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.