Rama Bridge - Where modern science and ancient myths collide

Rama Bridge also known as Adam's Bridge or Rama Setu is a network of natural limestone sandbanks located between Pamban Island and Rameswaram Island off the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu, India and Mannar Island off the south coast. northwest of Sri Lanka.

Historians, archaeologists and researchers of our distant past assert that civilized life began on Earth about 5,000 years ago. They point to the fact that there is no solid evidence proving the existence of a culture that predated the existence of the Sumerians and Egyptians.

When historians such as John Anthony West, Robert Schoch and Graham Hancock proposed that the structures on the Giza plateau in Egypt may be much older than is currently accepted, their statement was quickly rejected. And in fact, to this day we have found no written record of their construction, so these complex masterpieces are placed within the generally accepted timeline of their development and development. human culture.

But what if there is evidence? What if a clearly defined structure in texts and oral traditions were found? And what if the stories surrounding that structure place it outside the generally accepted timeline? If analysis of both the structure and the associated myths were carried out and both were supported by modern science, could it change the face of history?

The bridge spanned 18 miles (29km) from mainland India to present-day Sri Lanka. (Illustration).

Myth or Reality: The Bridge of Rama in the Hindu Tradition

This may be what happened at a site discovered in India. Located in the Palk Strait off the southeastern edge of India is a chain of limestone shoals . This shoal is characterized by a long, narrow strip of land typically consisting of sand, silt and small gravel that has been deposited over time. This strip of land was once thought to be naturally formed, however, images taken by NASA satellites have shown that the foundation for forming this shoal is a long broken bridge under the ocean surface . Now known as "Adam's Bridge", it spans 18 miles (29km) from mainland India to present-day Sri Lanka.

Hindu tradition has long believed that this stretch of land was a bridge built by their beloved god Rama as described in the Hindu epic Ramayana. It has been called since ancient times "Rama Bridge" or Rama Setu. 

Rama is a famous character in Hindu mythology. The book chronicling his life, Ramayana, is an enduring classic. It tells of a time when gods flew in ships through the air and of giants and monsters walking the Earth. Researchers have analyzed the Ramayana and found it to be an ambitious work of fiction. Is that true? Or maybe Adam's Bridge is actually the structure described in this Indian classic? Some evidence supports the claim that Adam's Bridge resembles bridges described in literature.

Some evidence supports the claim that Adam's Bridge resembles bridges described in literature. (Illustration).

Mythological correlation: Linking the Ramayana story with Adam's bridge

Rama, according to the Ramayana, was sent into exile because of a promise his father made many years ago. Rama was exiled with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita. Through many events, Sita was kidnapped by the 10-headed demon king Ravana. Rama then gathered an army including a large group of ape-men, Vanara with the aim of rescuing Sita.

Sita was at that time imprisoned on the island of Lanka. Therefore, Rama and his army could not cross the ocean, but he was advised by the sea god to build a bridge across the water. Therefore, Rama asked Vanara for help to build it. The Vanara people built a causeway between the mainland and Lanka, they built it with stones and pebbles, described as resembling mountains. The construction project is said to have lasted for five days. The bridge, once completed, allowed Rama to transport his Vanara army across the ocean to Lanka. Once there, Ravana was killed and Sita, Rama's wife, was returned.

According to Hindu tradition, Rama lived during the Treta Yuga, a period that began 2,165,000 years ago and lasted until about 869,000 years ago.

This bridge is actually man-made. (Illustration).

Quarry evidence: Supports claims of artificial construction

To begin assessing the veracity of the claim that Adam's Bridge is the bridge spoken of in mythology, let's first look at the bridge itself. Dr. Badrinarayanan, former director of the Geological Survey of India, conducted a survey of the structure and concluded that it was man-made. 

Dr. Badrinarayanan and his team drilled 10 boreholes along the direction of Adam's Bridge. What he discovered was astonishing. At a depth of about 6 meters (19.68 ft) below the surface, he found a consistent layer of sandstone, coral, and pebble-like materials. And when they drilled about 4-5 meters deeper they found hard rock blocks underneath.

A group of divers went down to physically inspect the bridge. The rocks they observed were not of typical marine texture, they were determined to have come from either side of the causeway. Dr. Badrinarayanan also pointed out that there is evidence of ancient quarrying in these areas. His team concluded that material from either bank was placed on the water's sandy bottom to form the causeway.