My Spiritual Travelogue - Part 1

      

                        

MY SPIRITUAL TRAVELOGUE - PART 1

We (family members and friends) undertook a Spiritual Tour to Shirdi, Pandharpur and Mantralayam in March 2013 through Bharat Darshan of the IRCTC.  The entourage assembled at the Chennai Central station on that morning from 2.00 a.m. onwards.  As is visibly seen with everyone,  inspite of having a disturbed sleep over  the previous night,  their mindset  is only on the Spiritual fervor. There were about 450 tourists accommodated in 8 coaches and  the  gleaming  eyes reflected their comfortness for the train journey.  The train departed at 3.30 a.m. at the appointed hour for our  spiritual journey. 

                      

All meal was served in the train.  Food served on board was so delectable.  Nobody was neither left hungry nor complained  and they fully enjoyed every item served.   

See how they enjoy their food served on board….!!!

        

                   

SHIRDI VISIT

Our first halt was at Gopergaon – reached next day at around 11.00 a.m. which is about 15 Km from Shirdi.  We were dropped at Shirdi by mini-vehicles arranged.  Our stay at Dwarawati Bakthaniwas of Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust was pre-booked. Accommodation at Dwarawati was very decent and very comfortable.

After freshening up, we proceeded to the Shri Saibaba Mandir  for Darshan.  It was great and unforgettable moment for everybody in their life time to step into His Samadhi Mandir and get His graceful benign Blessings. 

                                                                      

Shri Sai Baba is revered as one of the greatest saints ever seen in India, endowed with unprecedented powers, and is worshipped as a God incarnate. (SAI meaning Sakshaat Ishwar) - GOD THE ABSOLUTE.  No harm shall befall him who sets his foot on the soil of Shirdi. – Saibaba.  Nothing can be compared to that ecstasy.

After His darshan, we visited Gurustan where He was first spotted seated under a Neem tree. This place came to be known as Gurusthan.  Baba first came to Shirdi in the form of Bal Yogi - a child ascetic. He was first spotted seated under a Neem tree. This place came to be known as Gurusthan.  There is a small shrine in Gurusthan. On a elevated platform of this shrine a big portrait of Lord Sai Baba is placed. On the side is a marble statue of Baba. In front of the portrait is a Shivling and the Nandi. Photos of twelve Jyotirlingas are also kept in the temple. The branches of the Neem tree have come out through the roof of the temple. At a short distance lies Baba's CHAVADI. Baba used to sleep here every alternate day. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white chair belonging to him. There is a cottage of Abdul Baba, an ardent devotee of Shri Sai Baba, in front of the Chavadi. The Lendi Baug was looked after by Abdul Baba. There are photos and various things which were handled by Sai Baba and Abdul Baba in the cottage. There is a Maruti Mandir located at some distance from the cottage of Abdul Baba. This mandir was visited by Baba for the sat-sang with Devidas, a Balyogi, who lived at the Mandir ten to twelve years before Baba arrived. There are also temples of village deities like Khandoba, Shani, Ganpati, and Shankar to be visited.

 





Gurusthan











Samadhi Mandir







Chawri





Dwarakamai





           



                                                   

                                                       Lendi Garden



    

Sri Khandoba Mandir

                                                       

The days when Shri Sai Baba was physically living in Dwarkamai Masjid, he used to sleep in Chawri on every alternate night, between the year 1910 to 1918. This  sojourn at Chawri on every alternate night was preceded by a ‘palki’ procession with all regal paraphernalia accompanying Baba from Dwarkamai to Chawri. This tradition of ‘palki’ procession continues with the same fervour and devotion. Today it starts from Samadhi Mandir, which is the eternal abode of Shri Sai in ‘Samadhi’. From Samadhi temple it goes to Dwarkamai Masjid, from Dwarkamai to Chawri and returns to Samadhi Mandir, after which the ‘Shej Aarti’ is offered to Him. Palki Darshan is another important event in Shirdi.  Every Thursday at 9.15 p.m. this event will start. 

http://www.shirdibaba.org/album/palkiss.htm   

Palki Procession photos slide show

Then, we mixed within the queue to get Saibaba’s Udhi, which has got its miraculous healing powers; it conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, and  many other wordly gains.  So, the Udi has helped us to gain both our ends – material as well as spiritual.

NASHIK VISIT

Next day morning, we set ourselves to Nashik to visit Panchavati and Triambakeshwar temples.  Our journey to Panchavati was 2 hours and 30 minutes by road. 

Reached Panchavati

Mahathma Gandhi Memorial

Situated nearby is Gandhi Lake (Talav) having a memorable monument made out of white marble, in memory of the Father of the Nation. The ashes were dropped in Ramkund after Gandhiji passed away on 30th January 1948. Mr. Nehru was also present on this occasion.

Panchavati is a place of religious significance and a pilgrimage spot.  In Hindu theology and epic Ramayana, Panchavati was the place in the forest of Dandakaranya (Danda Kingdom), where Rama built his home along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman during their exile period.

The name is derived from the Sanskrit pañca five vata Banyan Tree. The area of five Banyan trees are situated on the banks of River Godavari in Nasik . It has been proposed to identify it with the modern Nasik, because Lakshmana cut off Surpanakha's nose (nasika) at Panchavati. In Panchavati today, there are five trees marked, one of which is an Ashoka Tree.







Pachavati – Five Banyan Tree

There is one beautiful story about Surya, the presiding deity of the sun planet, he had a beautiful and a chaste wife of the name Usha . And Usha had very difficult time with her husband because he had such a glaring effulgence around him, it was difficult for her to look at him. So she wanted perhaps to give her eyes rest for some time , so she came to the earth planet and began to live at the hermitage of Kanva Muni one of the great rishis of the Puranas meanwhile Surya was very much anxious to be in the company of his consort, so he came down to the earth. As he was approaching the hermitage of Kanva Muni , Usha saw him coming and so  she wanted  to escape , so she took the form of the female horse , and began  to run away, so Surya took the form  of a male horse and chased after her and he caught her, then they began to perform lovely pastimes together as horses. Now there were five Rishi kumaras and they happened to be watching this that the great demigod Surya and his queen Usha  are playing pastimes in the form of horses , so they began to laugh , Ha !! Ha !!!!! .So Surya cursed them to become trees in that very spot, so the five Rishi kumars became five Banyan trees at this very place. In fact right here we can see five Banyan trees, since that time this place is known as Panchvati – the place of the five Banyan trees. Hare krishna !!!!!

Since that time this place has become a very very holy place. In fact , Sita and Ram decided to reside here during their exile and they took residence right under these five trees , just behind it you will see this temple , Sita Gufha , it is  the cave in which Sita and Ram resided while living here in Panchvati .”

There is also a cave here called Sita Gupha. Sita, Ram and Lakshman prayed here to Lord Shiva. The ancient Shivalinga still exists in the small temple in the cave and is visited by devotees.

According to Hindu legends and Ramayana Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, stayed in Panchavati during their Vanvasa period. The Laxman Rekha is located in Panchavati about a kilometre away from Sita Gupha. It was from here that Ravana abducted Goddess Sita. Today this area is a major pilgrimage and tourist attraction.  You can see here some of the ‘Ramayana’ epic scenes sculpted by sculptors -

Panchavati has many temples like Kalaram Temple, Goreram Temple. There are also many temples in Tapovan which is very close to Panchavati.  Panchavati is spread across 500 acres of land. Its people are proud of its culture and its five thousand year old tradition. Festivals such as Ganesh Utsav, Gokul Ashtami and Rangpanchami are celebrated with full enthusiasm by the people.Previously it was under the rule of Ashish Padhye.

On auspicious occasions like Mahashivratri, Rangapanchami, Makar Sankranti people take baths in river Godavari at Ramkund which is considered to be one of the most important places in Indian theology. According to Hindu theology, it is believed to be the place where a few drops of 'amrut' fell while the kalash was carried to the devatas.

Shree KalaRam Mandir

This temple was built by late Mr. Odhekar, a knight serving with Peshwas. There are great processions and utsav on Ramnavami, Dasara and Chaitra Padwa (Hindu new year day). The specialty of the temple is that it was built with black stones.The stones were brought from Ramshej 200 years ago. It took 23 lakhs of rupees and 2000 workers to build the temple in 12 years.

            

Elephant sculpture at the temple.       

Shree Goreram Mandir is in Panchavati area at back side of Kapaleshwar Mandir. This is one of the famous temple in Nashik city for Lord Rama. This Temple is having similar importance as that of Kala Ram Mandir in Nasik.

Kapaleshwar temple 

 

Kapaleshwar is among the very oldest temple one in Nashik city located near Ramkunda, Panchavati. It is about 2 KM from CBS towards North-East. This Temple is renovated by "Peshwe".

The story behind it is that lord Shiva by mistake killed a cow ("GOHATYA"), to clean his sin the Nandi told him to go to NASHIK and take a bath in Ramkund. As per Nandi's instruction Lord Shiva came at NASHIK and cleaned his sin by taking a bath in RAMKUND. And after that he done some JAP, the place where now the Temple is located

                           

Then we were on our way to Triambakeshwar temple.

Midway,  we halted for lunch at a dhaba like restaurant where Hot & spicy Andhra food was served.   Really awesome, Andhra food in a Nashik highway…!!!!.

Triambakeshwar Temple

Triambakeshwar - one of the holy places of not only Maharashtra but the whole India is near Nashik. Trimbakeshwar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. The following verse shall explain the importance of this sacred place and the next one gives names of the Twelve Jyotirlingas in India. This says that anybody who visits Tryambakeshwar attains salvation. There is no sacred place like Tryambakeshwar, no river like Godavari, no mountain like Brahmagiri etc. The reasons for its being so sacred are  - Godavari river originates in this place, its a place of Tri-Sandhya Gayatri, the birth place of  Lord Ganesha, a place of the first Nath of Nath Sampradaya consisting of Gorakhnath and others,  a place where Nivrittinath was made to imbibe the holy knowledge by his Guru Gahininath, a place where Nivrittinath made his brothers and sister attain the self by his preaching. This is the holiest place to perform Shraddha ceremony. Nirnaya Sindhu - a religious book of Hindus, mentions that this place, where Sahyadri mountain and Godavari river exist is very purifying on the whole earth and is therefore very important for performing Shraddha ceremony

These kind of people  draw welcome tilak symbols on foreheads of the tourists who visit the temples.  They dip the small paterns in the paste made of  sandal powder or gopi stick and draw  symbols of Siva viz. Linga, Trisul etc. and of  Vishnu viz. Namam etc. Tourists will comfortably feel that they are very much devoted to the god at that moment. This way, the person who draw symbols will earn some money for his livelihood.

              

 

                                                                                                       (Continuation in Part -2)

 



Visit to Perungalur Temple

My Spiritual Travelogue - Visit to Perungalur

This Perungalur is a peaceful village in Pudukottai Taluk/District of Tamilnadu situated about 18 KM from Pudukottai on the Tanjore - Pudukottai highway,  nearby runs a small river 'Agniyaru'.  The temples in this small town are worshipped as their 'Family Deity' (குல தெய்வம்) by many Hindus.  We joined in a Spiritual Tour along with my relatives family to Perungalur to perform their Family Deity Prarthana (குலதெய்வ வழிபாடு) at the temple for Lord Siva Sri Vamsodhdharakar" and his consort Sri Mangalambigai.  

In general, it is a well known custom in a hindu family to perform Family Deity Prarthana to fulfil their vows on completion of a good (Subha Mangalam)  happening in the family, even some people offer to tonsure their head as a mark of their prarthana to their family deity. 

இந்த ஸ்தலத்தை மையமாகக்  கொண்டு நடந்த ஒரு பின் நிகழ்வு  -

தஞ்சையை  ஆண்ட சோழ சாம்ராஜ்யத்தின் மூன்றாவது குலோத்துங்க சோழன் தன் வம்சம் வளர  பிள்ளை வரம் வேண்டி சிவ பெருமானைப்  பிரார்த்திக்கிறான். அவனுடைய பிரார்த்தனைக்கிணங்க, எம்பெருமானார் இரண்டு சிவ லிங்கங்களை கிழக்கொன்றும் மேற்கொன்றுமாகப்  பிரதிஷ்டை செய்து அதனைப் பிரார்த்திக்கு மாறு கோருகிறார்.  மேற்கு பார்த்து  வைத்த சிவலிங்கம் இருப்பது  இந்த பெருங்களூர். காலப் போக்கில் மன்னருக்கு குழந்தை பாக்கியம்  கிட்டவும்  அவனது வம்சம் வளர்ந்து சாம்ராஜ்யதாரகம்  தழைக்கவும் அடிகோலியது  இந்த ஸ்தலம்.    ஆகவே, இங்கு வீற்றிருக்கும் எம்பெருமானார்  "வம்சோதாரகர்"  என அழைக்கப்படுகிறார் என்பது  ஒரு கூற்று ..!!!  இதனைப்  பின்னணியாகக் கொண்டு, குழந்தை பாக்கியம் வேண்டுவோர் எம்பெருமானைத் தரிசித்துத்  துதிக்க வேண்டிய வரம் கிட்ட அருள் பாலிக்கும் இத்தலம் என்பது மற்றுமோர் கூற்று ...!!!

வம்சா(குல) வழி  மரபிற்கிணங்க  நடத்தும் வழிபாடுகள் தொடரப்பட்டு  வருவதை இன்றும்  காணலாம் இங்கு..

மேற்குப்  பகுதியில் அமைந்த அகண்டு விரிந்த குளம் காண்பதிற்கு ஒரு ரம்மியமான காட்சியாகும். அமைதியான சுற்றுப்புறம், பரந்துவிரிந்து விருட்சமாக காட்சி தரும் அரச மரம், மிதந்து வரும் குளிர்ந்த காற்று, அதனின்று எழும் இலை சல சலப்பு, பசுமை போர்த்திய கரை மருங்கு, பட்சிகளின்  ரீங்காரம்,  தெள்ள தெளிவென நீர்ப்பரப்பு, அருகே  அமைதியாய்  அருள் பாலிக்கும் "வம்சோதாரகர்"  - எடுத்தேனே  இப்பிறவி இங்கிதனைக்  காண...!!!

கோயில்  அருகில் குளம் 

ரம்மியமான கோயில் குளக் காட்சி

Devotees are first to take bath in the pond and with their wet dress, to have proceed for darshan at the Sri Vannimara Pillaiyar temple and to complete their prarthana offerings.  After doing alankaram, prayers, neivedthyam, harathi etc. three handful of paddy grains are offered to the deity along with a rupee coin by everybody.

ஸ்ரீவன்னிமர பிள்ளையார்  கோயில்  

ஸ்ரீ வன்னிமர பிள்ளையார் 

சன்னதியில் ஒரு வழிபாடு 

Then, they will proceed to the other side pillaiyar temple ("Sri Khshema Pillayar Temple"). There also the devotees are required to take bath from the water fetched from another pond nearby by the poojari.   Only three pots of water will be poured on the devotees head.  After bath, only here the devotees are permitted to change their wet cloths. Then, offerings, prarthana neivedhyam, harathi  etc. will be performed by the poojari and the darshan will be completed.   

ஸ்ரீ ஷேம பிள்ளையார் கோயிலும் குளமும் 

ஸ்ரீ ஷேம பிள்ளையார் சன்னதி  

Next, the devotees will go to the Sri Urumanathar Temple (an Ayyanar temple) which is very closeby.  In this temple, ladies are not allowed after certain distance from the sannadhi.  Only gents can go near the sannadhi and do offerings and prayer.  

    

ஸ்ரீ உருமநாதர் கோயில்

ஸ்ரீ உருமநாதர்  சன்னதி 

Lastly, the devotees will enter Sri Vamsodharagar temple to have darshan of Lord Siva and his consort Sri Mangalaambigai.  Here, ladies will do 'Mavilakku Mavu' offering according to their vow, in front of Sri Mangalaambigai sannadhi.  This ritual is a very sacred and sanctified and they will do with their full devotion before the deity.  

                                                                     கோயில் நுழை வாயில்

கோபுரத்தின்  மற்றுமொரு காட்சி  (உட்புறமிருந்து )

சன்னதியின் இடப்புற  துவாரபாலகர் 

சன்னதியின் வலப்புற துவாரபாலகர் 

ஸ்ரீ வம்சோதாரகர் 

The main deity Sri Vamsodharagar is in the form a Linga facing west.

ஸ்ரீ மங்களாம்பிகை கோயில் 

Goddess Sri Mangalambigai is facing south in this temple.

ஸ்ரீ மங்களாம்பிகை சன்னதி 

அம்மன் சன்னதி  அலங்கரிப்பு 

அம்மன் சன்னதி  அலங்கரிப்பு 

There is another temple for Lord Ayyappan in the name of  'Sri Malayamarungar' considered to be a powerful god.  The poojaris who perform pooja in this temple are called 'படிமத்தார் ' . 

ஸ்ரீ மலையமருங்கர்  கோயில் 

                                                                                    ஸ்ரீ மலயமருங்கர் சன்னதி 

ஸ்ரீ துர்க்கை அம்மன்  சன்னதி 

Separate sannadhis are there for Lord Murugar, Dakshinamoorthy, Chandikeswarar and Bhairavar.

and.. a child's play at the end.

குழந்தையும்  குதிரை வாகனமும் ...

வழிபாடுகளைனைத்தும் இனிதே நடந்தேற எம்பெருமானார்  இன்னருள் இறைஞ்சி 

இனிய நினைவலைகளுடன் இல்லம் திரும்பினோம்.

வணக்கம் 

Visit to Rameswaram Temple

My Spiritual Travelogue

Arulmigu Sri Ramanathaswami Temple - Rameshwaram

We planned our visit to Rameshwaram keeping in mind to perform our pithru rites during Mahalaya Paksha period (Sept. 2012) at Rameshwaram, combining with our longer wish to fullfil - to have  darshan of Shri Ramanatha swamy at Rameshwaram. 

From Chennai, we started off by train to Madurai where we landed at about 8.00 p.m.  Due to some track work, the journey was terminated at Koodal Nagar instead of Madurai Junction.  On alighting from the train, we were greeted by heavy drizzling and was wading through the same to reach Madurai junction railway station where Rameshwaram passenger train leaving at midnight.  Added to the our owe, Madurai junction railway station was in pitch dark due to power failure.  Somehow, we managed to get into our train which left after a delay of 40 mts from its scheduled departure.  The journey was a little bit husky.  We landed at Rameshwaram station on the following morning at about 4.30 a.m.   

The early morning cool sea breeze kindled our spirits from the sleepy mood and set sail our enthu to the day's active schedule.  We checked-in to a lodge,  dumped our baggages and taking the advise of the inn-keeper, we proceeded to Shri Ramanathaswamy temple to have 'spadiga linga pooja' darshan.  This darshan in the early morning before sunrise is said to be a gifted opportunity for the pilgrims.  Chanting of the powerful mantra 'Om NamaShivaya' and of having the 'spadiga linga'  darshan in that early morning spiritually took us to a heavenly abode.   There is a belief that the 'spadiga lingam' was given by Sankaracharya to this temple. 

                                                                                        

Morning Beach at Rameshwaram

The Lodge where we stayed

Next, we engaged a prohit and jeeps for visiting Dhanushkodi to perform our Theertha srartham or Hiranya srartham.  The prohit had lined up all paraphernelia for the pooja and in two jeeps lead us to Dhanuskodi where we have to perform our rites at the confluence of Mahodadhi (Bay of Bengal) and Ratnakara (Indian Ocean).  

Dhannushkodi is a town in the southern tip of south India.  There is no proper road to Dhanushkodi.  The stretch is through beach sand.  No ordinary vehicle can travel in this sand dunes beach.  There are lot of special small trucks available to travel to Dhanushkodi. 

Mini tucks & Jeeps in the sand dunes

It is a journey, unimaginable to many, even for us till that moment,  to be at the very southern end (tip) of India, but a realistic one for us.  Emotionally, we were all speechless on seeing the vast roaring sea around our visinity, engulfed with the golden sun rays from the eastern horizan, twinkling waves through the golden rays.  Oh, what a marvellous sight gifted by nature.   With rapt attention, we stood motionless,  enjoying the nature's beauty.  But, for a sudden thud by our prohit,  we would not have been back to realism.  He was preparing for our doing the sankalpam and prayers on the sands of Dhanushkodi sea shore.  He drew bows and arrows for each one of our families on the sand for performing our theertha srartham.  He arranged everything so professionally and we did the rituals as per his command.  Then, we were asked to take 30 snan dips in the sea.  After this, we all straight away proceeded to Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple without changing the wet cloth.

 

Ramanathaswamy temple is the most important temple at Rameswaram.  The temple is so constructed inside a compound wall of more than one kilometre, houses four marvelous corridors which have been beautifully carved or sculptured.   It is said that the holy water of the divine water tanks inside the temple compound have tremendous powers to the pilgrims / visitors.   The ponds inside the temple corridor have their own significance in belief and faith.  temple corridor one can   visit here is the longest in India.

The Legend related to the temple goes like this -  on the advice of Rishis, Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya - killing of a Brahmin – Ravana while returning to Ayodhya. Rama wanted to do the Sivalinga installation at an auspicious time.  He sent Hanuman to Mount Kailas to get a Sivalinga.  Since Hanuman could not return with the Sivalinga in time before the auspicious time goes,  Sita herself made a Lingam (Ramalingam) out of sand.  The rituals were performed and after that Hanuman returned with a Linga from Mount Kailas.  To appease the disappointed Hanuman, Rama had Anjaneya’s Lingam - Visvalingam  also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and ordained that rituals be performed first to the Visvalingam. This Visvalingam is just around the Prakaram of Hanuman temple.

 

                                                             

                                                         Sri Ramanatha Swamy Temple

Architectural marvel - Temple corridors

                                       

                                                                  

The temple ponds inside the temple corridor have their own significance in faith. The concept is that just before purifying the soul inside the temple, one can purify the body in these “theerthams” or holy ponds.  There are almost 36 Theerthams here in Rameshwaram, out of which 22 are in the temple.  The water of these Theerthams are said to be therapeutic. A bath in these is regarded significant.  The name of 22 Theerthams are -

Sethumadava Theertham,
Gayathri Theertham,
Saraswathy Theertham,
Maha lakshmi Theertham,
Savithri Theertham,
Gandhamadava Theertham,
Gavaksha Theertham,
Yamuna Theertham,
Gaya Theertham,
Siva Theertham,
Satyamrita Theertham,
Sarva Theertham,
Kodi Theertham,
Gavaya Theertham,
Nala Theertham,
Neela Theertham,
Sanku Theertham,
Chakra Theertham,
Brahmahatta vimochana Theertham,
Soorya Theertham,
Chandra Theertham,
Ganga Theertham

Gavaya Theertham

Yamuna Theertham

Suriya Theertham

Sanku Theertham

After taking  bath in all the 22 theerthams inside the temple, we went back to our prohit's place for performing our Mahalaya Paksha Tarpan which he arranged.  After performing the Tarpan, we had darshan of Sri Ramanatha Swamy and his consort goddess Sri Parvathavarthini.  The prohit also made arrangements for our lunch.  After having a sumptuous lunch, we were getting ourselves ready for our return journey by evening.  We reached Rameshwaram railway station and our return train was waiting at the platform.  

We all wanted to have look on the Pamban Bridge which connects Rameshwaram on Pamban Island to mainland India.  We could not have a look on the Pamban bridge in the night when we were ravelling to Rameshwaram as it was mid-night and pitch dark everywhere.  So, we made it  point to have good look on the Pamban Bridge on our return  from Rameshwaram.

 

During the British Raj period, in late 1870, when East India Company was expanding its trade, a need arose for a rail link between Danushkodi and Colombo. Under the Indo-Ceylon Project, two proposals - i) rail bridge from Mandapam to Pamban and ii) from Danushkodi to Thalaimannar were sent to the British Parliament.  The Mandapam - Danushkodi rail link project got approved by the British Parliament at a cost Rs. 70 Lakhs.  South Indian Railway commenced the bridge construction in 1902. Work was smooth till constructing 112th pier from Mandapam side.  At this stage, it was decided to allow ferry service as well. A German Engineer Scherzer designed and built the famous 65.23 metre long rolling type lift span which opens up to pave way for the vessels to pass through.  After the erection of rolling lift centre span in 1913, the bridge was thrown open to traffic in Feb. 24, 1914 and recently, the bridge has completed its centenary year.  The bridge with stood nature's fury in December 1964.  The then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who hailed from Rameswaram island suggested for gauge conversion of the rail track and the same was completed in 2007.  The bridge was further strengthened in 2009 for movement of goods traffic.  Recently, it suffered a jolt, when a barge which was drifting due to its anchor failure, crashed into the bridge, damaging the 121st pier.  The same was rectified within a weeks' time and the train service was restored.   

The Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge on the Palk Strait connects Rameshwaram on Pamban Island to mainland.  There is a road bridge passes through adjacent to the cantilever railway bridge. It was India's first sea bridge.  It is the second longest sea bridge in India (after Bandra-Worli Sea Link) at a length of about 2.3 KM.  The rail bridge is a conventional bridge resting on concrete piers, but has a double leaf bascule section midway which can be raised to let ships and barges pass through.  It is a magnificient sight for the eyes to view the cantilever railway bridge and the road bridge side by side in the mid sea in that evening sunset light.  

An engineering marvel - Pamban bridge

Pamban bridge

With these sweet memories we returned to our base the next day morning and got mixed up with our daily chores. In that way, we were all very much gracefully blessed by the divine powers of Sri Ramanatha Swami of Rameshwaram in making our spiritual pilgrimage a very successful one both in spirits and health and kindled our enthusiasm for more and more such  spiritual yatras.       

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