Centre rigid over Setu Samundran project: Shankaracharya

Jabalpur, June 5 (UNI) Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati today said the Centre has adopted a rigid stand over the Setu Samundran project, forcing devotees of Lord Rama and believers of the country's history to prepare for a struggle.

''Setu Samundran project is a challenge, which we need to accept and struggle for safeguarding our national self-respect and beliefs.

Our posterity would not forgive us if we fail to discharge our responsibility to protect the Ram Setu,'' the Shankaracharya said, in a statement issued here today.

He said Valmiki's epic 'Ramayana' and various 'puranas' clearly mentioned the construction of the Ram Setu by Lord Rama's 'Vanar Sena (army of monkeys)'. The bridge was used by them to reach Sri Lanka for freeing Lord Rama's wife Sita from the clutches of demon Ravana.

Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati said Rameshwar Shivling was also established by Lord Rama while the bridge was being constructed. The place was regarded as Setubandh Rameshwar pilgrim spot.

Pointing out that the NASA had published satellite images of the Ram Setu and said the human-constructed bridge was over 17.5 lakh years old, he asserted that the 'Ram Setu' was still existent.

He said images from Indian satellite and aircraft indicated that the bridge was situated six feet below ocean where hot and cold water was found.

The Shankaracharya claimed that breaking the wall of the bridge would affect the environment and lead to incidents such as storms and tsunami putting Chennai, Mumbai and other places in danger.

However, the Centre was bent upon destruction of the bridge for a little profit.

He said people would be prepared for peaceful struggle to create pressure on the Centre in this regard.

The Shankaracharya called upon Madhya Pradesh residents to brace themselves for the struggle rising above all political ideologies because Lord Rama had crossed the state while going South. Several Lord Rama temples in the region were proof in this regard.

UNI