#Protect the precious- Ramanathaswamy temple - Learning from past wisdom #sustainable development

The picture of a magnificent corridor with convergent lines uniting at a vanishing point roused my curiosity. Deep in my mind, I knew it was calling upon me to explore one of India’s most revered spiritual landmarks, the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram. As an inquisitive Civil Engineer, I love visiting such a quintessential cultural heritage site, as it provides a source of invaluable repositories of ancient engineering knowledge and craftsmanship to help me understand ancient Indian civilisation to a new depth. I was so keen to explore the ingenuity required to construct such a spectacular edifice. I could imagine that the temple must be an example of impeccable fusion of arts, science, and spirituality, creating a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire awe among millions to date. Hence, we decided to visit Rameswaram and found a suitable time at the earliest opportunity.

We visited Dhanushkodi first. It was once a busy tourist location, however, was destroyed after a torrential cyclone in 1964. It turned into a ghost town and has been uninhabitable since then. Although the temple is only 12km (approximately) from Dhanushkodi, it withstood the test of time, and was not adversely affected.? It certainly is a question for the ages, how exactly has the Ramaswamy temple not fallen prey to Nature’s wrath? This further deepened my quest to gain more insight.

I introspected, how would I have dealt with the various challenges and proposed the desired design solution to stand test of time? I was astounded by the foresight of our ancient engineers who chose such a ?strategic site, designed the sturdy foundation (suitable for the sandy ground) with underground water currents on sea shore, selected the structural integrity parameters to suit the seismic and wind pressures, selected durable materials such as gravel and sandstone (which were not even available locally), sustainable designs systems for appropriate drainage, ventilation, natural light, accessibility, symbolism and iconography and its alignment in proportion with ?precise architectural elements.

Starting with the engineering marvels of this sacred spiritual site, I would like to share my personal observations and experience from the temple site.

Key features of the temple:

The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, houses one of the twelve jyotirlingas in the country and is also one of the Char Dhams. It is spread over an expansive 15 acres. The temple is protected by load bearing walls all along. Its awe-inspiring corridor, which stretches over 6,000 feet in length, makes it the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in the Asia. There are three corridors, the first corridor (inner most) is the oldest and dates to the 12th century and has been renovated over various time periods and houses the main deity. The second corridor has 108 shiva lingas and a statue of Ganapathi. The third corridor is a stupendous one with an impressive 1212 pillars sat on an elevated platform and has a height of close to 23 feet. The carvings on these pillars have been painted in bright colours for a compelling visual – something which stayed with me forever. The geometric symmetry and unison, throughout the temple are breath-taking. It was an immensely pleasing experience to circumambulate along the corridors. This architectural marvel is a striking example of the Inter Disciplinary Collaboration (IDC) between civil engineers, architects, vaastu experts, artisans, craftsman’s and labourers to create a timeless masterpiece, delivering an exemplary quality. As we know the quality is not what we put into it, however, it is what a user gets out of it.

Experience within the temple:

In the late afternoon, we started walking towards the temple which was easily visible in the skyline through its prominent landmarks, gopurams or gates. We were welcomed by Rajagopuram which is approximately 53m tall. It has intricate sculptures and carvings. Stepping inside and walking through the labyrinthine corridors, I was astounded by architectural marvels that surrounded me—each pillar, each sculpture, a testament to the skill and devotion of the craftsmen who had crafted them centuries ago. The majestic carvings of gods, goddesses were so beautifully crafted that they seemed to come alive and narrate their own tales. Now, I have travelled to the next phase, beyond the engineering marvel, to the atmosphere of devotion and faith that permeated every corner of the temple complex. I was enveloped by a sense of peace and serenity, as if the whole atmosphere was infused with divine energy. ?The air was filled with the fragrance of incense, and the sounds of bells and chants reverberated through the corridors, creating an atmosphere of divine tranquillity. Within those gigantic corridors, my little worries seemed even obsolete which started dissolving with each step. ?The atmosphere transcended the mundane and transported me to a realm of spirituality. Luckily, due to a light crowd, we could peacefully explore the temple at our own leisure. We had been transcending from outside towards inside, to the sanctum sanctorum. Is it not resembling our spiritual journey towards inwards? The timeless truth is that in the pursuit of inner peace and spiritual fulfilment, the journey itself is the destination.

As I came close to the sacred lingam, I could feel the divine energy all around and how it was blessing all devotees in the hall.? A big tide of mixed feelings in my mind, including humility, gratitude and reverence for the super powerful deity, hit me. ?I felt a deep connection to something greater than myself—a connection that transcended words and thoughts. I looked around and saw ??devotees from far and wide and different walks of life, all united in a shared quest for spiritual fulfilment. The Great Almighty had connected us all through Him as the universal longing for spiritual fulfilment, inner peace and solace. That experience was a soul-stirring encounter with divine and left an indelible mark on my heart and mind. It is believed that no Hindu devotee’s journey is complete without a pilgrimage to Varanasi and Rameswaram, as a step towards attainment of salvation. I now realise why... I thank Rameswaram as it serves as an amalgamation of cultures, languages, and traditions, connecting devotees from all corners of the globe. Despite their differences, they come together as one spiritual family, united by their shared faith and devotion. We are not alone on our spiritual journey.

The next day, after completing the prayers, we followed the ritual of taking baths in the 22 kundas which are natural springs (wells). Surrounding the temple complex they vary in taste, salinity and temperature even though they are located in the close proximity. ?It was another great feat. ?These wells are given the names of various deities in Hinduism and are set in a specific pattern and position. I bowed down to the prudence of the ancient engineers who implemented the principles of Vaastu shastra, an ancient architectural guiding design that governs the layout, design, and orientation of buildings to ensure harmony with the natural and cosmic forces. i.e. the balance and alignment of various elements (panch maha bhute) - earth, water, air, fire, and space. These elements were in harmony, and were positively influencing the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the devotees. Hence, we could feel the harmony, symmetry, and divine alignment here. ?The perfect example of synergy, the whole is much bigger than the sum of its parts.

Coming back to the original question- How could Indra’s fury not destroy the Rameswaram temple? Was it only due to the materialistic construction skills, excellence and due diligence or is this temple truly blessed by the divine energy of the Lord Shiva? Who not only saved the temple but also provided protection and shelter to those seeking refuge during the storm. Is there a touch of the divine intervention indeed? Well, this is just one of nature’s secrets which we may never know.

Conclusion:

?I am grateful for the opportunity to witness such a beauty, for the wisdom imparted by ancient designs, traditions, and sculptures, and for the reminder that it is often the simplest moments of awe and wonder that leave the deepest impression on our souls.

Also, let us draw inspiration from the past to build a brighter, more sustainable, and resilient infrastructure for future generations to come.

Let us also pledge to preserve and cherish our cultural heritage for generations to come, as we can gain valuable insights into our rich architectural legacy by visiting such rich heritage sites and inspire future generations of engineers to build the brighter and more resilient infrastructure for better synergy through sustainable development.

Disclaimer: These are personal opinions and views of the author and are not related to any organisation in any way.