Tale of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Kanyakumari

Rear view of the rectangular Shikharam over the Mukha Mandapam

There are five Shikharams over the Pratima Mandapam and two smaller Shikharams over the two rooms near entrance of the Sabha Mandapam.
While the Central Shikharam is the tallest and rises to the height of 41'-6' from the roof-level, the four Shikharams on its four corners rise to the height of 20'-9' and the remaining two still smaller Shikharams to the height of 13'-0'.

Pranava Peetham

Within the Dhyana Mandapam, on its south-western side, is installed a hightly polished altar with the symbol 'aum' mounted on it. This altar or pedestal is named as Pranava Peetham.
This Pranava Peetam has been designed with a view to provide a convenient meditation-object for meditators. The symbol aum is inscribed in a mirror-glass and inset in the lighted rear-wall of the Pranava Peetham.

Dhyan Mandapam (Meditation Hall)

Dhyana Mandapam is constructed with a view to provide a proper place and atmosphere for those visitors who may like to sit in calm and meditate for some time.
 
The carpet area of the hall, excluding the adjoining rooms, is 43'-10'x21'-6'. A blue granite, quarried from near Ambasamudram about 72 miles away from Kanyakuamri, is used for the construction of this Mandapam.

Statue

The Statue was prepared by Shri N. L. Sonavadekar, Assistant Lecture of Sculpture, Sri J. J. School of Art, Bombay. The sculptor had been provided with a portrait of  Swami Vivekananda for his general guidance in respect of the pose, drapery and the facial features of the statue, envisaged by the Committee. Shri S. M. Pandit, a renowened portrait - artist of Bombay prepared a portrait of the Committee conception.
 

Sabha Mandapam

The dimensions of the Mandpam are 130'-11/2' x 56' with its Main Entrance - opening of 11'x8'. It has also two side-entrances of 5'-6' x 10' - 3' each.
 
All the door-frams are in the blue granite. They are highly polished and are decorated with traditional floral designs carved on them. The whole Mandapam may be said to be more less after the Chola style.
 

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