Floating Stones in India: The Ramayana has been an intrinsic component of Indian society, culture, and heritage since the beginning of time. It provides a detailed account of Lord Ram’s odyssey, beginning with his reign as Prince of Ayodhya and culminating in his quest to liberate his wife Sita from Ravan’s Lanka and ascend to the throne of Ayodhya. Since our youth, Lord Ram and his exploits have been deeply embedded in our cognitive faculties.
Once, during his quest to retrieve Sita, Ram was confronted with an almost insurmountable obstacle. Although seemingly unattainable for ordinary mortals, Ram distinguished himself as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. To reach Lanka, he and his army of monkeys discovered they had to traverse a vast ocean. During that period, Ram was undergoing his exile as well, and the available technology was insufficient to expeditiously construct a substantial bridge across the ocean.
What exactly did they do? The monkeys and all in attendance initiated a ritualistic act of tossing stones bearing the inscription “Ram” into the sea. Surprisingly, the stones began to float on the water, and they were utilized to construct a bridge.
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The phenomenon of floating stones in the present
Let us now return to the current day. You may find it implausible in the scientific age that stones can float on water due to, well, physics. Two temples in Tamil Nadu, however, are believed to be where stones float.
The Temple of Ramanathaswamy
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, is located on Pamban Island and is regarded as one of the holiest sites in India. In the Ramayana, Ram constructed the bridge to Lanka across the sea from a location near this town. As a component of the Char Dham pilgrimage, the renowned Ramanathaswamy Temple is located in Rameswaram.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the renowned temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in this country. It is among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams and one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. Temple expansion occurred during the Pandya Dynasty in the 12th century. Reportedly, the Ramanathaswamy Temple contains stones that exhibit buoyancy. Ram is said to have constructed and venerated the Lingam at Ramanathaswamy before traversing the bridge, which is an intriguing fact.
Hanuman’s Panchamukhi Temple
Adjacent to the Ramanathaswamy Temple, the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple, also known as the Five-Faced Hanuman Temple, is situated in Rameswaram. Sacred to the temple is Lord Hanuman, who is purported to have manifested his five faces at this location. In addition to the blessings of Hanuman, a significant draw to the temple is the presence of floating stones that have been preserved for the observation of devotees.
Although it is widely speculated that these stones are residuals from the renowned bridge’s construction, scientific analysis reveals that their density is significantly lower than that of water. These calcite limestone formations are characterized by an abundance of air pockets and hollow spaces, which result in diminished density and buoyancy.
The stones float in a body of water, such as the Palk Strait, by the buoyancy principle. However, scientific explanations notwithstanding, these rocks are of immense cultural and religious significance because they serve as a reminder of the exploits of Lord Ram and his “Vanar Sena.”
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