English - PRAVASI BHARATIYA - Overseas Indian

BEYOND THE ROCKSLocated at about 400 metres from the southern-most tip of Kanyakumari, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial standstall at the Vivekananda Rock. The Rock juts out at the convergence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and theBay of Bengal, making the structure a visual treat. Built in 1970, the memorial commemorates the visit of SwamiVivekananda who is believed to have meditated on the rocks. Legend has it that he attained enlightenment on the rock,and subsequently became a reformer and philosopher. Regarded as a sacred place, the rock has been traditionallyknown as ‘Sripada Parai’, meaning that it has been blessed by the ‘sacred feet’ of Goddess Kanya Kumari.Built on a total area of 4 acres (16,200 sqm), the memorial consists of two main structures, the VivekanandaMandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. The former houses a life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda. The calmatmosphere of the Vivekananda Mandapam makes it an ideal place for meditation. The Shripada Mandapam is themain sanctum surrounded by an outer platform. It has a projection on the rock that resembles a human foot, which isregarded as Sri Padam.lR;eso t;rsMinistry of Overseas Indian Affairswww.moia.gov.inwww.overseasindian.in