Pranam Every couple of years, someone or the other claims that Ram Setu, or Adam's Bridge, is in fact a man-made structure. Last time, it was claimed that NASA has released images <http://www.industrytap.com/nasa-images-find-1-7-million-year-old-man-made-bridge/17310> of a 1.75 million year old man-made bridge. This time, Discovery’s Science Channel is saying that the building of such a bridge would have been a super-human achievement. This is being said in a promo <https://twitter.com/ScienceChannel/status/940259901166600194> of an episode of their show *What On Earth?* based on the Ram Setu.
After the news of NASA imagery started doing the rounds, NASA made a statement <https://web.archive.org/web/20080122044530/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=d9c8dd88-500b-4953-8a53-2c820ddcc169&;> saying that they never said Ram Setu is man-made, or 1.75 million years old. Delhi Science Forum wrote <http://www.delhiscienceforum.net/history-and-philosophy-of-science/60-the-hoax-of-the-nasa-bridge-by-prabir-purkayastha-.html> about how religious fundamentalists had fabricated these claims. This time too, the promo alone is being used by Hindu conservative groups to rejoice and ecstatically state that now science is backing up what they have always said. One should remember that the complete episode is not out yet, it is going to be released on 19th December. One should also remember that Science Channel has a habit of sensationalising mundane facts to gain a bigger audience. In fact, the show in question, *What on Earth?*, regularly links well-established facts to myths in its hour long episodes, only to come to the same scientific conclusions again at the end of each episode. For instance, one of their episodes speculates for an hour on the cause of a giant shadow passing over earth, going from a huge insect swarm to a huge alien ship. In the end, the show said it was just the shadow of the moon, caused by an eclipse. This conclusion should otherwise not take longer than a couple of minutes to arrive at. One can expect the Ram Setu episode to play out in a similar manner: start with wild speculations of super humans and gods, only to explain in the last couple of minutes the natural phenomenon behind the structure of corals on shoals. Because of its absurd programming, the show has gotten quite a few scathing reviews <https://newsclick.in/what-earth-why-earth-did-i-waste-40-minutes-my-life>. Ram Setu, or Adam's Bridge, consists of corals on top of shoals, or a sand bar. The Science Channel theory suggesting that Ram Setu is man-made is based on their inferences that the rocks (as the corals are called in the promo) are older than the sand. They measured the age of the structure and said that the sand is 4,000 years old, while the rocks on top are 7,000 years old. This, the promo says, must mean that the rocks were laid by humans or some superhuman power, and the sand settled under the rocks later. But the dates in Ramayana are much older than that. According to those dates, the Ram Setu was built 1,750,000 years ago. Why, then, is the Hindutva brigade so excited? If they agree with these findings, are they also saying that the Ramayana was a much more recent event? This would be a slight improvement on their usual unscientific claims as now the Ramayana will at least have occurred in a period when homo sapiens were known to exist. According to discovered fossils, humans have not been around for more than 180,000 to 150,000 years. Considering that, it is anyway impossible to explain how humans were around 1.75 million years ago to build that bridge. The promo ignores the simple scientific theories which can easily explain the difference in age of the sand and rocks. According to a scientific paper <http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/ampquotIts-not-a-man-made-structureampquot/article14735185.ece> published by Indian geologist N. Ramanujan, Adam's Bridge is a chain of shoals between Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar constructed by sedimentation. Both the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar were part of the same basin, but gradually separated due to thinning of the earth’s crust. This led to the development of a ridge, which augmented the growth of corals in the area. These corals then kept trapping sand. Thus, the sand is younger than the corals, but that is because the corals trapped the sand after their formation. It can be expected that the Ram Setu episode of *What On Earth?* will conclude with similar scientific theories. The speculation of super-human powers building the bridge is another tactic to get attention from the gullible, and get higher TRPs. But BJP leaders such as Subramaniam Swamy and Smriti Irani who are retweeting and talking about this promo cannot be expected to take back their claims once the actual facts are established. Right-wing Hindu conservative groups have never been bothered much with facts. The only cause of excitement for them is that scientists from US - the American white people - seem to be supporting them on their unscientific beliefs. KR IRS 51021 On Tue, 5 Oct 2021 at 11:47, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > QUES ANSW DIVINE 14 > > Q1 Do Adam’s bridge (Ram sethu bridge ) could be imaged by NASA? What is > its length?What are all its details? > > A1 Yes. NASA Images Found 1,750,000 Year Old Man-Made Bridge between > India and Sri Lanka Adam´s Bridge is 30 km long > > The legends as well as Archeological studies reveal that the first signs > of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to the a primitive age, about > 1,750,000 years ago and the bridge´s age is also almost equivalent. > > This bridge, according to accounts in the Ramayana and the > Srimad-Bhagavatam, was constructed in the age know as Treta, over 2 million > years ago. > > Lord Ramacandra prepared a royal road on the Indian Ocean with stones that > floated on the water Then the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas (living beings > superior to humans) and supreme Rishis (great sages) assembled in the sky, > eager to see that masterpiece, and the gods and Gandharvas gazed on that > causeway, so difficult of construction, that was ten leagues in width and a > hundred in length built by Nala. > > The Ram Sethu bridge is a major marine divide. It separates the furious > Bay of Bengal sea and sediments in the Palk bay and the very calm placid > waters of the Gulf of Mannar. This ridge like feature is similar to the > “Allaband” that was formed after a major earthquake in Arabian Sea in the > early 19th century. In the Allaband, a long stretch of about 90km length > and about 0.5 to 4km wide zone got uplifted because of a major tectonic > event that was responsible for the earthquake. > > Since this event occurred in the recent past and such huge track of land > was raised, people called that it is happened due to the will of Allah > and named it Allaband. > > However, during the last ice age (18,000 year BP) the entire area from > India to Sri Lanka and further south and southeast were contagious land due > to the highly lowered sea level. About 7,300 years BP the sea level in the > southern part of India was about 3.5 m above the present level. This has > been deciphered by Dr. P.K. Banerjee, who studied Corals that found in > the land part as of Pamban, Rameswaram, and Tuticorin etc. > > Q2 which are the places in India where we have navagraha temples in a > clsture? > > A2 In several parts of India, there are clusters of Navagraha temples > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navagraha_temples>. One such cluster is > near the town of Kumbakonam <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbakonam>, Tamil > Nadu <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Nadu>; another temple is in > Guwahati <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guwahati>, Assam > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam>. > > Q3 What is the period of Vedas? > > A3 According to the Vishnu Purana > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu_Purana> (3.2.18, 3.3.4 etc) the > original Veda was divided into four parts, and further fragmented into > numerous shakhas, by Vishnu <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu> in the > form of Vyasa <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyasa>, in the Dvapara Yuga > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvapara_Yuga> > > The Bhagavata Purana <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavata_Purana> > (12.6.37) traces the origin of the primeval Veda to the syllable aum > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum>, and says that it was divided into > four at the start of *Dvapara Yuga*, because men had declined in age, > virtue and understanding > > Q4 Who were all the vedic deities? > > A4 Indra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra>, the heroic god and slayer > of Vrtra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrtra> and Vala > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala>, liberator of the cows and the > rivers, Agni <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni>, the sacrificial fire > and messenger of the gods, and Soma <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma>, > the ritual drink dedicated to Indra are the most prominent deities by far. > > Q5 Which are the two major deities of Gods? > > A5 There are two major families of gods, the Devas > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deva_%28Hinduism%29> and the Asuras > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asura>. Unlike in later Hinduism > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism>, the Asuras are not yet > demonized, Mitra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitra_%28Vedic%29> and > Varuna <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna> being their most prominent > members. > > Aditi <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aditi> is the mother both of Agni and > of the Adityas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adityas>, a group of Asuras, > led by Mitra and Varuna, with Aryaman > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryaman>, Bhaga > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaga>, Daksha > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daksha>, Ansa > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansa> and Savitar > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savitar>. > > Q6 Whether Surya was a deity? > > A6 Yes. Surya <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya> is the personification > of the Sun <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun>, but Savitar > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savitar>, the Ashvins > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashvin> and the Rbhus > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rbhus>, semi-divine craftsmen, also have > aspects of solar deities <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity>. > > Other natural phenomena deified include Vayu > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayu>, (the wind), Dyaus > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyaus> and Prithivi > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prithivi> (Heaven and Earth), Dyaus > continuing Dyeus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyeus>, the chief god of > the Proto-Indo-European religion > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_religion>, and Ushas > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ushas> (the dawn), the most prominent > goddess <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess> of the Rigveda, and Apas > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ap_%28water%29> (the waters). > > Rivers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigvedic_rivers> play an important > role, deified as goddesses, most prominently the Sapta Sindhu > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapta_Sindhu> and the Sarasvati River > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasvati_River>. > > Yama <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama> is the mythical first ancestor, > also worshipped <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancestor_worship> as a > deity, and the god of the underworld > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underworld> and death. > > Q7 Do Vishnu and deities were the vedic deities? > > A7 Sorry NO They were of later Hinduisam. Vishnu and Rudra > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudra>, the prominent deities of later > Hinduism <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism> (Rudra being an early > form of Shiva <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva>) are already present > as marginal gods. > > Q8 Do Yamadharma live in the naraka? > > A8 NO Yama (the god of death and justice) is said to live in Kailash > along with his master Shiva <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva>. > > He rules the lower world of Naraka with a band of emissaries called the > Yama duta (messengers of Yama), who bring the souls of dead persons to Yama > for evaluation. Chitragupta <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitragupta> is > one of those lower level celestial beings who functions as the karmic > accountant of all the actions of the human beings on earth. > > Q9 Who was Ikshavu? > > A9 Ikshvaku <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikshvaku> was the son of Manu > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_%28Hinduism%29>, the first mortal man, > and founder of the Sun Dynasty <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Dynasty>. > > Q10 Everybody knows about Bharat son of Sakunthala and King Dushyantha > .Question- What was his special admiration as a king? > > A10 The first king to conquer all of the world was Bharata > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Bharata>, son of Dushyanta > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dushyanta> and Shakuntala > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakuntala>. All of this world, Vishwa > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishwa>, is named Bharatavarsha > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatavarsha>, or The Land of Bharata, or > The Cherished Land. > > My note- Bhagavatha puranam says it was after anoter Bharatha, who ruled > much earlier Bharat was named so > > Q11Which woman is the most ignored in Ramayana but would have been more > glorified than Sita? > > > A11 *Women, it reminds us trials and tribulation of Sita. We think she is > the idol of millions of women in India, and we glorified for her sacrifices. > Laxman's wife Urmila is perhaps the most ignored woman in /Ramayana/. No > one has ever given a thought of Urmila who lived without her husband for 14 > years. > > Her silent sacrifice has gone unsung / unnoticed. /Urmila /showcases a > woman's struggle to take control over her life, live with dignity and make > an identity of her own is unparalell in the history. > 12 Do the Mahabali Vamana episode took place in the present day Kerala? > > > A12 In the English version of Bhagavata Puranam the following is mentioned > regarding Mahabali and Vamana. Mahabali's Yajna - On the holy grounds of > Bhrigukachcha Mahabali was performimg Ashvamedha. > > > > Bhrigukachcha was on the northern banks of river Narmada. > > > > This is the place now called Broach in Gujarat. Vamana the dwarf apprached > the King who promised him whatever he wanted. When Vamana wanted only three > feet of land measured by his tiny feet, Mahabali told him that he was the > monarch of all the world and that Vamana was childish in not asking large > land. > > > > Vamana said that he would be satisfied with three feet. In spite of > objection by Sukra, Mahabali stuck to his words of giving Vamana three > feet. Then Vamana grew in size and took the earth and heaven in two feet. > He asked Mahabali about the third foot when he offered his head. Thereby he > had to go to Paataala. > > > > There is no mention of Kerala nor the request of Mahabali to return and > see his people once in an year on Onam day. > > > > Q13 Was the present Valiya koikkal temple at Pandalam was the private > place of worship for the members of the Royal family ? > > > A13 Yes The present Valiya koikkal temple at Pandalam was the private > place of worship for the members of the Royal family. > > > Q14 What was the speciality of churika of Ayyappan? > > > A14 Ayyappa had a wooden sword called `Churika' as his inseparable weapon > of which he was really proud > > Q15 What are all the restrictions on Pandalam royal family with sabarimala? > > A15 The Valiya Thampuran never goes to Sabarimala. > > Male children before 'upanayanam' (thread ceremony) and female members of > the Palace are not allowed to undertake the pilgrimage. > > Members of Pandalam palace need not carry 'irumudikettu' while climbing > 'pathinettampadi'. > > The Pandalam Valiya koikkal temple remains closed for 12 days upon the > death of any member of the Palace. > > Q16 Is there any story that Ayyappa came as a boy of 12 years to Pandalam > king? > > A16 Yes. The story goes as follows. A male child was born(Uthram > Star,wendesday )from the thigh of Lord Vishnu. The child was born with a > bell in his neck and so he was named as Manikandan(The one who was born > with a bell in his neck). > > Lord Shiva took him to Kailasam. The boy learnt all mantra and tanthra > under the tutelage of Lord Shiva and became a good warrior. At the age of > 12, Manikandan was told about his mission of life and sent to earth as a > child > > The king and queen were very happy and they brought up the child as their > own > > *These are information posted by members* compiled as QA by me in > 1998’s-2000’s and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information > of the members posted. > > *Posted by R Gopala krishnan,78 ,on 5-10-2021* > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1669561994.1593793.1633414657880%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1669561994.1593793.1633414657880%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoroRyg6B%3DkjCAnneGkFdp0Qed-xitF%2Bon8BVX4%3D3vofNg%40mail.gmail.com.
