At Kanyakumari - a unique symbol of unity and purity - is the Memorial of Swami Vivekananda, another symbol of the united aspiration of Nation. In the Memorial, there is a happy and harmonious blend of all the architectural beauty of the country. It is a symbol of unity because the whole nation wished, worked and contributed for it. Person from all states participated in its inauguration.
"An aggregate or a congregation of men does not make a nation, nor do the geographical area and duration of time qualify a society to be known as a nation. A government formed on such a basis can be called a state, but not a nation. It is common goal or mission that makes a nation. All the constituents strive collectively for something noble. Service with spiritual orientation results in man-making which invariably and inseparably connected with nation building." It is the core of all the thoughts behind Vivekananda Kendra.
Second Phase of Vivekananda Rock Memorial was parallel when Rock Memorial was taking shape. As Eknathji used to say "To put up a Cement and Concrete structure is not the work for which I am born, I am to erect a living and dynamic monument which will be worthy of Swami Vivekananda and which will be capable of bringing into fruition his grand vision of future India."
A 13-ton monolitic pillar being dressed on the Rock, preparatory to its erection.
Though the bulk of the granite required for the construction of the memorial was procured from a quarry near Ambasamudram, about 72 miles away from Kanyakumari, huge pieces necessary for shaping big monolithic pillars to support the central Shikharam over the Pratima Mandapam, were procured from a quarry near Pothayadi, a place about 7 miles away from Kanyakumari.
From the solid Rock at Pothayadi, were hewed four huge pieces, weighing about 20 tons each, to faciliate carving out of them, four 14-ton monolithic pieces of adequate dimensions, to be further chiselled into 131/2-ton ornamental pillars with floral and other artistic designs carved on them.
For the convenience of transportation of these huge pieces from teh said quarry to our stone-dressing yard at Kanyakumari, the preliminary dressing of these stones was executed at the quarry itself by 20 stone-artisans deputed for that purpose, with necessary facilities provided to them at the quarry-site. It took about three months to complete the preliminary dressing which reduced the weight of each pillar to 14 tons.