PM Modi In Kanyakumari For Meditation: All About Vivekananda Rock Memorial; Here’s How You Can Reach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45-hour-long meditation session at the renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari on Thursday.

Arriving via helicopter from nearby Thiruvananthapuram, PM Modi first paid homage at the Bhagavathi Amman temple before boarding a ferry to the rock memorial, where his meditation is scheduled to continue till June 1.

Clad in a dhoti and a white shawl, the Prime Minister participated in rituals at the temple, including circumambulating the ‘garbhagriha.’ Priests performed a special ‘arthi’ ceremony, and Modi received temple ‘prasad,’ including a shawl and a framed photograph of the presiding deity.

Upon arriving at the rock memorial via a state-operated ferry service, PM Modi initiated his meditation session at the ‘dhyan mandapam,’ situated adjacent to the memorial, serving as a meditation hall for visitors.

What is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial?

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial holds immense spiritual significance, as it is believed that Swami Vivekananda, after swimming from the mainland in 1892, meditated on the rock for three days and three nights, ultimately achieving enlightenment.

The memorial also includes the Sripada Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam, along with a life-sized bronze statue of the revered philosopher-saint.

In 1963, ahead of Swami Vivekananda’s centenary birth anniversary, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, spearheaded by RSS activist Eknath Ranade, worked towards commemorating the site of his enlightenment. The memorial was officially inaugurated by then-President VV Giri in 1970.

How to get there?

The rock memorial, situated on a rocky islet around 500 meters from Vavathurai beach in Kanyakumari, is accessible through regular ferries operated by the Tamil Nadu government.

ALSO READ: Why PM Modi Chose Kanniyakumari’s Vivekananda Rock To Meditate After End Of 2024 Poll Campaign

Reason behind PM Modi’s visit

PM Modi’s visit to the memorial rock marks his first stay at the site. Previously, after the conclusion of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he opted for reflective meditation at Kedarnath cave. This time, he has selected a spiritually significant location at the southernmost tip of the mainland for his retreat.

Speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai described PM Modi’s visit to the memorial as a private affair.

“It is Prime Minister’s personal visit,” Annamalai said, adding that was why his party leaders and cadres did not take part in the event.

Meanwhile, security personnel has crowded the memorial premises, heightened security measures have been implemented throughout the Kanyakumari district. Approximately 2,000 police personnel have been deployed, along with increased surveillance by the Tamil Nadu police’s Coastal Security Group, Coast Guard, and Navy.

(With inputs from PTI)

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