Madhya Pradesh is all set to witness history under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan with the unveiling ceremony of the 180-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya. The statue is to be installed at Mandhata Mountain, near one of the twelve jyotirlingas in Omkareshwar, on September 18. Omkareshwar is also the birthplace of Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya. The place comprises three focal centres the Ekatma Dham (Global Center for Oneness), a museum depicting Advait Vedant Darshan called Advait Lok and the Acharya Adishankar Institute of Advait Vedant.
Notably, the statue of Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya is called as “Ekatmata Ki Pratima” (statue of oneness), marking his contribution towards Sanatan Dharma.
The unveiling ceremony is organised on September 18, the statue of oneness presents Adi Shankaracharya as a 12-year-old boy. Installation of his statue at Mandhata Mountain region has been a promise made by the CM long ago in 2017. With the year-end of the state assembly, Chouhan is fulfilling his promise and making the Ekatma Dham, a centre for oneness.
Omkareshwar which is situated 80 kilometres from Indore has been the Gyan and Sanyas bhoomi of Bhagwan Shankaracharya. He went to Kashi from Omkareshwar and from here he started propagating Sanatan Dharma, reestablishing Advait across Bharat, started Dasanami Sanyas parampara and many other things.
Out of 32 years of his life, Bhagwan Shankaracharya spent four years in Omkareshwar, this land became his Sanyas Bhoomi. Marking his efforts the CM of the state announced the installation of the grand statue and making Ekatma Dham.
It is noteworthy that CM Chouhan had said back in February 2017 that a statue of Bhagwan Shankaracharya would be installed in Omkareshwar.
“Omkareshwar, a global hub for unity and spiritual enlightenment, will honour the teachings of Acharya Shankar with a majestic 108- feet statue, a museum delving into the depths of Advaita Vedanta, and a research institute for in-depth study and contemplation,” Chouhan said.
Here is a brief timeline:
- February 9, 2017: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces the construction of a 108-ft-tall Statue of Acharya Shankar, Advaita Lok Museum, and the Acharya Shankar International Institute of Advaita Vedanta
- May 1, 2017: Shankar Jayanti celebrations
- December 9, 2017 to January 22, 2018: Ekatma Yatra
- January 22, 2018: Ekatma Parv
- January 27, 2018: Formation of the Acharya Shankar Sanskritik Ekta Nyas
- Dedember 8 to 10, 2019: Advaita Utsav
- June 4, 2022: L&T wins State of Oneness construction contract
Notably, the whole Ekatma Dham is made in 128 hectares of land and focuses on three prime objectives given by Bhagwan Shankaracharya. These are the message of Ekatmata (oneness), rejuvenation of Sanatan Vedic Dharma and the idea of oneness among Bharatiya people, the idea of ‘Ek Bharat’.
Notably, he was the one who created four peetha across Bharat and linked them with ‘Char Dham’, he was the one who created Dwadash Jyotirlingam Strotra, linked 18 Shaktipeethas and prepared a shloka for it and identified the basic Sanskritik places in Bharat to rejuvenate the idea of ‘Ek Bharat’.
The statue and the other components of the Ektama Dham present the idea of the whole Bharat. It showcases the art form from North, West, East and South. This project is one of its kind in Bharat. From the west it features the Nagar style, from the south the Dravidian art, from the east the Puri temple art form; and from the North the Kamdhenu Shiva temple art.
Apart from these three components around the project, two temples will also be formed one Panchayati temple and one is the recreation of Shardapeeth which is situated in Kashmir. This Sharda peeth is inspired by the Martanda Surya temple. For this temple, the stone and wood will be brought from Kashmir only.
Also, as many as seven schools will be opened under this project specifically dedicated to philosophy, social science, literature, art and music, gurukul (Indian Knowledge System), a medical centre and a special library (carrying all forms of books including manuscripts, digital books and paper books).
Here are the detailed names of these schools:
- Acharya Padmapada Centre for Advaita Philosophy
- Acharya Hastamalaka Advaita Centre for Science
- Acharya Sureshwara Advaita Centre for Social Science
- Acharya Totaka Advaita Centre for Literature, Music and Arts
- Maharshi Vedavyasa Advaita Library
- Acharya Gaudapada Advaita Extension Centre
- Acharya Govinda Bhagavatpada Gurukul
- Sharada Temple
The activities to be conducted in this nyas include:
- Shankar Vyakhyanmala
- Shankar Sangeet
- Advaita Utsav
- Advaita youth camps
- Painting workshops and exhibitions
- Advaita Jagaran Shivir
Out of the three components of Ekatma Dham, the statue is almost complete and will be unveiled on September 18. For the rest of the components ‘shila poojan’ will be done. The unveiling of the all-metal gigantic statue will be done by the CM of the state at 10 a.m. The statue comprises 88 percent of copper among other metals and its layout was prepared by Vasudev Kamat while the statue was sculpted by Bhagwan Rampure.
Born in present-day Kerala, Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have reached Omkareshwar after becoming a ‘sanyasi’ (monk) at a very young age, where he met his Guru Govind Bhagwadpad and stayed in the religious city for four years and attained education.
