Friday, April 1, 2016

Sethu Karai, Thirupullani

Sethu Karai, Thirupullani
A place of Puranic importance, Sethu Karai (meaning the Sethu Coast) is an important pilgrim center having religious significance owing to the belief that Lord Ram is said to have constructed a bridge from here over the sea waters to reach Sri Lanka with the help of Vanaras to save Sita from the hands of Ravana.  It is a hallowed place for Hindus as they conduct their religious rites in this place and is situated around 68 kilometers from Rameswaram and is near Erwadi Dharga.  


Sethu Karai, translating roughly to ‘ridge coast’, is another place of religious importance, situated near the town of Ramanathapuram. According to legend, Lord Rama constructed a bridge to cross the sea between Rameswaram and Lanka. The original bridge however, no longer exists here, but its ruins are still visible.


Adi Sethu, the primary sacred bathing spot, from where the work for Ramsethu Bridge started. Ram is believed to have bathed here before starting the bridge work and again on his return. The name of 'Sethukarai' is 'Rathinagharam'. Again 'Sethu' (Hindi) means 'Anai' (dam) in Tamil language. So the Vaishnavites also call this place as 'Thiru Anai'. 

Nowadays if any Indian has been asked to define the territories of India, he should definitely say that Kashmir at north and the Kanyakumari at south. But once upon it had been told that Kashmir had been the north and Sethu had been the south, which could be derived from the ancient Ithihasas which says "Aasethu Himachalam" in Sanskrit.

Again the Upanishads are telling about Sethu as Amrutha saisya Sethu: and the Vishnu sahasranamam calls it as Ousstham jaghatha Sethu.

When and where ever, if the story of Rama could have been written or been translated, there would be the special place for Sethu, from where lord Rama had bridged to Srilanka by the help of His Vaanara Sena (monkeys army).

Again this is the place where lord Rama had accepted the shelter of Vibheeshanan, who was the younger brother of the demon king Ravana. Vibheeshanan had been neglected by his brother demon Ravana, since he had advised Ravana against the abduction of Rama's wife by him (Ravana).

Rama is believed to have built a floating stone bridge, the Ramsethu Bridge that further continued to Dhanushkodi in Rameswaram till Talai Mannar in Sri Lanka. According to another version, as quoted in Adhyatma Ramayana, Rama installed the lingam before the construction of the bridge to Lanka.
Sethu Karai or Shore is close to Thirupullani at a distance of four km. At this place there is Temple with the Deity of Hanuman. It is amazing to see that the Deity of Hanuman is directly facing the ocean.
Theerthavari Utsavam
Every year Theerthavari Utsavam is held at this place in memory of Lord Rama’s onward march to Lanka that was planned from the Sethu Sea shore and in celebration of his subsequent victory over Ravana. 

Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal, the Utsava deity and Pattabisheka Rama of Thirupullani Divya Desam make a joint visit once in a year of 4 km trip to the Sethu Sea shore. Kalyana Jagannathan and Pattabhisheka Rama make an early start by 7am with Alankaram goes to southern sea shore for the day long procession.

Seated on two separate palanquins and driven all the way on bullock carts Jagannatha Perumal and Pattabhisheka Rama go on a one hour procession to the Sethu Sea shore for the Theerthavari Utsavam. At the Hanuman temple on the banks of the Sethu sea shore, special Thirumanjana is performed for both Lord Jagannathan and Pattabhisheka Rama, while Hanuman is honored with a special Abhisheka as an acknowledgement of his efforts in locating Sita and giving Rama the good news.

After providing joint darshan on the banks of the Sethu Sea shore for over 3 hours, Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal and Pattabhisheka Rama make their way back to Thirupullani Divya Desam in the evening.