off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
Believe it or not, it is possible for one to walk across the bridge with completely bare feet, because it is not that deep.
How old is the Rama Sethu Bridge?
Of course, over the years, an uncountable number of scientific studies and geological surveys have been undertaken to determine the exact historical age of the Rama Sethu Bridge, and of course, almost all of them have different results and opinions and their own scientific explanations behind them.
The Geological Survey of India undertook the “Project Rameswaram”, according to which they studied the limestone shoals and determined that they were at least 125,000 years old. On the contrary, another study undertaken by the Centre for Remote Sensing came up with the report that the entire structure cannot be older than 3,500 years.
What is the mystery with the Rama Sethu Bridge?
The Ramayana holds that Sita was abducted by Ravana and kept prisoner in his kingdom of Lanka, which is taken to be Sri Lanka. Then, Hanuman along with Lord Ram, Laksman, Sugriv and the rest of the Vanara army, constructed a bridge across the ocean to Lanka to rescue Sita. Some people and religious scriptures promote the idea that the Rama Sethu Bridge is, in reality, the bridge constructed by the lords and is now, left behind.
How was NASA involved with this?
In a strange turn of events, an U.S, based news channel along with Vaishnava News Network, said that they found a remnant of the bridge constructed by Lord Hanuman and the Vanara army, and that they had evidence collected from a NASA satellite to prove their claims. But of course, NASA dismissed it by stating that the so called “remnant” was nothing but a chain of sandbanks.
What is the latest opinion about the inception of the Rama Sethu?
In order to negate the claims of religious groups, the Government of India stated in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court of India that there exists no logical or geological proof that the Rama Sethu bridge was built by Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama.
The National remote Sensing Agency, in a publication in 2007, suggested that the entire structure was man made, but this too did not have enough geological proof and logical backing.
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