Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 216-foot tall ‘Statue of Equality’, honouring the 11th-century Hindu saint Ramanujacharya.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Statue of Equality commemorates Ramanujacharya, who promoted the idea of equality in all aspects of living including faith, caste and creed.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Statue of Equality:
- The statue is made of ‘panchaloha’, a combination of five metals – gold, silver, copper, brass, and zinc.
- It is among one of the tallest metallic statues in sitting position, in the world.
- It is mounted on a 54-feet high base building, named ‘Bhadra Vedi’.
- The statue has floors devoted for a Vedic digital library and research centre, ancient Indian texts, a theatre, an educational gallery detailing many works of Sri Ramanujacharya.
- It is encircled by the replicas of 108 sacred shrines from many parts of the country, including Tirumala, Srirangam, Kanchi, Ahobilam, Badrinath, Muktinath, Ayodhya, Brindavan, Kumbhakonam, and others.
- It has been conceptualised by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami of Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram.
- A temple of Ramanujacharya covering an area of about 300,000 square feet has also been constructed in the premises, where a 120 kg gold idol will be placed for daily worship.
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The inauguration of the Statue of Equality is a part of the 12-day Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Samaroham, the ongoing 1000th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Ramanujacharya, the official statement said.
PM Modi was on a half-day visit to Telangana on Saturday where he attended the 50th anniversary of ICRISAT before reaching the temple. Chief minister KCR was not present at any of these events and his official residence said he was not feeling well.
(With inputs from ANI)
