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Adi Shankaracharya statue in Kedarnath: Why is it so special?

There are many important facts related to the statue of Shankaracharya, which are making this event more special. Let's understand them in detail.

Adi Shankaracharya statue in Kedarnath: Why is it so special?
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Kedarnath, First Published Nov 5, 2021, 12:47 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled the 12-feet statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath. This statue was brought to Uttarakhand in September with the help of a Chinook helicopter. The team of nine sculptors chose a special rock for this statue. The special aspect is that after being carved out of a rock weighing 130 tons, its weight has become 35 tons. 

In fact, the samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya was washed away in the 2013 floods in Uttarakhand. That is why during the reconstruction work on the Kedarnath shrine, a project for the setting up of a new statue was undertaken. The statue has been made by the sculptors of Mysore using chlorite schist. Chlorite schist can withstand any harsh climate. 

According to the tourism department, the idol has been polished with coconut water. Uttarakhand Tourism Department Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that this would not only show the devotees' faith in the teachings of this great saint but also help in attracting more tourists to the state. Mysore sculptor Yogiraj Shilpi carved the statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya with the help of his son Arun. Yogiraj Shilpi has a legacy of five generations of idol-making. Yogiraj was given the contract to make the idol by the Prime Minister's Office. He started the work on the idol in September 2020.

There are many important facts related to the statue of Shankaracharya, which are making this event more special. Let's understand it in detail.

* According to reports, many sculptors tried to prepare the statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Figures show that around 18 models were prepared for the statue, but one model was selected after the Prime Minister's consent.

* The special thing about the statue unveiled by Prime Minister Modi is that this statue has been made from just one rock.

* The work on carving out this idol started in September 2020. About nine artisans worked hard and prepared this form of Adi Guru Shankaracharya.

* In September, the statue was brought to Uttarakhand with the help of a Chinook helicopter. The team of artists chose a special rock for this statue.

* Sculptors used coconut water on the statue to show the 'Tej' of Adi Guru Shankaracharya. With this, the shine will remain on the surface of the idol.

* The height of the statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is about 12 feet. The statue was made from chlorite schist -- a rock that is known to withstand rain, sun and harsh climate. 

* The Prime Minister's Office had given the contract to make the statue. The work started in September 2020. Within a year, this statue was ready.

Who is Adi Shankaracharya? 

Born in Kerala, Adi Shankaracharya was an 8th-century spiritual leader and philosopher. He consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and made a significant contribution to the unification of Hinduism by establishing four muths throughout India. Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have taken samadhi at Kedarnath. In Uttarakhand itself, he established one of the four muths at Jyotir Muth in Chamoli district and also installed an idol in Badrinath.

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