Adiyogi Shiva statue to be unveiled by PM Modi on Maha Shivratri : With Modi set to unveil 112-foot Shiva statue in Coimbatore, protests against Isha gather steam The Isha Foundation of Jaggi Vasudev has been accused of violating environment and building norms. Activists question Modi’s participation in the event.
Adiyogi Shiva statue to be unveiled by PM Modi on Maha Shivratri
Adiyogi Shiva statue : A massive 112-feet statue of Adiyogi (a form of Lord Shiva who according to the Hindu tradition is considered to be the first of yogis) will be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore.
A massive 112-feet statue of Adiyogi (a form of Lord Shiva who according to the Hindu tradition is considered to be the first of yogis) will be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore on Friday. The unveiling of the statue is part of a grand celebration planned at the venue by the Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. The nightlong celebrations that are expected to begin at 6 pm near Coimbatore include meditation and discourse by Sadhguru and cultural performances by Kailash Kher, Rajasthan Roots with Kutle Khan, Sounds of Isha (Isha’s home grown, anomalous group of musicians) and dance troop Nritarutya. With grand celebrations planned, here are some amazing facts about the 112-feet statue that is going to be unveiled on the occasion of Maha Shivratri:
#Mahashivratri preparations at #IshaYogaCenter, a sneak peek! Join free live web stream on 24-Feb from 6pm at http://isha.co/2kpG390
According to the Isha Foundation website, the statue will be the largest face on the planet recognising Adiyogi’s ‘unparalleled contribution to humanity’. “This iconic face symbolises liberation, representing the 112 ways in which one can attain to one’s ultimate through the science of yoga,” says a blog on the website. Sadhguru Vasudev says, “Adiyogi predates all religion; in celebration of the universality of his methods, this glorious face of 112 feet height.”
The statue is made of steel and weighs 500 tonnes. A team of engineers and designers worked on designing the statue for 2.5 years and another eight months were spent on constructing the statue. Sadhguru Vasudev says that the face has a geometric significance.
While this is the first such statue, reports say that the Isha Foundation plans to set up three more of these 112-feet tall faces of Adiyogi in eastern, northern and western India. Describing the significance of Adiyogi, Sadhguru Vasudev says, “It is essential that the next generations of people on this planet are seekers, not believers. As philosophies, ideology, belief systems that don’t stand the test of logic and the scientific verification will naturally collapse in coming decades, you will see the longing for liberation will rise. When that longing rises, Adiyogi and the science of Yoga will become very important.”
The event and security arrangements
According to the Isha Foundation, “The unveiling of Adiyogi is part of the largest Mahashivratri celebrations in the country which will be telecast live, simultaneously in 7 languages to over 5 crore people through over 23 satellite television channels and several online platforms.”
The Coimbatore police say that they are expecting almost 3 lakh people at the event. A five-tier security blanket has been put in place in and around Coimbatore. Security has also been tightened at the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in view of event. Since the venue on the Western Ghats and also close to the mountain ranges in Kerala, additional police personnel have been reportedly deployed along the state borders to prevent possible infiltration of extremists and Maoists, said the police.
Security has also been tightened in view of planned protests by human rights organisations, various political parties, farmers and tribal bodies, alleging that Adiyogi’s face was built on encroached land and that Modi’s visit would only regularise it (land).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at 5.30 PM at the Sulur airport and then leave for the venue, which is 25 km from Coimbatore, by a helicopter.
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