Supreme Court should consider Hindu faith on Rama Setu

Sri Rameswaram Ramsetu Raksha Manch
Sankat Mochan Ashram, Ramakrishna Puram-VI
New Delhi-110 022
Telefax: 011-26103495, 26178992 kalyan97@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY UDUPI PEJAWAR MATH SWAMY SRI VISHWESHATHEERTHA, DATED APRIL 19, 2008

In the course of its arguments on Rama Setu, the Supreme Court had asked two questions:

1) Is Rama Setu a place of worship?

2) Who goes to the middle of the sea and worship a place, which is under the water?

It must be said that Ram Setu is believed as a place of worship by millions of Hindus.

There is a place called 'Sethu Karai' in Ramanathapuram district from where the Ramar Setu was constructed up to Sri Lanka cutting across Rameshwaram and Danushkodi by Lord Rama and his Vanara Sena.

Close to 'Sethu Karai,' we have the famous centuries old 'Thirupulani' Temple which depicts the entire story of Sethu Bandhanam through the deities' posture and other sculptures. Even today, we can find the remains of the bridge there after a twenty minutes drive by a boat.

All pilgrims, who go to Rameshwaram, visit Thirupullani Temple and 'Sethu Karai' and also go into the sea to worship the Sethu. During the times of low tides, one can easily stand on the bridge and do pooja and prayer rituals.

There were many who used to go from Danushkodi to the present spot of contention and pray, before the commencement of the project work. So the two questions asked by the Supreme Court is purely out of ignorance and it ought to have acquainted itself with facts before asking such questions.

The Government of India must respect the UN Convention on underwater heritage projects by ordering the Archaeological Survey of India to undertake the survey listing and protection of underwater cultural monuments.

Rama Setu is a sacred monument, which must not be damaged, but saved and protected.

The Supreme Court - rather than questioning the faith of the Hindus - would do well to question the economic viability of the project, the environmental concerns created by the project, the security threats posed by the project, the threat for the livelihood feared by thousands of fishermen due to the implementation of the project.

Signed Sri Vishweshatheertha Swamijee, Pejawar Math, Udupi.

S. Kalyanaraman

National President, 20 April 2008 Camp: New Delhi