Rāma and Rāmasetu in the Kūrma Purāṇa

The Kūrma Purāṇa tells the story of Rāma in its account of the Ikshvāku line. It tells of Rāma’s march to Laṅkā, the building of the Setu (bridge) by the vānara army, and the death of Rāvaṇa. Most of all, it tells how Rāma set up a Śiva liṅga at the middle of the Setu. Bhagavān Śiva appeared to him there and spoke of the lasting greatness of that tīrtha (holy place).

Rāma in the Kūrma Purāṇa

The Kūrma Purāṇa gives Rāma’s story as part of the praise of the Ikshvāku line. Rāma was born in the line of the Sun. He lived fourteen years in the forest with Sītā and Lakshmaṇa. During that time the rākshasa king Rāvaṇa came in the dress of a sannyāsī (one who has given up the world) and carried Sītā off to his city of Laṅkā. (Kūrma Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20)

Rāma and Lakshmaṇa were in distress. They made friends with Sugrīva, the king of the vānaras, and with his army. The mighty Hanumat, the son of Vāyu and Sugrīva’s minister, became Rāma’s most devoted companion. Hanumat crossed the ocean and found Sītā in Laṅkā. He gave her Rāma’s ring so that she would know him. He comforted her and came back with the news. (Kūrma Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20)

The building of the Setu

Rāma talked it over with Hanumat and Lakshmaṇa and decided to fight Rāvaṇa. With hundreds of vānaras he built a setu (bridge) across the ocean to Laṅkā. Rāma, who holds to dharma, then crossed to Laṅkā and killed Rāvaṇa. He also killed Rāvaṇa’s son Indrajit and his brother Kumbhakarṇa. With Hanumat’s help he brought Sītā back. (Kūrma Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20)

Rāma sets up the liṅga at the Setu

At the middle of the Setu, Rāma set up a Śiva liṅga, the liṅga of Śiva as Īśāna, who wears an animal skin as his garment, and he worshipped him. At that moment Mahādeva Śaṅkara himself appeared before Rāma, with Devī Pārvatī, and gave him a great vara (boon).

Śiva speaks of the greatness of the Setu

Bhagavān Śiva said:

“When people of the twice-born varṇas see the liṅga you have set up here, their pāpa (sin) will be destroyed, even if they carry the weight of great pāpa. Those who bathe in this ocean and then see this liṅga will have all their remaining pāpa destroyed too. There is no doubt of this. As long as the mountains stand, as long as this earth lasts, and as long as this Setu remains, I shall live here in my unseen form. Giving, tapas, bathing and śrāddha (rites for the ancestors) done at this Setu will bring fruit that never runs out. Merely to think of this liṅga is enough: whatever pāpa has gathered from that very day will perish.” (Kūrma Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20)

Having spoken, Bhagavān Śiva embraced Śrī Rāma and then went out of sight with his Pramatha-gaṇas and Nandīśvara. (Kūrma Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20)

Rāma after the Setu

Rāma returned and was anointed king. He ruled together with Bharata, a great king who held to dharma. He gave special honour to brāhmaṇas and to Īśvara. He did the Aśvamedha yajña (fire ritual) and worshipped Śaṅkara, the one who destroyed Daksha’s yajña. (Kūrma Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20)

Sources

Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Poorvardha, Chapter 20 (the Ikshvāku line, the Setu, and Rāma’s liṅga)