Fw: Swami Vivekananda Rock

 

 

From: DCW Behala

Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 2:54 PM

To: dcw-behala@googlegroups.com

Subject: Swami Vivekananda Rock

 

Swami Vivekananda Rock

 

 

 

Location: Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), India

How to Reach: The Swami Vivekananda memorial is reachable from Kanyakumari by ferry services that connect the island

Opening Times: Open from 7am to 5pm, closed on Tuesday

Best Time: Throughout the year

 

Details:

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is located where three oceans meet the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea , it is located 400 meters from Kanyakumari.

This magnificient structure was built in the year 1970, under the guidance of Shri Eknath Ranade and Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee. The cost of building the memorial was up to 1 crore 35 lakhs. The rock on which the memorial is contructed measures about 164 mtrs. x 130 mtrs. at the water level and has a spacious level top at an altitude of 17 mtrs.

Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari, on December 24, 25 and 26 in 1892. He swam across the sea meditated in the isolated rock, known as 'Sripada Parai'.

He meditated about the past, present and future of India. It is believed that he received enlightenment here after meditating for three continuous days. The meditation transformed Swami Vivekananda into one of the most charismatic spiritual leaders of this century who will be remembered by everyone. This rock were he meditated is now popularly known as Vivekananda memorial and is a major tourist attraction.

The memorial has two main portions the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Sripada Mandapam, on two adjacent rocks which are separated by 70 meters from each other. The smaller rock known as 'Sripada Parai', it is believed in ancient times the virgin Goddess Kanya Kumari medidated on this rock and there is a mark on the rock similar to a human foot which is believed to be 'Sripadam' or the feet of the Virgin Goddess. It is now surrounded in a square shrine or Sripada Madapam.

Vivekananda Mandapam has dimension of 534' x 426', a Meditation Hall ( Dhyana Mandapam) and it also has an Assembly hall (Sabha Mandapam) . A statue of Swami Vivekananda in a standing posture, has also been installed in the Assembly hall, with its vision directed towards the 'Sripadam'.