Madhya Pradesh is getting a new tourist attraction on September 18. The state’s Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will unveil a 108-ft statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Omkareshwar. A sacred temple town, it is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
This is the newest addition to the list of majestic structures in India. One of these is the massive 182-ft Statue of Unity, which is located in Gujarat. It is the tallest statue in the world. A few others are the Statue of Equality in Hyderabad, the Statue of Belief in Nathdwara and the Adiyogi Shiva statue in Coimbatore.
All we know about the Adi Shankaracharya Statue in MP
आदि शंकराचार्य जी की ज्ञानभूमि ओम्कारेश्वर से एक अभिनव युग का सूत्रपात हो रहा है।
इस नयनाभिराम दृश्य को देख हृदय प्रफुल्लित तथा आनंदित है।@EkatmaDham प्रकल्प पूरे राष्ट्र को चैतन्य की सार्वभौमिक एकात्मता से आलोकित करेगा। pic.twitter.com/GG5Asx5Vyx
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) September 13, 2023
The effigy, a tribute to the eighth-century philosopher, has been named Ekatmata Ki Pratima or ‘Statue of Oneness.’ It is located on the banks of the Narmada River. The multi-metal statue showcases the scholar as a 12-year-old boy. According to a press release, efforts are being made to transform Omkareshwar, which is roughly 80 km away from Indore, into a hub for the Advaita Vedanta philosophy that Adi Shankaracharya advocated for. The aim is to attract international attention towards this philosophical and spiritual tradition, and the statue located atop the Mandhata mountain is part of the project’s first phase.
Talking about the Adi Shankaracharya statue, the MP CM said, “Omkareshwar, a global hub for unity and spiritual enlightenment, will honour the teachings of Acharya Shankar with a majestic 108-foot statue, a museum delving into the depths of Advaita Vedanta, and a research institute for in-depth study and contemplation,” according to NDTV. Additionally, an ‘Advaita Forest’, covering an area of 36 hectares (3,60,000 sq m), is also in the works to add to the town’s sustainability and natural beauty.
Who was Adi Shankaracharya?
The scholar was born in present-day Kerala and is believed to have reached Omkareshwar after becoming a sanyasi (monk) at a young age. He met his guru Govind Bhagwadpad here and stayed for four years to get his education. He left the city at the age of 12 and then travelled across the country spreading the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, states the report.
Hero and featured image credit: Courtesy of @KrishnaGaurBJP/Twitter
Related: How Many Of These Grand Statues In India Have You Been To?
Anushka has previously worked with publications such as the Times of India and Being Indian. A graduate from Xavier Institute of Communications, she specialises in entertainment, food and travel. She also likes to write about sustainability and beauty. When not working, you can catch her reading a book, tending to her plants, cooking or playing an instrument.
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