Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari

 

Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari. The memorial has lot of history behind it & faced many hurdles when it was built. Let us look at the background and the struggles it has to encounter.

During one of his countrywide yatras, Swami Vivekanada met Raja of Ramanathapuram, Shri Bhaskara Sethupathi at Madurai. 

Bhaskara Sethupathi lost his parents at an early age and was brought up under the tutelage of British. Despite that he grew as a staunch Sanatani and did lot of work for the Hindu cause (which can be a separate thread). Due to this, he got an invite to participate in Parliament of World’s Religions at Chicago. He came to Madurai to meet the collector regarding that. Meanwhile, he got introduced to Vivekananda by his friend Justice Subramaniya Iyer. 

After interacting with Vivekananda, Sethupathi felt Swami is the right person to attend the conference at Chicago and requested him to do so. Vivekananda informed him that he will decide about it at the end of his Yatra and left for Kanyakumari.

At Kanyakumari, there is a rock bit away from the mainland. It is said that Devi Bhagavathi (Kanyakumari Amman) did penance in this rock. Devi’s Sri Padams (footprints) are also there in the rock. Hence Hindus revered this rock. 

On hearing this, Vivekananda swam across the rough sea, reached the rock and meditated for three days. After returning from Kanyakumari, he informed Sethupathi that he will attend the Parliament of World’s religions at Chicago. Sethupathi made the required arrangements. Swami’s speech at Chicago is history. 

On returning from US, Swami Vivekananda went to Pamban. Bhaskara Sethupathi received him with full honours and installed a slab at that place. The golden words from Upanishads, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ was inscribed in the slab, which had later become the slogan of Indian Governament after it got the independence. Fast forward 1962…

In 1962, during the centenary year of Swami Vivekananda, few of the prominant leaders at Kanyakumari decided to build a memorial for Swami Vivekananda in the rock where he meditated. They also decided to construct a bridge from the mainland so that the people can commute to the rock easily. They formed a committee for this. 

The news spread like wildfire. Some sections of the local fishermen opposed to this. They claimed that the rock is ‘theirs’. Suddenly a cross appeared on the top of the rock. 

Devaswam board, which managed the Kanyakumari temple claimed that the rock is their property. Hindus were upset because the rock was holy to them. Tensions rose on both sides. Suddenly the cross disappeared and things reached a flash point. Police entered and the rock came under their control. A judicial probe was ordered. It declared that the rock was indeed ‘Vivekananda Rock’.

The then Tamil Nadu CM, Shri Bhakthavatsalam told the committe that he won’t allow a memorial to be built. But he will allow a tablet to be installed mentioning that it is Vivekananda Rock. To break the impasse, the committee members agree to this and a Tablet was installed on 17 January 1963.

Howevere Ramakrishna Mission was firm in building a memorial. In 1963, they had requested Shri Eknath Ranade to take up this work. Eknath ji was a RSS Karyakarta and at that time he had given up the general secretary post. He was 50 at that time and despite the health related issues, he took up the work. 

He met the TN CM, Bhakthavatsalam who told him that it was the Union Cultural Minister Shri Humayun Kabir who objected the memorial as it was a ‘cultural place’. Eknath ji went back to Kolkatta, which was the constituency of Humayun Kabir, and addressed a conference. He informed all that it was Shri Kabir who is objecting a memorial for Vivekananda. Facing lot of criticism from the press, the minister did a volte-face and told everyone that he is not against the memorial.

Now that the issue is sorted, Eknath ji went to Delhi to meet the TN CM who was camping there. Luckily he met Shri Lal Bhadur Shastri who was a minister without portfolio in Nehru’s cabinet. Shastri advised him to take this slow as a ‘No’ from Bhakthavatsalam will put lot of hardships. 

He told Eknath ji to rally public opinion in support of the memorial. Ekanth ji acted accordingly and collected signatures of 323 MPs in support of the memorial and met Shastri. Delighted by this, Shastri took this to Nehru who readily approved the construction. Nehru also told Eknath ji that he will speak to Bhakthavatsalam for a go ahead.

Eknath ji went back to Bhakthavatsalam who now had no option but to approve the memorial. On the concern of Bhakthavatsalam that the look will be spoiled if there is a bridge from the mainland, Eknath ji agreed that he will not construct a bridge. TN CM put another condition that the statue of Vivekananda should be small and also the memorial should also be small with a 15 × 15-foot shrine. He feared that some miscreants may do some damage to the statue / structure and that may lead to a law & order situation. 

Eknath ji agreed to that for the time being and approached Kanchi Mahaswami with the design. Kanchi Mahaswami agreed that the statue should be taller according to the Shilpa Sastra and approved the original design of the memorial which is 130 feet and 1+1⁄2 inches × 56 feet.

Being a devotee of Kanchi Mutt, Bhakthavatsalam couldn’t disagree on this. After few more stuggles and conflicts, the memorial was constructed and declared open in the year 1970. It stands tall as a symbol of Bharath’s national pride, Swami Vivekananda. 

Sources : 

Mannar Bhaskara Sethupathi by S M Kamal

Story Of Vivekananda Rock Memorial, as told by Eknath Ranade

अलाउद्दीन खिलजी की बेटी करती थी इस वीर राजपूत से बेपनाह मुहब्बत

 

Allauddin Khilji's daughter was deeply in love with this brave Rajput

This is the story of the brave Rajput prince Veeramdev of Jalore. Veeramdev was an expert in wrestling and was a very valiant warrior. He was famous far and wide. Veeramdev, son of Kanhad Dev, the ruler of Sonagara Chauhan of Jabalipur (present-day Jalore) near Mewar, lived in the court of Delhi. When he lived here, Princess Firoz, daughter of Allauddin Khilji, fell in love with Veeram.

It is said that after hearing about Veeramdev's fame and personality, Princess Firoza, daughter of the then king of Delhi, Allauddin Khilji, fell in love with Veeram and the princess insisted on marrying him at any cost and started saying, 'Var varaun Veeramdev na to rahungi akan kunwari', meaning if I marry, I will marry Veeramdev or else I will remain an intact virgin.

 Seeing his daughter's stubbornness, Alauddin Khilji, thinking of taking revenge for his defeat and gaining political advantage, sent a love proposal for his daughter to the prince of Jalore. It is said that Veeramdev rejected the proposal saying that...

'Mamo laaje Bhatiya, Kul laaje Chauhan,

Je main parnu Turkani, to pashchim uge bhaan...''

Meaning: If I marry a Turkani, then my maternal uncle's (Bhati) clan and my own Chauhan clan will be put to shame and this can happen only when the sun rises from the west.

Alauddin, enraged by this reply, declared war. It is said that the Turks' army laid siege to Jalore for a year, then the war took place and thousands of Rajput women of the fort committed Jauhar. Veeramdev himself died a martyr's death in the war at the young age of 22.

Finally, the Turkish army took Veeramdev's head to Delhi and placed it in front of the princess on a gold plate. Seeing this, princess Firoza became very sad and she cremated the head. Later, she jumped into the Yamuna river in grief and gave up her life. There is also a legend that as soon as Firoza came in front of Veeramdev, his head turned away.

यह कहानी है जालौर के वीर राजपूत राजकुमार वीरमदेव की। वीरमदेव को कुश्ती में महारत हासिल थी और वह बहुत ही शूरवीर योद्धा था। उसकी प्रसिद्ध दूर दूर तक थी। मेवाड़ के पास ही जबालिपुर (वर्तमान जालौर) के सोनगरा चौहान शासक कान्हड़ देव का पुत्र वीरमदेव दिल्ली दरबार में रहता था। जब वह यहां रहता था तो अलाउद्दीन खिलजी की बेटी शहजादी फीरोज को वीरम से प्यार हो गया। 

 

कहते हैं कि वीरमदेव की शोहरत और व्यक्तित्व के बारे में सुनकर दिल्ली के तत्कालीन बादशाह अल्लाउद्दीन खिलजी की पुत्री शहजादी फिरोजा का दिल वीरम पर आ गया और शहजादी ने किसी भी कीमत पर उससे शादी करने की जिद पकड़ ली और कहने लगी, 'वर वरूं वीरमदेव ना तो रहूंगी अकन कुंवारी' अर्थात निकाह करूंगी तो वीरमदेव से नहीं तो अक्षत कुंवारी रहूंगी।

बेटी की जिद को देखकर अलाउद्दीन खिलजी ने अपनी हार का बदला लेने और राजनैतिक फायदा उठाने की सोचकर अपनी बेटी के लिए जालौर के राजकुमार को प्रणय प्रस्ताव भेजा। कहते हैं कि वीरमदेव ने यह कहकर प्रस्ताव ठुकरा दिया कि...

 

'मामो लाजे भाटियां, कुल लाजे चौहान,

जे मैं परणु तुरकणी, तो पश्चिम उगे भान।''

अर्थात : अगर मैं तुरकणी से शादी करूं तो मामा (भाटी) कुल और स्वयं का चौहान कुल लज्जित हो जाएंगे और ऐसा तभी हो सकता है जब सूरज पश्चिम से उगे।

इस जवाब से आगबबूला होकर अलाउद्दीन ने युद्ध का ऐलान कर दिया। कहते हैं कि एक वर्ष तक तुर्कों की सेना जालौर पर घेरा डालकर बैठी रही फिर युद्ध हुआ और किले की हजारों राजपूतानियों ने जौहर किया। स्वयं वीरमदेव ने 22 वर्ष की अल्पायु में ही युद्ध में वीरगति पाई।

अंत में तुर्की की सेना वीरमदेव का मस्तक दिल्ली ले गई और शहजादी के एक स्वर्ण थाल में उनका मस्तक उनके सामने रख दिया। इसे देखकर शाहजादी फिरोजा बहुत दुखी हुई तब उसने मस्तक का अग्नि संस्कार किया। बाद में दुखी होकर यमुना नदी में कूदकर अपनी जान दे दी। ऐसी किंवदंति भी है कि जैसे ही फिरोजा सामने आई वीरमदेव के मस्तक ने मुंह फेर लिया। 

The Sacrifice of Panna Dai

 

English story courtesy Ratnakar Sadasyula

मेवाड़ के इतिहास में पन्ना धाय की कहानी सबसे दिलचस्प है, जिसने राज्य की खातिर अपने बेटे की बलि दे दी।

एक माँ के लिए इससे बड़ी पीड़ा और क्या हो सकती है कि वह अपनी आँखों के सामने अपने बेटे को मरते हुए देखे, उसने न केवल यह देखा, बल्कि मेवाड़ की खातिर इसे सहन भी किया।

वह राणा सांगा की पत्नी रानी कर्णावती की दासी थी, और उसने अपने बेटे चंदन के साथ-साथ अपने बेटों विक्रमादित्य और उदय सिंह का लालन-पालन किया। खानवा में हार के बाद सांगा की मृत्यु के बाद, उनके एक बेटे रतन सिंह द्वितीय ने गद्दी संभाली, हालाँकि वह लंबे समय तक शासन नहीं कर सका और जल्द ही मर गया।

एक और बेटा, विक्रमादित्य मेवाड़ का शासक बना, हालाँकि वह बहुत घमंडी और अहंकारी था। उसने अपने दबंग रवैये से रईसों के साथ-साथ पड़ोसी शासकों को भी अलग-थलग कर दिया और कई लोग उसे छोड़कर चले गए। इसे सही अवसर मानते हुए, गुजरात के बहादुर शाह ने चित्तौड़गढ़ पर हमला किया, और उसे पहाड़ियों में शरण लेनी पड़ी।

 बहादुर शाह ने चित्तौड़गढ़ पर हमला किया, उसे लूटा और रानी कर्णावती ने अन्य स्त्रियों के साथ जौहर कर लिया। दुख की बात है कि इस हार से भी विक्रमादित्य द्वितीय को कोई सबक नहीं मिला और वह पहले की तरह ही अहंकारी बना रहा।

उसके अहंकार से तंग आकर सरदारों ने उसे सत्ता से उखाड़ फेंका और उसे नजरबंद कर दिया। सरदारों ने विक्रमादित्य और उदय सिंह के चाचा बनवीर को राजा नियुक्त किया, क्योंकि उदय सिंह अभी बच्चा था।

बनावीर हालांकि सांगा के भाई पृथ्वीराज का बेटा था, जो लंबे समय से मेवाड़ की गद्दी हासिल करना चाहता था। उसने इसे उदय सिंह से छुटकारा पाने और हमेशा के लिए मेवाड़ की गद्दी संभालने का मौका समझा।

बनवीर ने विक्रमादित्य को मार डाला और अब 14 वर्षीय उदय सिंह को मारने की जल्दी में था, ताकि वह हमेशा के लिए मेवाड़ का शासक बन सके। खबर सुनकर पन्ना दाई समझ गई कि उसे कुछ करना होगा।

 पन्ना को एहसास हुआ कि मेवाड़ के भविष्य के लिए उदय सिंह को बचाना होगा, भले ही इसके लिए उसे अपने बेटे की बलि देनी पड़े। उसने सो रहे राजकुमार को एक टोकरी में रखा और एक अन्य दासी की मदद से उसे महल से बाहर ले गई।

दुष्ट बनवीर, कक्ष में आया और उदय सिंह के बारे में पूछा। पन्ना ने बिस्तर की ओर इशारा किया, जहाँ उसका बेटा चंदन सो रहा था। और फिर अपनी आँखों के सामने, उसने उसे अपने ही बेटे की हत्या करते देखा।

क्या एक माँ के लिए इससे बड़ी पीड़ा हो सकती है कि उसकी आँखों के सामने उसके ही बेटे की हत्या हो जाए?

पन्ना चुपचाप खड़ी रही, बनवीर को अपने बेटे की हत्या करते हुए देख रही थी, जिसे उसने युवा उदय सिंह समझा था। यह सबसे भयानक पीड़ा थी जिसका सामना कोई भी माँ कर सकती थी। लेकिन उसने मेवाड़ के भविष्य की खातिर, अपने दुख को छिपाते हुए इसे सहन किया।

अपने बेटे की क्रूर हत्या की पीड़ा को अपने भीतर रखते हुए, पन्ना उदय सिंह के साथ चट्टानी अरावली में भाग गई। एक तरफ बेटे की हत्या की यादें, दूसरी तरफ पहाड़ों में खानाबदोश और भगोड़े की तरह रहना। इससे भी बदतर बात यह है कि बनवीर के क्रोध से डरकर कोई भी सरदार पन्ना और उदय सिंह को शरण देने को तैयार नहीं था।

पत्थरदार अरावली की पहाड़ियों और कठोर मौसम का सामना करते हुए पन्ना ने युवा उदय सिंह को आश्रय दिया, क्योंकि वे एक जगह से दूसरी जगह भाग रहे थे। 

दुष्ट बनवीर उनकी तलाश कर रहा था। सरदारों से कोई मदद नहीं, जो बनवीर के क्रोध को झेलने को तैयार नहीं थे। यह केवल भील ही थे, जिन्होंने पन्ना और उदय सिंह को आश्रय और सहायता दी, जब अन्य ने इनकार कर दिया।

आखिरकार पन्ना और उदय सिंह कुछ समय के लिए कुंभलगढ़ में शरण पाने में कामयाब रहे, जहाँ एक वफादार सरदार ने उन्हें आश्रय दिया। जल्द ही बनवीर के विरोधी कुलीनों के एक समूह ने गुप्त रूप से कुंभलगढ़ में पन्ना और उदय सिंह से मुलाकात की, जहाँ वे छिपे हुए थे। कुलीनों ने उदय सिंह को मेवाड़ का शासक घोषित कर दिया और दुष्ट बनवीर के खिलाफ विद्रोह कर दिया।

जल्द ही उदय सिंह के नेतृत्व में मेवाड़ और मारवाड़ की संयुक्त सेना ने मावली में बनवीर पर हमला किया और एक घमासान युद्ध लड़ा। बनवीर युद्ध में पराजित हो गया और भागने पर मजबूर हो गया, फिर कभी उसका पता नहीं चला और उदय सिंह मेवाड़ का शासक बन गया। उसका बेटा कोई और नहीं बल्कि महान महाराणा प्रताप था।

पन्ना का बलिदान मेवाड़ के इतिहास में अद्वितीय था, एक माँ ने एक राज्य की खातिर अपने बेटे को त्याग दिया, एक सच्ची वीरांगना। एक माँ के लिए अपने बेटे के नुकसान को सहना कभी आसान नहीं होता, उसे अपने ही बेटे को अपने सामने मरते हुए देखना पड़ा।

उसने न केवल अपने बेटे को त्याग दिया, बल्कि उसने सबसे कठिन समय में उदय सिंह को आश्रय दिया, एक सच्ची वीरांगना, एक महिला जो सम्मान की हकदार है।

 उदयपुर के गोवर्धन सागर झील में पन्ना धाय को समर्पित एक संग्रहालय और स्मारक है, जिसमें उनके जीवन की घटनाओं और उनके बलिदान को प्रदर्शित किया गया है।

One of the fascinating stories in the history of Mewar, is that of Panna Dhai, a lady who sacrified her own son for the sake of a kingdom.

There can be no greater agony for a mother than to see her own son killed in front of her eyes, she not only witnessed that, but bore it stoically, for the sake of Mewar.

She was a nursemaid of Rani Karnavati, the wife of Rana Sanga, and bought up her sons Vikramaditya and Udai Singh, along with her own son Chandan. After Sanga died broken hearted after his defeat at Khanwa, one of his sons Ratan Singh II, ascended to the throne, however he did not rule for long and died soon.

Another son, Vikramaditya took over as the ruler of Mewar, however he was very arrogant and insolent. He isolated the nobles as well as the neighboring rulers with his overbearing attitude and many left him. Taking this as the right opportunity, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Chittorgarh, and he had to take refuge in the hills.

Bahadur Shah attacked Chittorgarh, sacked it, and Rani Karnavati, comitted Jauhar along with others. Sadly even this defeat did not teach any lessons to Vikramaditya II, and he remained as arrogant as ever. 

He was overthrown by the nobles fed up with his arrogance, and they placed him under house arrest. The nobles appointed Banvir, the uncle of Vikramaditya and Udai Singh as the regent, since the latter was still a kid.

Banvir however was the son of Sanga’s estranged brother Prithviraj, who had been seeking to acquire the throne of Mewar from long. He saw this as a chance, to get rid of Udai Singh, and assume the throne of Mewar once and for all.

Banvir killed Vikramaditya, and now hurried to kill the 14 yr old Udai Singh, so that he cud be the ruler of Mewar for good.On hearing the news, Panna Dai, who had put her son Chandan as well as Udai Singh to sleep, knew she had to act.

Panna realized that Udai Singh must be saved for the future of Mewar, even if it meant sacrificing her own son. She put the sleeping prince in a wicker basket and with the help of another maid, smuggled him out of the palace.

The wicked Banvir, came into the chamber, and asked for Udai Singh. Panna pointed to the bed, where her son Chandan was sleeping. And then right in front of her eyes, she saw him murdering her own son.

 Could there be a greater agony for a mother seeing her own son, killed right in front of her eyes?

Panna stood stoically, looking at Banvir murdering her son, whom he taught was the young Udai Singh. It was the worst agony any mother could face. But she bore it, hiding her sorrow, for the sake of Mewar’s future.

Keeping the agony of her son’s brutal murder within herself, Panna fled with Udai Singh, in the rocky Arravallis. On one side, the memories of her son’s murder, on the other side living like a nomad and fugitive in the hills. To make matters worse, none of the chieftains was ready to offer shelter to Panna and Udai Singh, afraid of Banvir’s wrath.

Facing the rocky Aravalli hills, the harsh weather, Panna sheltered the young Udai Singh, as they fled from place to place. Just imagine, moving along the Arravalis, in the blazing heat, amidst the boulders, rocks, jungles, taking care of the young prince.

And living in mortal fear of the wicked Banvir, who was looking out for them. And no help from the chieftains, who were not willing to incur Banvir’s wrath. It was only the Bhils, who offered shelter and assistance to Panna and Udai Singh, when others refused.

Finally Panna and Udai Singh managed to find refuge for some time in Kumbhalgarh, where a loyal chieftain gave em shelter. Soon a group of nobles, opposed to Banvir, secretly met Panna and Udai Singh at Kumbhalgarh where they were in hiding. The nobles proclaimed Udai Singh as the ruler of Mewar, and revolted against the wicked Banvir.

Soon a combined force of Mewar and Marwar under Udai Singh, at Mavli, attacked Banvir and fought a pitched battle. Banvir was routed in the battle and forced to flee, was never heard of again, and Udai Singh became the rightful ruler of Mewar. His son was none other than the great Maharana Pratap.

Panna’s sacrifice was unparalleled in the history of Mewar, a mother giving up her own son for the sake of a kingdom, a true heroine. It is never easy for a mother to bear with the loss of her son, she had to see her own son being killed in front of her. 

She not just gave up her own son, she sheltered Udai Singh in the toughest times ever, a true heroine, a woman who deserves respect.

There is a museum and memorial dedicated to Panna Dhai at Goverdhan Sagar Lake, Udaipur, showcasing events from her life and her sacrifice.