Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a monument and popular tourist attractions in Kanyakumari, stands on one of two rocks located about 500 meters off the Mainland of Vavathurai. It is a Charnockite rock island on which the memorial is built. Swami Vivekananda – original name Narendranath Datta – was an Indian Hindu Monk and Philosopher born on 12th Jan 1863 to an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha Family.
Swami Vivekananda is said to have attained enlightenment after meditating on the rock. He meditated for three days and nights on the rock before he attained enlightenment. It is in honour of Swami Vivekananda, the Rock Memorial monument was built in 1970. Legends say that Goddess Parvathi (Kanyakumari) performed Tapas (Penance) in devotion of Lord Shiva on this rock. There is a Dhyana Mandapam built along with this memorial for visitors to meditate. It is designed incorporating different temple architectural styles from all over India.
The Vivekananda Rock is also said to be the ancient “Breaking Point” which linked India to Antarctica. The rocks are surrounded by the Laccadive Sea, where the three oceans Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meets. There are two main structures on the memorial – Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam.
Read more about Swami Vivekananda here
Read more about Vivekananda Rock Memorial here
