Home Minister Amit Shah initiated the construction of a majestic 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram in the district of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, via video conferencing on Sunday.
The impressive statue will be erected in Mantralayam village, spread across 10 acres, at a cost of over Rs 500 crore. The village holds historical significance as it is situated along the banks of the renowned Tungabhadra river, where the illustrious Vijayanagar Empire originated.
During the event, Amit Shah expressed that the statue of Lord Shri Ram will convey the message of Sanatan Dharma (eternal duty) to the world and further strengthen the Vaishnava tradition in India and beyond. He highlighted the sacred significance of the number 108 in Hindu culture.
Amit Shah assured that the project would be completed within two and a half years. He acknowledged the historical importance of Mantralayam village, particularly its temple dedicated to Raghavendra Swamy, and praised the Vijayanagar Empire for its contributions in restoring the nation’s pride and culture by driving out invaders from the southern region.
The Home Minister also mentioned the various initiatives under the Mantralayam Das Sahitya Prakalp, addressing issues like housing, food donation, life donation, education donation, access to clean water, and cow protection.
Referring to the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Amit Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for laying the foundation stone and anticipated the installation of the idol of Ramlala, restoring Lord Shri Ram to his rightful place after many centuries.
