INDIA: On Saturday, February 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the ‘Statue of Equality’ in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, a southern Indian state. The statue honours Sri Ramanujacharya, an 11th-century Hindu saint who spread a message of equality for all across the country.
Acknowledging Ramanujacharya’s memorandum, the PM stated, “Though he was born in the south, Sri Ramanujacharya’s influence spread throughout the country”.
“Ramanujacharya Ji gave composition for Sanskrit Granth and gave Tamil language equal importance in Bhakti Marg,” he added. PM also joined Vedic rituals and extended prayers before disclosing the statue.
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao visited ‘The Statue of Equality’ along with his family. Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan visited the statue yesterday, on February 7. India’s Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah will visit the statue today.
About the statue
- The Statue of Equality’ is 216 feet (66 Meters) tall & is among the tallest metallic statues in sitting position in the world. The statue is made up of ‘panchaloha’ i.e., five metals including gold, silver, copper, brass & zinc
- The statue is constructed on a 54 feet (16m) tall base building named Bhadra Vedi. The base building Bhadra Vedi comprises a meditation hall, digital library & research center, ancient texts, a theatre, an educational gallery describing the efforts & philosophies of Sri Ramanujacharya.
- The Statue of Equality is located in a 45-acre area of suburb Hyderabad. The construction was commenced in 2014. This 1,000-crore project was financed completely by donations from devotees worldwide.
- Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami of Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram has developed a concept of the statue.
Sri Ramanujacharya
Ramanujacharya also known as ‘Ramanuja’ was a Hindu philosopher, theologian, social reformer & proponent of Vaishnavism, a tradition of Hinduism. He was born in 1017, Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. He traveled across India to understand the way of life of all bits. He was the preceptor of the Bhakti movement. Was an inspiration for poets like Kabir, Meerabai, etc.
His efforts for bringing illiterates, individuals discarded by society into a mainstream then, were remarkable. He conveyed an incentive to the notion of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ meaning the Universe as One Family.
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