Patala Khanda also explains about Sethu being built on ocean and how Vanaras crossed over it to reach Lanka, but the method here is different.
The 116th chapter of this section is known as purAkalpIya-rAmAyaNa-kathanaM and contains Jambavanta’s narration of the Ramayana’s events.
There is strikingly unique description of the enterprise of crossing the sea by the vanara sena :
“Now, I am going to relate (to you) the efforts (made) towards crossing the sea. Then Rama said, I would worship Lord Sankara and appeal to him about our predicament, and then we shall do as guided by him. Saying this, he started praying to mahadeva. (There is a beautiful hymn at 222 sloka containing several names of maheshwara, which Rama uttered to invoke him). Mahadeva then appeared to Rama with all his attributes.
Rama saluted mahadeva with joined palms and prayed to him again in the daNDavata posture.
Parameswara then addressed Rama promising him the desired boons. Rama replied to mahAdeva: ‘O sambhu, only give us the means to cross this sea so that we may reach lankA’.
Hearing this, Sambhu (Siva) then answered: ‘This is my bow ajagavaM. It immediately takes any shape as desired (by its wielder). Take this and climbing through it you can overcome the sea and reach lankA’.
Then intent upon this course, Rama invoked that ajagavaM, and when the bow appeared, Rama worshipped it. Siva then handed it over to Rama, and he threw the bow across the ocean.
Rama, lakshmana and the entire sena of as numerous vanaras as six-parArdha fulfilled their objective (of crossing the ocean) by climbing that bow.
Seeing those vanaras approaching the shore though the bow, and alarmed by the force of the vanaras, a Rakshasa coast-guard by the name of Atikaaya immediately approached Ravana”.
Padma Puran
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