‘Bhagwan Sri Ram’ will ‘Bless’ Sethusamudram Canal Project

If the 32.3 Km distance – 32,200 metres – between Rameswaram and Mannar islands, only in a very small position of about 300 metres, the dredging work for digging canal, is to be carried out. The remaining distance of 31,900 metres will remain as it is untouched. So there is no objection for Ram devotees to retain that 31,900 metre long sand column as Ram bridge, dive into the sea, touch and worship it.

Devotees consider Rameswaram as a reputed sacred land in three aspects of holy land (sthalam) god (murthy) and holly water (theertham). Devotees – particularly lot of devotees from South India – come to Rameswaram in the belief having holy dip there is significant. It is pointed out in the book, ‘Sthalam’ history of Rameswaram temple that there are 22 Punniya theethams there. Among them ‘Agni Theertham’ is very important. Agni Theertham which was in Dhanushkodi was immersed in the severe cyclone and sea turbulence. Thereafter saying that Agni Theertham was brought to sea opposite to Sankaracharya Mutt, devotees are having holy dip there. Atleast this was an action taken to correct the obstacle caused by nature.

But in 2002, the ADMK regime closed the three – Siva Theertham, Sarva Theertham and Sathya Amirtha Theertham and rejecting the opposition of devotees to it, newly set up three Punya Theerthams. Thus the ADMK government whimsically changed places of Sri Ram’s Punniya Theerthams, which were to symbols of people’s religious faith and holiness for several centuries, without respecting the feelings of devotees. The government said it was done for convenience of people and administrative reasons. In the letters sent by Sringeri Sri Sri Jagatguru Sankaracharya on March 27, 2002 and Kanchi Jagatguru Sri Sankaracharya on March 29, 2002, they accepted and blessed the change of place of Punniya Theertham, considered very sacred.

Hence, just like Bhagwan Sri Ram recognized and blessed change of place of Punniya Theerthams for people’s convenience and administrative reasons, Bhagwan Sri Ram will not hesitate to bless leaving space for passage ships by deepening sea in a corner of what devotees call as ‘Ram bridge’ of 32,200 km length, for the benefit of crores of people and economic progress of the country. Bhagwan Sri Ram is said to have sacrificed even his throne and sought asylum in forest for fourteen years. Hence to object to spare just 300 metres of 32.200 meter long ‘Ram bridge’ in the name of Ram by the Sangh Pariwar and Jayalalitha, amount to their demanding their own ‘Lord’. The true devotees of Sri Ram should ignore the motivated protestations of these political opportunists, extend cooperation for the execution of the project.