Vivekananda Memorial Kanyakumari turns 50

   

50 Years of Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Vivekakanda Memorial, Kanyakumari

It was on 2nd September 1970, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial was dedicated to the nation by the then president V. V. Giri.

It was on this rock, Swami Vivekananda meditated for three days from Dec. 25 to 27 in 1892 whence he got divine enlightenment about his life’s mission.

After being ordained as a sanyasi in 1886, Vivekananda went on a solitary wandering in the Himalayas (1890) and then undertook Bharat Parikrama as a Wandering Monk (July 1890-Dec.1892), at the end of which he reached Kanyakumari on 24th Dec 1892. 

After meditation there and upon realizing his life’s mission, Vivekananda sailed for USA on 31 May 1893 to participate in the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. His address on 11 Sept. 1893 (in response to welcome) began with the unusual “Brothers & Sisters of America”, deviating from the formal “Ladies & Gentlemen”, which touched the heart of those assembled 

For the next three years (1893-1896) Vivekananda traveled throughout the USA lecturing on Vedanta and established the Vedanta Society there (1896). Returning on 26 Jan. 1897, a warm and rousing welcome awaited Vivekananda in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu. He founded Ramakrishna Mission on 1st May 1897. 

To honour this great saint, it was decided in 1962, on the eve of his birth centenary (1963), to construct a befitting memorial. Accordingly, on 17th January 1963 a tablet was installed on the rock and negotiations with Tamil Nadu Govt. started.  With Shri Eknathiji Ranade joining the Committee as the first Organising Secretary on 11th Aug. 1963, things progressed further and, on 12th October 1967, the foundation stone was laid. 

Stamp Tourism: Department of Post has issued a commemorative postage stamp on Vivekananda Memorial in 1996. The Stamp was printed at the Culcutta Security Printers Limited and the value of the stamp was 5 rupees. It was on this rock where Goddess Parvathi (Kanya Kumari) did penance standing on one leg. Hence this rock is originally known as Sri Patham Rock.

 

Postage Stamp of Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari
Photo Courtesy: http://postagestamps.gov.in/

Lalbagh Flower Show 2020: The Republic day special flower show at lalbagh 2020 paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda. Flower show celebrated the 157th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The glass house at lalbagh, which is the main centre of attraction of lalbagh flower show has a 19feet floral statue of Swami Vivekananda. A floral model of Temple of Kanyakumari and the memorial hall of Chicago is also kept inside the glass house as part of the lalbagh flower show

             Lalbagh Flower Show 2020 Republic Day - Tribute to Swami Vivekananda

Link to Stamp Tourism by Indian Globetrotting Videos

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