Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday will embark on a near two-day meditation exercise at the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari.
PM Modi will meditate at Rock Memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda, following the culmination of the Lok Sabha polls campaign on May 30.
What Is Vivekanand Rock Memorial?
Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a picturesque and popular tourist destination located on one of two rocks, about 500 metres off the mainland of Vavathurai, at Kanyakumari which is India's southernmost tip.
The rock is surrounded by the Laccadive Sea where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea form a confluence. It was built in 1970 to honour Swami Vivekananda, a 19th-century philosopher and author who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock.
Significance Of Swami Vivekanand Memorial
Swami Vivekananda brought India's spiritual heritage to the global stage at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893. In his honour, a memorial was erected in 1970 on a rock where he is believed to have attained enlightenment.
According to legend, this same rock is where the goddess Kanyakumari prayed to Lord Shiva. A specially preserved section of the rock is said to bear the imprint of the goddess's feet. The memorial features a blend of various architectural styles, with the Sripada Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam being notable structures to explore. The premises also include a life-sized bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda.
About Vivekanand Rock Memorial
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial consists of two main structures:
Vivekananda Mandapam
Shripada Mandapam.
According to Kanyakumari government tourism website, Vivekananda Mandapam is a 180’-11 ‘ X 56’ mandapam and consists of:
Dhyana Mandapam, i.e., meditation hall with six adjacent rooms.
Sabha Mandapam or the assembly hall including Pralima Mandapam (statue section) two rooms, a corridor and an open Prakaram around the Sabha Mandapam.
Front entrance steps with two rooms and a corridor below the steps.
PM Modi will meditate from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam.
Security Arrangements For PM
All arrangements, including heavy security, are in place for Modi's 45-hour stay. Security has been beefed up ahead of Modi's visit and 2,000 police personnel will stand guard during his stay, even as the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy will also maintain tight vigil. Tirunelveli range DIG Pravesh Kumar accompanied by superintendent of police, E Sundaravathanam, inspected the security arrangements at the rock memorial, boat jetty, helipad and the state guest house in Kanyakumari.
The PM is also likely to offer prayers at the famous Sri Bhagavathy Amman temple here. Ahead of his departure on June 1, Modi might even visit the Thiruvalluvar statue, a towering 133 ft sculpture erected for the Tamil bard. The complex is located adjacent to the rock memorial.
(With PTI inputs)
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