Kanniyakumari: The first visuals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditating at Kanniyakumari's Vivekananda Rock Memorial emerged on Friday, showing him in saffron attire with a 'rudraksha mala' in his right hand. 

Marking the end of the high-octane Lok Sabha election campaign, PM Modi on Thursday began his 45-hour-long ‘dhyan’ at the iconic spot of Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'.

Security Beefed Up, Tourists Restricted 

In view of PM Modi's meditation in Kanniyakumari, tight-security arrangements have been made with 2,000 police personnel deployed across the area. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy are also maintaining a tight vigil. 

The beach is also out of bounds for tourists from Thursday to Saturday and private boats are not allowed to ferry, according to reports. 

PM Modi Not New to Meditation

Prime Minister Modi, who is no stranger to meditation, previously undertook a 15-hour 'ekantavaas' (solitary meditation) at the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand following the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign. 

In 2014, PM Modi visited Pratapgarh in Maharashtra to pay homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji, who achieved a pivotal victory in November 1659 by defeating Afzal Khan, the general of the Adil Shahi Sultans of Bijapur. This triumph paved the way for Shivaji's coronation as the head of the Maratha Empire, which he called Hindavi Swaraj.  

However, this year his visit to Kanyakumari ahead of the final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election has sparked criticism from opposition leaders. They have called for the Election Commission to intervene, alleging a violation of the 48-hour silence period.   

PM Modi's choice to meditate in Kanyakumari also highlights BJP's extensive South India push during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. PM Modi alone made seven visits to Tamil Nadu this year.  During the campaign speeches, PM Modi promoted and promised to protect the Tamil language and the state's culture. The Tamil Nadu tour of the Prime Minister also witnessed visits to several temples, including the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple and the Kothandaramaswamy Temple.