‘Statue of Oneness’: All about the new 108-feet Adi Shankaracharya statue in MP’s Omkareshwar

Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled a 108-foot statue of Hindu saint Adi Shankaracharya on Thursday.

The “Ekatmata Ki Pratima” statue, also known as the “Statue of Oneness,” was built in Omkareshwar, a temple town that is home to one of Lord Shiva’s 12 Jyotirlingas, reported News18.

It serves as a monumental tribute to the legacy and profound teachings of Adi Shankaracharya.

The inauguration was rescheduled for 21 September due to the region’s heavy rains, which prevented the CM from unveiling the magnificent statue on 18 September, as planned.

#MadhyaPradesh: Chief Minister @ChouhanShivraj unveils 108 feet tall statue of #AdiShankaracharya at Omkareshwar.#AdiShankara pic.twitter.com/6byRYdXnpL

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 21, 2023

Let’s take a closer look.

Also read: 9 Years of Modi Government: From a new Parliament to Statue of Unity, the architectural wonders of Narendra Modi’s India

The “Statue of Oneness”

The multi-metal towering statue is located in Omkareshwar, positioned atop the scenic Mandhata hill beside the Narmada River. The monument is an 11-year-old representation of the renowned saint, who is considered by Hindus as the reincarnation of Lord Shiva. It is a unique statue in the world since it is standing in a walking position, according to ABP News.

It stands on a 54-foot-high pedestal and has a height of 108 feet. It was conceptualised under the direction of the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) and Acharya Shankar Sanskritik Ekta Nyas.

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Adi Shankaracharya’s main contribution, the commentary on Bharmasutrabhasya, a foundational text of the Vedanta school of Hinduism that emphasises the idea of Oneness, is commemorated together with his life and philosophy.

Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal of CP Kukreja Architects and the visionary behind this cultural project told PTI, “This extraordinary structure, conceptualized to honour the life and philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya, is a tribute to the great saint’s masterpiece of commentary on Bharmasutra-bhasya. This cultural project will fulfil the much-treasured vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family).’ With this 108-foot-tall statue, Madhya Pradesh will consolidate its position as a cultural and spiritual hub for all religions.”

माननीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj जी एवं उपस्थित साधु संतों ने 101 बटुकों द्वारा वैदिक मंत्रोच्चार के साथ ओंकारेश्वर में मांधाता पर्वत पर आदि गुरु शंकराचार्य जी की बहुधातु की विशाल एकात्मता की मूर्ति की परिक्रमा कर चरणों में पुष्प अर्पित किये।#StatueOfOneness… pic.twitter.com/3Y0qVmqxox

— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) September 21, 2023

“The life expectancy of the statue is approximately 500 years and it is designed to withstand extreme wind conditions and earth-quake force”, the literature on the statue released by the Madhya Pradesh government said.

Notably, the construction of the Adi Shankaracharya statue and a museum at Omkareshwar was part of a Rs 2,141.85-crore project that had previously been sanctioned by the Madhya Pradesh BJP government.

Vasudev Kamath, a Sholapur-based artist, first drew the statue’s initial portrait in 2018, which is when it first appeared. After that, an enormous public gathering and procession known as the “Ekatma Yatra” visited almost 23,000-gramme panchayats throughout the state to collect metal for the statue with engaged public participation.

In the past three days, some 300 prominent Vedic Acharyas and other priests have come together in the temple town and are performing religious ceremonies, such as “yajnas.” The religious events planned for the day would be under the supervision of Maharsi Sandeepani Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratishtan in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, under the direction of Sringeri Sharada Peetham.

Along with the statue’s unveiling, religious literature is also being published on this occasion.

A foundation-laying ceremony for Advait Lok, a projected corridor that would follow the path of the Mahakal Lok established in the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, was also scheduled by the Chief Minister.

A total of 15.6 hectares will be used to construct the projected Advait Lok. At the location, a museum dedicated to Adi Shankaracharya’s life is also being considered.

Also read: Pavan K Varma on his book about Adi Shankaracharya and the shrinking scope for debate in today's world

Adi Shankaracharya’s journey

Ahead of the inauguration, CM Chouhan on Wednesday told ANI, “Adi Guru Shankaracharya Maharaj worked to connect the country culturally. He worked to spread the essence of the Vedas to the common people. He also made four monasteries in four corners of the country. This worked to keep India culturally united. Because of that India is united today.”

गुरु की चरणरज में संसार व्‍याप्‍त है...#शंकर_अवतरण_मध्‍यप्रदेश #StatueOfOneness pic.twitter.com/J4BQqQe5eT

— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) September 21, 2023

Born in present-day Kerala, Saint Shankaracharya attained enlightenment in Omkareshwar. “He had walked over 1600 kilometres through forests. He found a Guru there and after gaining knowledge from there he moved towards Kashi (Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh). The entire country, which was in a state of cultural disintegration at that time, was completely united,” the CM said.

“Shankaracharya Maharaj got such a Guru in Omkareshwar. The tradition of knowledge should not end from there and the coming generations should also continue to get the knowledge. Therefore, not only is the divine statue being installed there but we are also going to build Ekatmadham there. Its foundation stone will be laid. It is my own belief that in the times to come, our Ekatmadham (idea of Advaita) will save the world, hence we are making this project there,” he added.

During Shankaracharya’s time in the 9th century, there were six major sects, one dedicated to the Mother Goddess and the other four to Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, and Ganesh, explained ABP News. The sixth cult was centred on the God Skanda-Kartikeya, known as Murugan by Tamils in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mauritius. Adi Shankaracharya’s significant contributions to uniting these disparate elements within India’s spiritual landscape demonstrate his profound impact during his 32-year life.

With inputs from agencies