SETHU BANDHANAM – (RAMAR PAALAM)-A Book Review

By B.R.Haran

SETHU BANDHANAM

(RAMAR PAALAM)
(TAMIL)

COMPILATION OF POETRIES WITH PROSE BY SHRI.R.SUBBARAYALU

In this sacred land of Sanatana Dharma, a situation has arisen in which the Hindu majority is questioned about it’s faith on Lord Rama, the truth of Ramayana and the existence of Rama Sethu. It is extremely unfortunate that the government running as per the Constitution, which adores Lord Rama as the “Maryada Purushothama”, has gone to the extent of saying that Rama and Ramayana are all myth and there is no historical evidence for their truth & existence and that the Rama Sethu is a natural formation. In their pursuance of vote-bank politics, both the state & central governments are bent upon destroying the Rama Sethu in the name of development of coastal districts of Tamil Nadu. In order to thwart the attempt of the governments to destroy Rama Sethu, which is a sacred heritage monument for millions of Hindus worldwide, the Rama Sethu Protection Movement was started. The movement, in course of its fight against the government, had established the truth & existence of Rama Sethu through archeological, historical, religious, geographical, numismatic and literary evidences. This book “Sethu Bandhanam” is a magnificent step towards that holy purpose.

‘Sethu Bandhanam’ is a compilation of poetries from Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit & English literatures with prose, which speak about the Rama Sethu. The book contains more than 200 references, right from the ancient ‘Sangam – Tamil Literature’ to the latest “Dictionary of ESOTERIC” published in 2002 by Watkins Publishing Limited, London.

In one of the ancient Sangam literature named “Aganaanooru” (Poem-70; Verses 13 to 17), it is said, ” This town is situated near the shores of Kodikkarai beach belonging to the successful Pandiya Kings, near the Rama Sethu, from where Valiant Rama marched towards Lanka”.

After Sangam literatures, the author collects references from ‘Manimekalai’, which is one among the “Five Works” named as “Aimperum Kappiyam”, written during the 4th and 5th centuries. In ‘Manimekalai’ it is said, “Lord Rama, the Avatar of Maha Vishnu, reached the sea shore and his monkey army threw big boulders & hillocks in to the sea to construct a bridge across it”.

Then, the author cites references from the famous Shivite Hymns of “Thevaram”, which were sung during the 6th and 7th centuries. In the Gnanasambandhar’s Thevaram (3 : 10 : 6), it is said, “The worries of those who worship and surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Rama, who won against the ten-headed Ravana by crossing the ocean full of circular waves by constructing a bridge across it, will vanish”. The author also takes reference from the Vishnivite Hymns of Nalayira Dhivya Prabhandham written between 9th and 12th centuries. In Periyazhvar’s Thirumozhi (poem-82), it is said, “Sing praises of the Lord born with Chakra, who conquered the Rakshasas by crossing the noisy seas through a bridge constructed with the help of the monkey army”.

The author takes references from the literatures written during the 12th century like Kamba Ramayanam etc. He has taken a lot of references from the ‘Yudh Kand’ of Kamba Ramayana, in which the great divine poet Kamban beautifully explains, the construction of Sethu, which takes the readers to the Sethu itself. The author provides us with a golden opportunity to enjoy the ‘Kavi Rasaa’ of poet Kamban.

The author gives us references from Sanskrit literatures such as Kalidasa’s Raghu Vamsa, Vlmiki’s Ramayana, Srimad Bagavatham, Vishnu Puranam, Maharishi Vyas’s Maha Barath and Tusli Das’s Sri Ramcharitha Manas. In Ragu Vamsa, Kavi Kalidas compares Rama Sethu to that of ‘Aadi Sesha’ saying, “Rama constructed the sethu, which looked like the Aadi Sesha, which came out of the salty seas to bear Lord Vishnu resting on its body”. In one of its many poems, Valmiki’s Ramayana (6: 123: 21) says, “The Rama Sethu, which is being worshipped in all the three worlds, is great, sacred and capable of destroying all our sins”. The Mahabaratha reference talks about the conversation between Lord Rama and Samudra Rajan and the consequent construction of the Rama Sethu by the Vanar Sena.

The author also takes references from Telugu literatures such as Sage Thyagaraja’s Keerthanas, Shri.Anjaneyalu’s ‘Anjaneya Ramayana’ and Kannada literatures such as ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam’ written by Kuvempu. Sage Thyagaraja, who has sung hundreds of keerthanas praising & worshipping Lord Rama, mentions Rama Sethu in about five keerthanas. There is also a reference from ‘Rama Katha Rasavahini’ written by Bagwan Sathya Sai Baba.

References have been taken from Barathiyar’s famous song, where he talks about laying road to Lanka on the Rama Sethu while conveying his many dreams on future Bharat. Reference has been taken even from the “Thailand Ramayana” translated by Sri Venugopalan.

The author also gives us references from Dictionary of Tamil and English Languages by Rev.J.P.Rottler (1834), Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Dowson (Rupa & Co, 1982), Gazetteer of India – Tamil Nadu State, Ramanathapuram district (1972), Tamil Dictionary of Madras University (1935), ancient Temple inscriptions, Sethupathi Inscriptions found in Tamil University, Thanjavur (1994) and even the Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway (1900).

About the Author: –

Shri.R.Subbarayalu was born on 18th January 1943 in “Thirukkadayur” near Mayiladuthurai of Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu. After finishing his post graduation in Commerce ( M.Com), he came out of Madurai Kamaraj University as a Gold Medalist in MBA. Also being a “Tamil Scholar”, he served as Sr.Deputy Registrar of Tamil University, Thanjavur for many years. After his retirement; he served as Director of P.B.College of Engineering, Sriperumbudur, near Chennai between 2005 and 2006. At present, at the age of 64, he is doing his PhD on “Tamil Shivite Works in Management”.

He is versatile in Tamil, Telugu and English languages and is a ‘recognized translator’. He has authored many books and is a great Prose & Verse Writer. He is known for his commitment to research works in Tamil Literature and other translation works. The “Sethu Bandhanam”, a compilation of poetries with prose, is a result of his devotion & commitment for the protection of Rama Sethu. At a time, when the Central & State governments were bent upon destroying the sacred heritage monument and at a time when the atheists, rationalists and pseudo-secularists were questioning the very existence of Lord Rama & Rama Sethu and truth of Ramayana, he took upon himself the responsibility & duty, as a service with devotion, of bringing umpteen Literary Evidences for the truth & existence of Rama Sethu.

The ‘First Edition’ was brought out in June 2007 with a compilation of 60 references from Tamil Literature. The ‘Second Edition’ was brought out in July 2007 with a compilation of 144 references. Now, the ‘Third Edition’ (December 2007) has been brought out, which is a compilation of more than 200 references not only from Tamil literature, but also from Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada literatures, dating back from the period of Sangam Literature to the present day edition (2002) of “The Dictionary of the ESOTERIC” (Watkins Publishing Limited, London) by Nevill Drury, confirming the truth & existence of Rama Sethu. Three improvised editions within a span of seven months go to prove the hard work, devotion & commitment behind this sacred & successful venture of Shri.R.Subbarayalu.

The Rameshwaram Rama Sethu Protection Movement has recognized & appreciated his book and has even submitted it as a solid literary evidence at the Courts of Law and also to the Committee of Eminent Persons for Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project constituted by the Central Government. The Chennai based “Hindu Journalist & Human Rights Federation” has awarded the “Ramswarup Medal” to Shri.R.Subbarayalu for this exemplary work “Sethu Bandhanam”.

The book, published by “Maamannan Pathippagam”, 124. Nakshathra Nagar, Thanjavur – 613007, priced at Rs.75/-, has been released by M/S. “Agaram”, Plot No:1. Nirmala Nagar, thanjavur – 613007, who hold the selling rights. The book is also placed at the ongoing “31 st Chennai Book Fair” at St.George Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Kilpauk, Chennai. The book will be found for sale at “Annam Agaram” stall, numbered 157 / 158 at the Book Fair.

The author Shri.R.Subbarayalu is collecting and documenting all relevant details and evidences with regards to “Rama Sethu” with an idea of bringing out a voluminous book in the near future. Donors and other interested persons can contact the author at the above mentioned ‘Publisher’s address’.

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