Birth of Adams Bridge
I would invite the attention of the readers to a write up ‘Taking a look at the Adams Bridge’, which was published in the Madras Musings of August 16-31, 2005 and several other articles about the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.
There has been a political hue and cry to stall the project or change the route so that the Adam’s Bridge or Hanuman’s Bridge as it is popularly called is not disturbed. Consequent to this, the Supreme Court intervened and asked the Government of India to go back and study all the aspects pertaining to the project and report back.
The NDTV conducted a debate on Sunday, the 16th September 2007, examining the religious background. NASA’s Satellite map and its impressions were not accepted and they too backed out of the controversy.
The object of this paper is to trace the birth of Adam’s bridge and the geological background and archeological background known to me so far, as this has influenced the cultural heritage of India.
When the last ice age, which lasted for 100000 years came to an end, some 13000 years back, most of the earth’s water was locked up in the Ice and snow, resulting in the sea level dropping from the present level to a figure of 100 metres (328 feet). The global warming that started some 17000 years ago, took another 4000 years, before its impact was fully felt. Therefore, a number of geologists use 13000 years as the bench mark. When the bathimetric data of India at 100 metre contour below the sea is marked out, South India’s map some 13000 / 17000 years would appear as in map marked ‘A’. The green line in the map indicates 100m depth. The red / orange line covers a depth of 75m to the present sea level. The map also would reveal an internal fresh water lake which, could have existed between 13000 to 4000 or 5000 years back. The lake could have been a huge swamp land as most rivers from Tamilnadu and Jaffna and North Srilanka were dry in summer and wet in other periods with poor flow of water. I am giving these details as this huge flatland lake would have attracted ancient civilization of India to set up villages and townships around it. The spill way of this lake, according to the SSCP Bathimetric Contours points into the deeper section, north of Kankasenthorai (Srilanka, Jaffna) and there could be considerable sediment coming from the lake into the Bay of Bengal.
Transect diagram marked B, from Gulf of Mannar to Bay of Bengal, a distance of 1000 Kilometers, indicates the sea level of 15000 to 10000 years back was 100 metres below the existing sea level. The present sea level is the level of the lake between Adam’s Bridge to north of Kankasenthorai. As the water level rose in the sea, the fresh water lake disappeared. Here is where the archeologists and geologists have work to do. Can they not pin point sea water level during various point of time say 13,000 years, 10000 years, 7000 years, 4000 years back. Some Palenologists pin point sea levels at various stages using coral trees that grow, keeping pace with increased water level of the sea as they can grow just ten to twelve feet below the sea level, with their stem being rooted 100/150 metre below the sea, leaving time markers of growth on them.
The last 10 metres below the existing sea level is most crucial; because the rate of filling of water due to global warming may not be proportional to time, and the volume of water would be much more as land surface gets reduced due to submerging of existing level. The total land submerged could be 10% of the total land area of the earth in the last 13000 / 15000 years. However, it is assumed in this article that the sea water level some 5000 to 6000 years back was 5 metres below the present sea level. Based on this, the Adam’s Bridge and the surrounding region with lands below 5 metres is projected as how the region would have looked, see schematic drawing marked ‘C’/ The data has been adopted from Bathimetry data, hydrological chart of Cape Comorin to Pamban Chart No.262 and 358.
Some 4000 to 3000 years back, as the sea level rose further, there would have been severe erosion and a lot more shoals than the present 22 or so. The human beings and society of the time would normally repair and keep the gaps filled with earth and stones. The isthmus would have got considerably narrowed with the Pak Bay and the Gulf of Mannar on its either side. This width could be no more than the width of Rameswaram island (10 km to 8 km) with intrusion of the sea from either side making breaches by the how and low tide.
On this natural wonder of the world, there is every possibility for man to repair the damages and still use the isthmus to walk to Srilanka. When great leaders want to go, they have the manpower, the tribals of that region to assist. So, the great epic Ramayana cannot be just dismissed as myth. The geologists, Paleonologists, and a team of people have a job to make core samples, survey the sea, investigate and convince the people they are really keen. Ecotourism, Heritage tours, can help to have a ‘God’s view’ from helicopters.
Ramayana and Mahabharata and Upanishads do not belong to India alone. From ancient times it has had a following through South East Asia. There is a Ayothiya and also a Mithila in Thailand. The World’s biggest temple dedicated to Vishnu is in Angorwat. Then there is Mount Vishnumurthi on the Jayavijaya mountains, in Iryanjaya, Indonesia. Garuda Indonesia in their brochure proudly announces ‘The original Garuda Bird carried God Vishnu’.
Here is some names of places more from our epics in Indonesia:- Bima (Tengarra island), Singaraja (Bali island), Praya (Lambok island), Arjuna (Java island), Darmaraja (Java island), Dewatta (Sumatra island), Indrasabah (Borneo), Indralaya, Indirapura (Sumatra), Indramayu (Java).
Indonesia has a Sri Ram Sea (spelt Ceram Sea) and Sri Ram Island (spelt Ceram island), with Hindu culture flourishing in Bali. Sarawak has a place called Bandar Sri Amman and Bandar Sri Bagawan. Present day Palembang in Sumatra was called Srivijaya, a great centre for Sanskrit learning.
One unique feature of Indonesia, a country with 88% of its population of Muslims, is the multiculturism of having Sanskrit surnames for Muslim names. The former president of Indonesia was Megawati Sukarno Putri. Other Sanskrit names are Sukarno and Suharto, both former presidents.
It was from Buddhism that was superimposed on Hinduism that South East Asia secured its inspiration and Pali script, modified to their respective needs. Those nations – Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Indonesia have imbibed the philosophy emanating from India. Kings are named Rama I and Rama II in Thailand. Such is their appreciation for Lord Rama.
What I am trying to say is the epicenter of Ramayana which is located at the Adam’s Bridge does not belong to India alone. It is a World Heritage site and needs to be given that respect, if we are to get similar respect from others; specially from South East Asia, who never the leadership Ancient India gave in education, spirituality and religions.
I would invite the attention of the readers to a write up ‘Taking a look at the Adams Bridge’, which was published in the Madras Musings of August 16-31, 2005 and several other articles about the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.
There has been a political hue and cry to stall the project or change the route so that the Adam’s Bridge or Hanuman’s Bridge as it is popularly called is not disturbed. Consequent to this, the Supreme Court intervened and asked the Government of India to go back and study all the aspects pertaining to the project and report back.
The NDTV conducted a debate on Sunday, the 16th September 2007, examining the religious background. NASA’s Satellite map and its impressions were not accepted and they too backed out of the controversy.
The object of this paper is to trace the birth of Adam’s bridge and the geological background and archeological background known to me so far, as this has influenced the cultural heritage of India.
When the last ice age, which lasted for 100000 years came to an end, some 13000 years back, most of the earth’s water was locked up in the Ice and snow, resulting in the sea level dropping from the present level to a figure of 100 metres (328 feet). The global warming that started some 17000 years ago, took another 4000 years, before its impact was fully felt. Therefore, a number of geologists use 13000 years as the bench mark. When the bathimetric data of India at 100 metre contour below the sea is marked out, South India’s map some 13000 / 17000 years would appear as in map marked ‘A’. The green line in the map indicates 100m depth. The red / orange line covers a depth of 75m to the present sea level. The map also would reveal an internal fresh water lake which, could have existed between 13000 to 4000 or 5000 years back. The lake could have been a huge swamp land as most rivers from Tamilnadu and Jaffna and North Srilanka were dry in summer and wet in other periods with poor flow of water. I am giving these details as this huge flatland lake would have attracted ancient civilization of India to set up villages and townships around it. The spill way of this lake, according to the SSCP Bathimetric Contours points into the deeper section, north of Kankasenthorai (Srilanka, Jaffna) and there could be considerable sediment coming from the lake into the Bay of Bengal.
Transect diagram marked B, from Gulf of Mannar to Bay of Bengal, a distance of 1000 Kilometers, indicates the sea level of 15000 to 10000 years back was 100 metres below the existing sea level. The present sea level is the level of the lake between Adam’s Bridge to north of Kankasenthorai. As the water level rose in the sea, the fresh water lake disappeared. Here is where the archeologists and geologists have work to do. Can they not pin point sea water level during various point of time say 13,000 years, 10000 years, 7000 years, 4000 years back. Some Palenologists pin point sea levels at various stages using coral trees that grow, keeping pace with increased water level of the sea as they can grow just ten to twelve feet below the sea level, with their stem being rooted 100/150 metre below the sea, leaving time markers of growth on them.
The last 10 metres below the existing sea level is most crucial; because the rate of filling of water due to global warming may not be proportional to time, and the volume of water would be much more as land surface gets reduced due to submerging of existing level. The total land submerged could be 10% of the total land area of the earth in the last 13000 / 15000 years. However, it is assumed in this article that the sea water level some 5000 to 6000 years back was 5 metres below the present sea level. Based on this, the Adam’s Bridge and the surrounding region with lands below 5 metres is projected as how the region would have looked, see schematic drawing marked ‘C’/ The data has been adopted from Bathimetry data, hydrological chart of Cape Comorin to Pamban Chart No.262 and 358.
Some 4000 to 3000 years back, as the sea level rose further, there would have been severe erosion and a lot more shoals than the present 22 or so. The human beings and society of the time would normally repair and keep the gaps filled with earth and stones. The isthmus would have got considerably narrowed with the Pak Bay and the Gulf of Mannar on its either side. This width could be no more than the width of Rameswaram island (10 km to 8 km) with intrusion of the sea from either side making breaches by the how and low tide.
On this natural wonder of the world, there is every possibility for man to repair the damages and still use the isthmus to walk to Srilanka. When great leaders want to go, they have the manpower, the tribals of that region to assist. So, the great epic Ramayana cannot be just dismissed as myth. The geologists, Paleonologists, and a team of people have a job to make core samples, survey the sea, investigate and convince the people they are really keen. Ecotourism, Heritage tours, can help to have a ‘God’s view’ from helicopters.
Ramayana and Mahabharata and Upanishads do not belong to India alone. From ancient times it has had a following through South East Asia. There is a Ayothiya and also a Mithila in Thailand. The World’s biggest temple dedicated to Vishnu is in Angorwat. Then there is Mount Vishnumurthi on the Jayavijaya mountains, in Iryanjaya, Indonesia. Garuda Indonesia in their brochure proudly announces ‘The original Garuda Bird carried God Vishnu’.
Here is some names of places more from our epics in Indonesia:- Bima (Tengarra island), Singaraja (Bali island), Praya (Lambok island), Arjuna (Java island), Darmaraja (Java island), Dewatta (Sumatra island), Indrasabah (Borneo), Indralaya, Indirapura (Sumatra), Indramayu (Java).
Indonesia has a Sri Ram Sea (spelt Ceram Sea) and Sri Ram Island (spelt Ceram island), with Hindu culture flourishing in Bali. Sarawak has a place called Bandar Sri Amman and Bandar Sri Bagawan. Present day Palembang in Sumatra was called Srivijaya, a great centre for Sanskrit learning.
One unique feature of Indonesia, a country with 88% of its population of Muslims, is the multiculturism of having Sanskrit surnames for Muslim names. The former president of Indonesia was Megawati Sukarno Putri. Other Sanskrit names are Sukarno and Suharto, both former presidents.
It was from Buddhism that was superimposed on Hinduism that South East Asia secured its inspiration and Pali script, modified to their respective needs. Those nations – Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Indonesia have imbibed the philosophy emanating from India. Kings are named Rama I and Rama II in Thailand. Such is their appreciation for Lord Rama.
What I am trying to say is the epicenter of Ramayana which is located at the Adam’s Bridge does not belong to India alone. It is a World Heritage site and needs to be given that respect, if we are to get similar respect from others; specially from South East Asia, who never the leadership Ancient India gave in education, spirituality and religions.
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