Following the steps of Swami Vivekananda, Modi will start his meditation tradition at Vivekananda Rock Memorial; What is so famous about the place?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his three-day journey to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu from May 30 to June 1, continuing his 'meditation tradition' ahead of the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections. He will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial as the weeks-long political campaign comes to a conclusion today.

His spiritual journey comes with the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results on June 4, which is just days away. Before the last round of voting in 2019, Prime Minister Modi made a similar trip to Kedarnath and sat in meditation in a cave.

It's interesting to note that Swami Vivekananda saw Bharat Mata during a meditation session at the Dhyan Mandapam of the Rock Memorial in 1892. The PM Modi-led administration adopted the concept of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) in its vision statement, drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda's ideas. This idea became the central focus of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) election campaign for the 2024 elections.


Also Read: PM Modi begins 'dhyan' at Kanyakumari Vivekananda Rock Memorial

About Vivekananda Rock Memorial?

A well-liked tourist attraction, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is situated about 500 meters offshore from Vavathurai's mainland. The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean round this large rock that it sits upon.

The memorial has two main primary structures: The Shripada Mandapam, which has footprints thought to be those of Goddess Kanyakumari, and the Vivekananda Mandapam, which has a magnificent bronze statue of the famed Swami Vivekananda. The location is extremely significant both spiritually and culturally, as there are stories of Goddess Kanyakumari worshiping to Lord Shiva on this rock.

Why Vivekananda Rock Memorial?

BJP officials claim that PM Modi's choice of a rock for meditation had a significant influence on Vivekananda's life and is as significant to the monk as Sarnath was to Gautam Buddha. After traveling the entire nation in search of peace, Vivekananda arrived here, where he spent three days in meditation and had a vision of an advanced India.

"Meditating at the same place shows Prime Minister Modi's commitment to bringing Swami ji's vision of a Viksit Bharat to life," a BJP leader said, adding the place is also mentioned in holy texts as the site of Goddess Parvati's meditation for Lord Shiva.

"Prime Minister Modi is giving a signal of national unity by going to Kanyakumari," a leader said, adding that it also shows his deep commitment and affection for Tamil Nadu that he is visiting the state even after the elections are over.

Tight security

In anticipation of Modi's arrival, security has been stepped up, and 2000 police officers will be on duty. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy will also be keeping a close eye on things. Superintendent of Police E Sundaravathanam and DIG Pravesh Kumar of the Tirunelveli range had examined the security setups at the state guest house, boat jetty, helipad, and rock monument.

From Thursday to Saturday, the beach will be off-limits to visitors, and private boats won't be permitted to ferry, according to PTI.

A practice helicopter landing has taken place at the helipad, and PM Modi is scheduled to arrive there in a chopper.

PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram first, and then he will board a MI-17 helicopter to travel to Kanyakumari, where he is expected to land at 4:35 pm. After watching the sun set, he will sit in meditation. He will be back in Kanyakumari at 3:30 p.m. on June 1, according to sources.