Recently, the Prime Minister of India, as part of his meditation exercise, performed ‘Surya Arghya’ during sunrise at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
About Vivekananda Rock Memorial
- The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is situated on a rock in the sea.
- Location: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India
- Architectural style(s): Indian rock-cut and Cathedral
- This memorial was built in 1970 to honor Swami Vivekananda.
- The premises also feature a life-sized bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda.
- Structures and Features of Vivekananda Rock Memorial
- Vivekananda Mandapam: One of the primary structures of the memorial.
- Shripada Mandapam: The other main structure of the memorial.
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Swami Vivekananda
He was Born as Narendranath Datta in 1863 into a Bengali family in Calcutta.
- He is considered the “father of modern Indian nationalism” .
- Famous for: He is known for introducing Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and promoting Hinduism as a major world religion.
- Founded
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- The Vedanta Society of New York
- The Vedanta Society of San Francisco, which laid the foundation for Vedanta Societies in the West.
- He was the disciple of Ramakrishna, a mystic saint.
- His birthday(12 January ) is celebrated as National Youth Day in India.
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- Dhyana Mandapam: A meditation hall attached to the memorial for visitors to meditate,
- It incorporates architectural styles from various Indian temples.
- Surroundings: The rocks are encircled by the Laccadive Sea, where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea converge.
Historical and Cultural Significance
- Swami Vivekananda: According to legends, Swami Vivekananda swam across the seashore to the rock, where he meditated for three days and nights, attaining enlightenment.
- This event is linked to his “Kanyakumari resolve” of 1892.
Kanyakumari
- Location: Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of the Indian mainland.
- Confluence of Oceans: It is the meeting point of three major oceans:
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- Bay of Bengal
- Arabian Sea
- Indian Ocean
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- Goddess Kanyakumari: The rock is also associated with the legend of Goddess Kanyakumari (Parvati).
- It is believed that the goddess Parvati performed tapas (meditation) in devotion to Lord Shiva on this rock.
- A specific area on the rock is believed to bear the imprint of the goddess’s feet.
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1 Jun 2024
