This story explains how the partnership of Ram and Samudra Dev led to the building of the ‘Ram Setu’. It is also known as ‘Rama’s Bridge’. Fragments of this bridge still prevail in South India near Dhanushkodi.
Hanuman returns from Lanka
Ram was sitting alone by the shore, watching the skies. There was silence all around, except for the sound of lashing waves. Suddenly, the winds grew stronger and made a hustling sound. Ram saw a figure tearing the clouds apart and descending from the sky. It was Hanuman! Ram thought, “Oh, my dear friend Hanuman, did you find my Sita?” Ram was anxious and his heartbeat was racing as Hanuman came closer. Hanuman said the most important words which Ram was waiting to hear – “I met Maata Sita!”
The humble Ram Doot went down on his knees and opened his palms to reveal Sita’s hair jewel. Ram picked it up and held it in his palm. As tears filled his eyes, Ram’s voice choked, and he whispered, “Sita!” Hanuman narrated his conversation with Sita and his encounter with Ravan and the princes of Lanka. It was now time for Ram and the vaanar forces to begin their journey to Lanka to rescue Sita. But how would they get there?
Ram prays to Samudra Dev
The only way to reach Lanka was by crossing the ocean. The vast ocean raging in front of them almost made it seem impossible to cross over to the other side. Can the waves part and allow a way to Lanka?
Ram joined his hands and sincerely prayed to Samudra Dev (Ocean God). Ram prayed and requested Samudra Dev to create a route by parting the waters so that Ram and his sena could walk all the way to Lanka. There was no response from the ocean. The waves continued to lash back. When he felt that Samudra Dev was not answering his prayers, Ram was angry.
Ram picked up his bow, pointed an arrow towards the ocean, and said, “Samudra Dev, I must go to Lanka to save my wife. I can go to any extent to rescue her from Ravan’s kingdom. If you do not help me, have no option but to use my divine weapon. My arrow will dry up the ocean and make way for me and my sena!”
Immediately, Ram noticed a high tide, and Samudra Dev emerged from the waves!
Samudra Dev advises Ram
Samudra Dev appeared in front of Ram with his palms joined together. He said, “Ram, I cannot go against the law of nature. There are many living beings depending on me for life. Please calm down, Ram, and do not dry up the ocean. You have the capable and smart vaanar Nal in your sena. Nal, the son of architect Vishwakarma, can lead the project of building a bridge for you. I promise you, there shall be no obstacle from the ocean. The animals living in the ocean will not harm you and your sena. You may begin constructing the bridge.” Saying this, Samudra Dev went back into the waters.
Ram Setu
Nal was the engineer of the bridge. He explained how the bridge would be designed and constructed. Another vaanar Neel, the son of Agni Dev (God of Fire), was the leader of the vaanar sena. He guided the vaanars to bring materials required to build the bridge. They all went running about, gathering boulders, stones, branches, roots, and other parts of trees. Hanuman, with his unmatched strength, helped carry huge rocks from the mountain areas to the seashore.
He wrote Ram’s name on every stone and boulder before it was thrown into the ocean. The stones and boulders stayed in place and floated on the waters. Thus, the vaanars were forming the pathway, the ‘Ram Setu’ (Rama’s bridge), to reach Ravan’s Lanka. As promised by Samudra Dev, the ocean supported the construction of this bridge, and the entire Ram Setu was built in five days! The vaanars were delighted to see the result of their teamwork!
The vaanars together chanted, “Jai Shri Ram”! Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman, and the vaanar sena walked along the Ram Setu, crossing the Indian Ocean. As the army moved towards Lanka with courage, it was time for the evil Ravan to feel the tremors of fear – as his end was nearing.
To read more such excerpts of Hanuman ji, kindly click on Hanuman short stories
