Realise the IMMORTAL! Don’t dream the IMPOSSIBLE!

The Background:-

In a life full of uncertainties, many things might be conceived, but only a few are brought out. Many things might be planned, but only a few get implemented or executed. Many reasons are there for the non-implementation. A few reasons are economical; a few are scientific; a few are environmental; a few are on security concerns and so on and so forth. Also a few are beyond our reasoning, which are attributed to GOD and Nature by Religionists and Atheists respectively. The much-hyped Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project also belongs to the non-viable and non-implemental category. The beauty of this project is that, its non-viability is because of all the above-said reasons.

The controversial project has been ‘stayed’ by the Supreme Court and the matter is now subjudice. As this worthless project has come to a grinding halt and as the Congress party has shown a sudden disinterest & change of mind, the ruling DPA in Tamil Nadu got annoyed by the recent developments. This led to the DPA leaders including the Chief minister indulging in issuing malicious statements about Lord Rama. They also questioned the historicity of Ramayana, truth of Rama Sethu and insulted & ridiculed Lord Rama, hurting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus.

As the “Rameshwaram Rama Sethu protection movement” comprising scholars and experts from various fields relevant to the SSCP, which was started in Chennai, gained momentum, the DPA resorted to give a communal colour to hoodwink the people of Tamil Nadu by saying that the realization of 150 years old dream of “Tamils” is being thwarted by the “Hindus”, and in the process, the DPA hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by ridiculing and insulting Lord Rama, Rama Sethu and Ramayana. It is a disgrace to this great Hindu nation that the great Ithihaasa and the Avatar Purusha Lord Rama are criticized and questioned in the very land of “Sanatana Dharma”.

In this backdrop, it becomes imperative for us, the Hindus and believers, to create an awareness among the people of Tamil Nadu, about the historicity of Lord Rama and the fact that they are being cheated and taken for a solid ride by the DPA in the name of a non-viable and worthless Sethusamudram project. It is also an opportunity for us to teach the DPA and its cadres, a lesson or two on Tamil Nadu’s historical connection to Lord Rama and Ramayana.

Small Introduction to Ramyana and Rama:-

Once Sage Valmiki asked Narada Maharishi, “who is the person with all the noble qualities on this earth at present?” Narada Maharishi felt elated at the question and said, “There is a person by name Rama hailing from Ikshavaagu Vamsa. He has unlimited powers. His noble qualities cannot be described. He was born to Dasaratha Maharaja and Kousalya Devi. He is as brave as the ocean; as valorous as Maha Vishnu; as sweet as Chandra the ‘moon’; he is like Agni in anger; he is equal to the land the ‘boomi’ in patience; he is a personification of Sathya & Dharma”.

Lord Brahmma, after hearing about Sage Valmiki from Narada, blesses the sage with Saraswathi’s knowledge & talence, which induced Valmiki to write the great Ithihasa “Ramayana, the history of Lord Rama, as told by Maharishi Naradha. Valmiki’s Ramayana comprises 24,000 Slokas under 500 Sargas with seven Kaandams. When he was composing the seventh and the last “Uthira Kaandam”, Rama’s sons Lava & Kusha meet the sage and learn the entire epic and start singing the slokas as beautiful hymns.

“Rama” means, the one who remains happy and makes others also happy. Peace & Happiness result from the following of ‘Dharma’ as per the Vedic scriptures. Lord Narayana took the human avatar of ‘Rama’ in order to show the world, how a person must lead a Dharmic life. Lord Rama is a perfect role model, well suited for the Vedic saying, “Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithaha” meaning “If we protect Dharma, Dharma will protect us” The Sanskrit phrase “Ramo vigrahavaan Dharma” implies, “Rama is a personification of Dharma”.

The Tamil Nadu Connections:-

After the abduction of Seetha by Ravana, Rama and Lakshmana come into contact with Sugreeva and Hanuman, while searching for Seetha in the forests. Later on after the elimination of Vaali, Sugreeva as per his commitment helps Rama by sending his Vaanara Sena to all directions in search of Seetha. While sending a team of Vaanaras under the leadership of Angatha and Hanuman towards the south, he asks them to cover Vindhya, Narmadha, Godhavari, Krishna, Avanthi, Vidharbha, Kalinga, Kasi, Dhandakaranyam, Andhra, Pundram, Chozham (Kingdom of Cholas), Pandiyam (Kingdom of Pandiyas) and Keralam( Kingdom of Cheras), Kaveri, Sage Agasthya’s abode of Malayaparvatham(Pothigai Hills) to reach Thamaraparani (Thirunelveli) and finally the southern end of the ocean (Bay of Bengal).

Later on, during his travel inside the territory of Chozhapandiyam (Kingdom of Chola & Pandiya) Rama and Lakshamana worship Lord Shiva at Vaitheeswaran Kovil near Mayiladuthurai. Angaraka (Mars) and Jadayu (bird) were also believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here. Hence, this temple is also known as Pullirukkuvelur (pull-bird; Irukku-veda; Vel-Angaraka.). We also have a literary work named “Pullirukkuvelur Puranam” talking extensively about this fact.

In Vellore district, on the way to kaveripakkam, near a small town called Balu Chetti Chathram, a village called “Thirupullkuzhi” is situated, where a Perumal Temple is located. Lord Rama while passing this place had performed the customary rituals for the moksha of Jadayu. Even now on the day of Amavasya, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform ‘Tharpana’ for their ancestors.

After reaching “Sethukkarai” in Ramanathapuram district, he takes rest in a place called “Thirupullani”, where he discusses with Lakshmana, Sugreeva, Hanuman and others and conceives a plan to build a bridge for crossing the ocean over to Lanka. Before starting the constructing of the bridge, he decides to worship Lord Ganesha and the Navagrahas. He goes to a nearby place called “Uppoor” (5kms from Sethukarai), where he consecrates & performs pooja for Lord Ganesha and the same Lord Ganesha is still there! After coming back from Uppoor, Rama consecrates the “Navagrahas” on the shore and performs pooja. This particular place is called “Navapashanam” and it has submerged under the waters now. But during low tides, people perform poojas and rituals there, as the Navagraha idols can be seen partially. The name “Thirupullani” (Thiru-Lord; Pul-Grass or Dharbai; Anai-Resting place) denotes the “Dharbha Sayana” (Dharba-Grass; Sayana-Rest) of Lord Rama. That is, Rama resting on the grass and we can se the deity in the same posture, surrounded by Lakshmana, Hanuman, Sugreeva and Vibeeshana, inside the Temple. Lord Hanuman could be seen with his right hand in front of his mouth in a requesting posture, as he was recommending for giving refuge to Vibeeshana, who had come from Lanka after parting ways with his brother Ravana. Just outside the sanctum sanctorum, Samudra Raja could be seen with his consort waiting for a darshan of Rama. As per the instruction of Rama, under the supervision of Sugreeva & Hanuman, Nala & Neela (sons of Vishwakarma) build the Rama Sethu from Sethukarai to Lanka, with the help of Vanarasena, supported by Samudra Raja who maintains the calmness of the ocean. Even now, we can have a glimpse of Rama Sethu and stand on it by catching a boat from Sethukarai for Rs.250/=.

After killing Ravana, Rama acquires three ‘doshas’. The first one is “Brahmmahathi Dosha” as Ravana was a Brahmin and Rama gets rid of the dosha by consecrating a Shiv Lingam at Rameshwaram. The second dosha is “Veerahathi Dosham” as Ravana was great warrior and Rama gets rid of this dosha by consecrating another ” Shiv lingam” at Vedaranyam, off the coast or Nagapattinam. The third one was “Chayahathi Dosha” as Ravana was great devotee of Lord Shiva worshipping him regularly by singing “Saama Gaana” and Rama again gets rid of this dosha by consecrating another ” Shiv lingam” at Patteswaram near Kumbakonam. All the three ‘Shiv lingams’ are named as “Ramalingams’ as evidenced by the respective Stala Puranas.

After his ‘Pattabishekam’ (Swearing in ceremony), while giving mementoes and presents to one and all, Rama gives an idol of ‘Sri Ranganatha Swamy’ to Vibeeshana and says, “This deity is our ancestral property and we have been regularly performing poojas. You may take it to Lanka and please remember not to place it anywhere in between, for it cannot be removed then”. On his way back to Lanka, Vibeeshana was mesmerized by the beauty of River Kaveri and hence wants to enjoy a bath in it. Lord Ganesha, understanding Vibeeshana’s predicament comes in aid of him in the guise of a small boy and says that he would keep the idol till Vibeeshana completes his bath. While Vibeeshana was taking his bath, Lord Ganesha deliberately places the idol on the bank between Kaveri & Kollidam Rivers facing south and this place later on becomes the famous Srirangam, when the Adi Cholas built the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in a sprawling land of 112 acres. Fuming at this deliberate cheating, Vibeeshana chases the boy who takes him up to the top of a nearby hillock and shows his original form of Ganesha. This same hillock later becomes the famous Malaikottai Pillayar Temple in Trichy. Lord Ganesha convinces Vibeeshana that Lanka would certainly get the Blessings of Sri Ranganatha Swamy, as the idol is facing southwards at the direction of Lanka. Thus, Lord Ganesha has saved our ancestral property and has also given us two important pilgrimage centers apart from giving sanctity to the River Kaveri. Along with Rameshwaram, Srirangam also plays a vital role in integrating the people of this Great Hindu Nation.

Similarly, we have hundreds of Temples of Tamilnadu whose Sthala Purana would vouch for the historicity of Lord Rama and Ramayana.

Apart from Kamba Ramayana and Sangam Literature, we also have a lot of evidences to the existence of “Rama Sethu” in Tamil literary works like Thevaram, Divyaprabhadham, Thiruchendur Sthala Puranam, Thirunaagaikarona Puranam, Koorma Puranam, Perundevanar Bharatham, Ramodhatham, Kudanthai Anthathi, Kaalamega Pulavar Paadal, Thirupullani Maalai, Vadamalai Venba, Siva Siva Venba, Theerthagiri Puranam, Soodavahana Puranam, Sethu Puranam, Ramayana Venba, Thiruvengada Thala Puranam, Thirupugazh, Meenakshi Ammai Pillai Thamizh, Ashta Prabandham, Barathiyar songs and many other works. Ramayana has been performed through dance-dramas, folk songs, and upanyasams since time immemorial in Tamil Nadu. Ramayana has been a part and parcel of the lives and times of the people of Tamil Nadu like any other place in the country. Hence, it is the right time for those in Tamil Nadu who have been deceived by the Dravidian onslaught, to realize the “Immortality of Lord Rama” and “Impossibility of SSCP”. May Lord Rama bless them with enough strength!

Lord Rama & His ‘Nama’ are our Greatest Strengths:-

“Nirbal ke Bal Ram” (Lord Rama is the ‘Strength’ for those who lack in it!)

“Aabathaam Abaharthaaraam” (Lord Rama is the only one who is always surrounding and protecting us!).

“Akratha brushta thaschaiva
Baarsva aeva Mahabalou;

Rakshethaam Rama Lakshmanou”.

(Rama is always ready along with Lakshmana to protect & save us by demolishing even a small threat facing us!).

Jai Shri Ram!

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