Kanyakumari’s Vivekananda Rock | 04 Jun 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister announced his plan to visit and meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu marking the culmination of the Lok Sabha election campaign.

What are the Key Facts Related to Vivekananda Rock Memorial?

• Swami Vivekananda's Spiritual Experience:
  • In 1892, Swami Vivekananda was said to have swum to the rock from the shores of Kanyakumari for meditation. He spent three days and nights there, resulting in his enlightenment.
  • Swami Vivekananda's letter to Swami Ramkrishnananda in 1894 suggests that his core philosophy crystallised after meditation at the Dhyan Mandapam on the rock.
• Location:
  • The memorial stands on one of the two rocks located about 500 meters off the mainland of Vavathurai, Tamil Nadu.
  • The Vivekananda rock is a small rocky islet, surrounded by the Laccadive Sea where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea form a confluence presenting a picturesque view.
  • The memorial consists of two main structures, viz Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam.
• Significance as a Memorial:
  • The memorial was constructed to honour Swami Vivekananda, a prominent Indian spiritual leader.
  • It was formally inaugurated in 1970 by the then-President of India, V V Giri.

What are the Key Facts About the Swami Vivekananda?

• Birth and Early Life:
  • Swami Vivekananda, originally born as Narendranath Datta on 12^th January 1863, hailed from a conventional Bengali family in Calcutta.
  • His exceesive appetite for knowledge led him to explore various subjects, including philosophy, literature, Indian scriptures, as well as western philosophies.
• Towards Spiritualism:
  • He became the chief disciple of the 19^th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa in 1881.
  • Initially sceptical of Ramakrishna's teachings, Vivekananda eventually embraced his guru's philosophy, leading to his initiation into monastic life.
  • In 1893, upon the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State, he took the name ‘Vivekananda.’
• Associated Organisations:
  • The Ramakrishna movement (initiated by Vivekananda) had two goals:
    • To train monks dedicated to a life of renunciation and practical spirituality to spread Vedanta teachings and
    • To guide lay disciples to carry on preaching, philanthropic and charitable works.
  • He established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 to fulfil the second objective of the Ramakrishna movement whereas Paramhansa himself fulfilled the first objective through Ramkrishna Math.
• His Contributions:
  • He introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga.
    • He preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, an interpretation of Hinduism through a Western lens, and believed in combining spirituality with material progress.
  • His powerful speech at the 1893 World Parliament of Religion in Chicago captivated the audience and placed Hinduism on the global stage.
  • His teachings also offered different paths to spiritual liberation (moksha) through his writings, outlining the four yogas: Raja-yoga (yoga of the mind), Karma-yoga (yoga of action), Jnana-yoga (yoga of knowledge), and Bhakti-yoga (yoga of devotion).
  • His famous quote, “Service of man is the service of God”,is still relevant today.
  • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “Maker of modern India.”
  • National Youth Day is celebrated every year to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.