Rama Sethu, Bridge Built in 5 Days

In 2018, Aqua satellite imagery from USA’s NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) showed pictures of a bridge between India and Lanka and named it Adams bridge. However, it is Rama Sethu or Nala Sethu, a bridge from about 17.5 million years ago constructed by a team of vanaras (monkey like), bhalluka (bear like), kondamucchu (langur like) in support of Sri Rama and Lakshmana Swami to rescue Mother Sitha. Key architect and engineer figures for this construction were vanaras named Nala and Neela who had great intellect coupled with divine energy to lay the bridge.

Srimad Ramayana is the history of Sri Rama and Mother Sitha. It refers to a bridge constructed in 5 days. Sage Valmiki described the construction progress of the bridge in Yuddha Kanda, Chapter 22 in the following five verses for each of the five days. Distance was measured in yo:janas (1 km approx. equals 3.3 yo:janas).

DAY 1
krutha:ni pratthame: na:hna: yo:jana:ni chathurdasa |
prahrushtai rgajasanka:sai sthvarama:naih plavangamaihi ||
6.22.66 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 66 ]

On the first day, fourteen Yojanas of bridge were constructed by the vanaras (ape-men) speedily, thrilled with delight as they were, resembling elephants.

DAY 1
krutha:ni pratthame: |
na:hna: yo:jana:ni chathurdasa |
prahrushtai rgajasanka:sai ||
sthvarama:naih plavangamaihi ||
6.22.66 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 66 ]

On the first day, fourteen Yojanas of bridge were constructed by the vanaras (ape-men) speedily, thrilled with delight as they were, resembling elephants.

DAY 2
dvithi:ye:na thattha: cha:hna: yo:jana:ni thu vimsathihi |
krutha:ni plavagai sthu:rnam bhi:maka:yai rmaha:balaihi ||
6.22.67 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 67 ]

In the same manner, on the second day twenty Yojanas of bridge were constructed speedily by the vanaras of terrific bodies and of mighty strength.

DAY 2
dvithi:ye:na thattha: cha:hna:
yo:jana:ni thu vimsathihi |
krutha:ni plavagai sthu:rnam
bhi:maka:yai rmaha:balaihi ||
6.22.67 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 67 ]

In the same manner, on the second day twenty Yojanas of bridge were constructed speedily by the vanaras of terrific bodies and of mighty strength.

DAY 3
ahna: thruthi:ye:na thattha: yo:jana:ni krutha:ni thu |
thvarama:nai rmaha:ka:yai re:kavimsathi re:va cha ||
6.22.68 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 68 ]

Thus, on the third day twenty-one Yojanas of the bridge were constructed in the ocean speedily by the vanaras with their colossal bodies.

DAY 3
ahna: thruthi:ye:na thattha:
yo:jana:ni krutha:ni thu |
thvarama:nai rmaha:ka:yai ||
re:kavimsathi re:va cha ||
6.22.68 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 68 ]

Thus, on the third day twenty-one Yojanas of the bridge were constructed in the ocean speedily by the vanaras with their colossal bodies.

DAY 4
chathurtthe:na thattha: cha:hna: dva:vimsathi rattha:pi cha |
yo:jana:ni maha:ve:gaih krutha:ni thvarithai sthu thaihi ||
6.22.69 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 69 ]

On the forth day, a further of twenty-two Yojanas were constructed by the dashing vanaras with a great speed.

DAY 4
chathurtthe:na thattha: cha:hna: |
dva:vimsathi rattha:pi cha |
yo:jana:ni maha:ve:gaih
krutha:ni thvarithai sthu thaihi ||
6.22.69 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 69 ]

On the forth day, a further of twenty-two Yojanas were constructed by the dashing vanaras with a great speed.

DAY 5
panchame:na thattha: cha:hna: plavagaih kshipraka:ribhihi |
yo:jana:ni thrayo:vimsath suve:la madhikruthya vai ||
6.22.70 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 70 ]

In that manner, on the fifth day, the vanaras working quickly constructed twenty-three yojanas of the bridge up to the other seashore.

DAY 5
panchame:na thattha: cha:hna:
plavagaih kshipraka:ribhihi |
yo:jana:ni thrayo:vimsath
suve:la madhikruthya vai ||
6.22.70 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 70 ]

In that manner, on the fifth day, the vanaras working quickly constructed twenty-three yojanas of the bridge up to the other seashore.

The ratio of breadth to length was also mentioned in the same chapter as…

dasayo:janavisthi:rnam sathayo:jana ma:yatham |
dadrusu rde:vagandharva: nalase:thum sudushkaram ||
6.22.74 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 74 ]

Dasa yo:jana means 10 yo:jana, Satha yo:jana means 100 yo:janas. Therefore the breadth and length of the bridge are in the ratio of 3.3 km to 33 km. The bridge was constructed by systematically piling layers of tree trunks, stone, sand, shells and repeating the layers until the surface from the depth of the ocean.

The ratio of breadth to length was also mentioned in the same chapter as…

dasayo:janavisthi:rnam
sathayo:jana ma:yatham |
dadrusu rde:vagandharva:
nalase:thum sudushkaram ||
6.22.74 [ YUDDHA KANDA, SARGA 22,VERSE 74 ]

– From the divine address of HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– 7^th, April 2022, Thiruppullani, Divya Desam 44

The Sankalp of HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji to perform Sri Rama Krathu with 5 Kundas chanting the entire 24000 verses of Srimad Ramayana along with Yajur veda (Rama belongs to Yajur Veda lineage) began on the 7th and will conclude on the 9th with avabhrutha snana and santhi kalyana of Sri Sitha Ramachandra. The event is conducted praying for the well-being of the entire existence, seeking guidance from Ramachandra’s life so we all can live an ideal human being’s life.