Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to inaugurate a towering 108-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Omkareshwar, a temple town known for housing one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, on September 18. Named “Ekatmata Ki Pratima” (statue of oneness), this monumental structure aims to promote the Advaita Vedanta philosophy championed by Adi Shankaracharya and elevate Omkareshwar, located around 50 miles from Indore, into a global center for this spiritual and philosophical tradition.
The 108-foot-tall statue, made of various metals, portrays Adi Shankaracharya as a 12-year-old boy. Adi Shankaracharya, originally from Kerala, is believed to have arrived in Omkareshwar as a young sanyasi (monk). During his four-year stay in this holy city, he received education from his guru, Govind Bhagwadpad. At the age of 12, following his spiritual calling, he left Omkareshwar and embarked on a journey across the country, disseminating the Advaita Vedanta philosophy and imparting its principles to people far and wide.
