Monday, December 4, 2023

Why Rama needed a bridge to cross a shallow sea?

 According to the Bauddhayana Dharma Shastra and Manusmrithi, seafaring is prohibited for the "twice-born" (referring to the upper castes) in the Hindu social system, as the sea is regarded as the resting place of gods. Consequently, those who venture across the sea risk losing their high-born caste status. Rama, being of high birth, faced the dilemma of crossing the sea to rescue Sita without violating this rule. The only plausible solution was to construct a bridge to traverse the sea – or did he? In my recollection, during the return journey, Rama pointed out the places they had passed but made no mention of the so-called bridge. Therefore, in my perspective, if Rama did indeed come to Sri Lanka, it was likely through the shallow Palk Strait, utilizing simple rafts. It appears that Valmiki or the storyteller, well-versed in geography, fabricated the narrative of a bridge. Alternatively, this "bridge" could be remnants of dunes before further erosion. Regardless, my personal view leans towards the notion that no actual bridge was constructed, but rather the story itself.

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