Vivekananda Rock Memorial

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. This article gives a brief account of how it came into being.

Swami Vivekananda’s mission for rejuvenation of Bharat began with the plan he hit upon sitting on “the last bit of Indian rock”. He reveals this in a letter that he wrote to his brother-disciple Swami Ramakrishnananda on 19 March 1894 from America: “Sitting on the last bit of Indian rock—I hit upon a plan …. Suppose some disinterested sannyasins, bent on doing good to others, go from village to village, disseminating education and seeking in various ways to better the condition of all … through oral teaching, and by means of maps, cameras, globes, and such other accessories – can’t that bring forth good in time? …. We, as a nation, have lost our individuality, and that is the cause of all mischief in India. We have to give back to the nation its lost individuality and raise the masses.”

The Rock at Kanyakumari

The spiritual power of the Rock which is the feet of Bharatmata, drew Swami Vivekananda to Kanyakumari. After his sojourn as a wandering sannyasi across India, Swami Vivekananda reached Kanyakumari in Dec 1892. During his travelling, he had seen how Indians had degenerated into poverty, ignorance and utter loss of self- confidence. He was greatly distressed that under the rule of foreigners, the last of whom were the British, Indians had forgotten their own identity. But even amidst this degeneration he could see the unique spiritual potential of the land. He identified this potential as the tool which would uplift his fellow countrymen from their stupor, and not only that, but also empower them to contribute to the progress of human civilisation. How to achieve this was the question that was tormenting his mind.