Prime Minister Narendra Modi, often seen as a monk of Hindutva politics, will meditate at the historic Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari from May 30th to the evening of June 1st.
This visit coincides with the last phase of India's seven-phase parliamentary elections, with results expected on June 4th.
Modi, contesting from Varanasi, will be away from the campaign trail while voting will take place in his constituency on June 1st.
The elections, which started quietly, escalated into a high-decibel contest. Modi, leading the NDA, has kept the diverse INDI alliance on its toes.
His visit to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial holds significant historical and spiritual importance.
According to legend, Goddess Parvati performed penance on this rock in devotion to Lord Shiva. Swami Vivekananda, a key figure in India's spiritual renaissance, meditated here in December 1892.
This meditation led to his enlightenment and his renowned speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Vivekananda's experience on this rock included a profound vision of Bharat Mata, inspiring him to enlighten fellow Indians and strive for freedom from British rule.
Modi’s visit to such a site is a clear display of his image as a leader with both the mind of a statesman and the soul of a saint.
Pictures and anecdotes from his youth highlight his spiritual leanings and affinity for sages.
This combination of statesmanship and spirituality makes Modi resilient and resolute in governance and in dealing with opposition.
Modi's spiritual pursuits are well-documented. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, meditating in an orange robe like a sanyasi, right before the final day of voting.
In 2014, he went to Pratapgarh, where Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated Afzal Khan of the Bijapur Sultanate in 1659. These locations, rich in spiritual and historical significance, reflect Modi’s ongoing spiritual and civilizational quest.
Modi's pattern of seeking spiritual solace post-election is evident. After every general election since 2014, he had taken a spiritual break.
In 2019, his visit to Kedarnath was a prelude to his decisive victory.
His current visit to Kanyakumari, a place associated with India's spiritual resurgence, continues this tradition.
Indian culture uniquely combines penance and meditation for warriors after battles, symbolising a purge of bitterness and hostility.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are prime examples of this tradition, which Modi seems to embrace, unlike his opposition, often criticised for harbouring continuous animosity against him.
Modi’s Kanyakumari visit sends a clear message to the opposition: let bygones be bygones. It’s time to set aside bitterness and work together post-election.
This message was missed by the opposition in 2014 and 2019. Will they miss it again in 2024?
In preparation for his Kanyakumari meditation, Modi will disconnect from the campaign noise, reflecting his belief in the spiritual and historical essence of India's culture.
The nation will watch as Modi, the monk-statesman, meditates on the rock that once inspired Swami Vivekananda, hoping to draw strength for the challenges ahead.
The results on June 4th will reveal whether this spiritual sojourn has fortified him for another term in office.
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