SWAMIJI AND THE ROCK
It was precisely because of its special significance and sancity that Swami Vivekananda, an ardent devotee of Kali and Durga, was prompted to sojourn there for meditation and Sadhana.

So intense was his urge that, in the absence of any alternative neans of approch open to him, a penniless Sanyasi as he was, he plunged into the high seas and , riding over the surging waves, swam that distance of about two and a half furlongs.

With great joy and expectations has landed on that secluded holy spot surronded by the seas. The spiritual yearning which urged him to go on piligrimage as far as the snow-clad regions of teh Himalayas in the distant north, now brought him to the southernmost stone of the holy land in qest of the hightest Jnana. His restlessness knew no bounds. The ocean tossed and stormed about him; but there was even a greater tempest raging in his mind. Here was the culmination of his days and days of searching for light.

DIVINE TRANSFORMATION
Like a child he surrendered to the Mother, with his heart going out to Her in great prayer. And then sitting on that 'last bit of Indian Rock', he passed into a long and deep meditation, absorbed in Her contemplation.

In his long communion with the Divine Mother, he attained the cherished fruit of his years of prayers and meditations. He received illumination, the highest exprience of spiritual realisaion.

The Jnana he received here lit up his path. He discovered the mission ordained for him by the Divine. Since that moment he dedicated his life to that divine task of re-enunciating to the world, India's great message as embodied in the Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Religion).

He also found the remedy for the miserable condition of India, the land of spirituality from where the great message emanated. He understood why India had been thrown from the pinnacle of glory to the depths of degradation. He saw her greatness and the weakness as well, the central evil of which was that the nation has lost its individuality.

Most vividly did he realise in teh silence of his heart: "India shall rise only through a renewal and restoration of that highest spiritual consciousness which has made of Inida, at all times, the cradle of the nations and the cradle of the Faith".

Truly, at Kanyakumari, the simple monk was thus transformed into a great master builder of the nation as well as a great world-teacher.

No wonder, therefore, that this hollowed place where the great Swami got Light and underwent divine metamorphosis began to be known as the Vivekananda Rock in later days.

SWAMIJI'S MEMORIAL
It was also in the fitness of things that in memory of that great event in Swamiji's life, his countrymen should have aspired to raise at that spot a grad memorial which would be an abiding source of inspiration to posterity.

The ocasion of Swamiji's birth centenary, provided an opportunity for this long felt public longing to find an effective expression and it, in turn, brought into existence the all India "SWAMI VIVEKANANDA CENTENARY CELEBRATION AND VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL COMMITTEE" as an insturment to implement the popular will.

MEMORIAL PLAN : GOVERNMENTS APPROVAL
Towards the end of 1962, on the eve of the birht-centenary year of Swami Vivekananda, the Committee approached the State Goverment of Tamil Nadu to seek their permission for the erection of the Vivekananda Memorial on the Vivekananda Rock. Negotiations with the State Goverment materialised towards the end of September, 1964. The plan of the memorial-structure was prepared soon in consultation with the Tamil Nadu Goverment and was taken up for execution in November the same year.

THE MANIFOLD MEMORIAL SCHEME
The final shape of the plan that ultimately emerged, as a result of review and stock-taking from time to time, was as follows:

1 : Vivekananda Mandapam (Dimensions 180'-111 x 56')
(a)    Sabha Mandapam :
    A spacious Mandapam on the top tableland of the Rock, with an imposing life-size statue of Swamiji in his wandering monk posture.
(b)    Dhyana Mandapam :
    A meditation hall, adjoining the Sabha Mandapam, with important incidents in the Swamiji's life depicted in relief, on its inside walls.

2 : Shripada Madapam (Dimensions 71'-10'x 71'-10')
    An elegant shrine-like Mandapam in South Indian style, round the Shripadam, situted on the lower elevation of the Rock.

The State Goverment's permission to put up a Mandapam round the 'Shripadam' with a view to protect it from weathering and to befittingly bonour it, was obtained on 18th September, 1968.

Both the Mandapams were so designed that the vision of Swamiji in teh statue would be seen directed towards the Shripadam.

3 : Ferry service
A regular motor launch service with pucca jetty-platforms at the foot of the Rock and on the shore to faciliate ferrying of visitors to and from the Rock.

4 : Construction Works and the Shore
Permanet arrangements on the Kanyakumari shore to provide lodgining facilities and other amenities to Kanyakumari visitors.

THE ESTIMATED BUDGET

The finally revised budget for all the four items of the 1st phase of the memorial plan, was 1 crore and 20 lakhs rupees.

SECOND PHASE
FURTHER PLAN OF ACTIVITIES
Besides, the Committee has planned to found a Service Organisation on the lines of the great Ramkrishna Mission, but to be manned and run non-sanyasi missionaries pledged to life-long service. And, as a corollary to this, to establish at Kanyakumari, alongside the memorial in granite, a Centre for training an all India cadre of dedicated workers, both men adn women, to be deployed specially in bacward areas of teh country for the social and spiritual well-being of the people.
As per preliminary calculation of the Committee estimates that it will require Rs. 2 corers, to begin with, to put the contemplated Service Mission on a firm foundation.