The statues, monuments and historical structures always come with some message. And the Statue of Equality Hyderabad preaches a message that we need to follow the most. As the name suggests this Statue of Equality promotes equality amongst all human beings. This statue is built to reflect on the ideals of Ramanujacharya, who is an Indian philosopher and social reformer. What makes this statue even more alluring is its massive height. This location is Hyderabad and is therefore one of the most popular locations that you need to visit there.
Statue of Equality Hyderabad
You can definitely check out the Statue of Equality Hyderabad photos to check out how majestic the site is. But just by looking at the photos you would not be able to get the full vibe of the location. And for that you certainly need to go and visit this statue yourself. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Statue of Equality. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip there soon.
Location: Statue of Equality JIVA, Sriram Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana
Location on Map:
Timings: Statue of Equality Hyderabad timings are from 11 am to 8 pm on all days from Thursday to Tuesday. Wednesday is a closed day.
Dynamic Fountain Show timings at Statue of Equality are 1 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm, and 8 pm on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays the timings are 1 pm, 4 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:15 pm and 8:30 pm.
Entry fee: Statue of Equality Hyderabad tickets are for Rs. 200 for adults and Rs. 125 for children between 5 years to 12 years of age. Also there is an additional fee for car parking which is Rs. 40.
How to reach
By air
The Statue of Equality Hyderabad distance from the main city of Hyderabad is about 34 km. If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. From the airport the distance of the statue is about 19.6 km. It would take you around 26 minutes via Airport Approach Road and NH 44 to reach there. You can easily take a bus or a taxi to reach the location from the airport.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the Nampally Railway Station and the Secunderabad Railway Station are the nearest railway stations. From the Nampally station the Statue of Equality is 29.7 km away. It would take you around 52 minutes to reach there from the railway station. And from the Secunderabad Railway Station the location is 39.9 km away. It would take you around 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach there from the railway station. You can take public buses to reach the location from both the railway stations. Or to travel more conveniently you can also take a taxi or hire a cab as well.
By road
There are buses available on this route to reach there. For that you will have to take any public bus going towards Shadnagar. Moreover you will have to get off near Peddatupra and from there you will have to take an auto. From there the distance of the Statue of Equality Hyderabad is only 2 km away. However you can also take taxis or hire cabs to reach the Statue of Equality as well. Or else you can also travel by your own car to reach the location conveniently. The Statue of Equality is located at the outskirts of the city of Hyderabad. It is located on the Hyderabad Bengaluru Highway near Muchintal, almost 34 km away from the city.
Overview of Statue of Equality
The Statue of Equality is a grand golden statue of Ramanujacharya who is a Hindu saint and a social reformer. Statue of Equality Hyderabad height is majestic at 216 feet and is also the second tallest statue in a sitting posture in the world. The tallest statue is however a statue of Lord Buddha in Thailand. The statue is also popular as the Ramanuja Statue and the main idea behind the creation of this statue was to spread his ideologies. Here the statue is sculpted in a sitting position with folded hands. Also the statue has a serene and soft smile on his face. Located at 45 acre scenic Jeeyar Integrated Vedic Academy (JIVA) complex in the outskirts of Hyderabad it is a popular site for tourists.
The main idea behind the construction of this statue is to promote the idea of a world that is free of caste, creed, religion and colour discriminations. This huge statue mounts on top of a three storey building that forms its base. The base has floors for a Meditation Hall, a Vedic Digital Library and an Educational Gallery. The structure also houses a museum where you will find ancient Indian texts. Furthermore some works of Ramanujacharya are also present here.
Ramanujacharya or Ramanuja promoted the ideas of equality. He talked about equality in all the aspects of life like caste, creed, gender and faith. This tall Statue of Equality Hyderabad is built here to commemorate his 1000th Birth Anniversary. A beautiful golden hue covers the whole statue that makes it look even more splendid.
History of Statue of Equality
Ramanujacharya or Ramanuja was a revered Vedic philosopher and a social reformer born in the 11th century in Tamil Nadu. He travelled all across the world to understand different ways of living in different parts of the world. In the country he also revived the Bhakti Movement and preached his philosophies. He preached his philosophy of Vishishtadvaita and that further inspired many other Bhakti Movements as well. Poets like Kabir, Tulsidas, Meera were also inspired by his teachings and philosophies. Throughout India he also established the correct order of rituals that should be performed in temples.
As a spiritual leader Ramanuja also believed that everyone is equal and above discrimination. He believed that each human is God’s creation and God has created them without any discrimination. He also preached that God loves all his creations equally and doesn’t differentiate on the basis of anything. Furthermore he also fought against the society and all sorts of societal norms that supported discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, gender, faith etc.
He was not just a philosopher but also a social reformer. He took great efforts in reviving the society and preaching his philosophies. Moreover he was a literary genius as well. He wrote 9 scriptures which are popular as Navaratnas. These are Sri Bhashyam, Vedartha Sangraha, Saranagati Gadyam, Vaikuntha Gadyam, Sriranga Godyam, Gita Bhashyam, Nitya Grantham, Vedanta Sara and Vedanta Deepam.
What’s more?
Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami from the Ramanujacharya Ashram first came up with the idea of building the Statue of Equality Hyderabad in 2014. He proposed the building of this statue in order to commemorate the 1000th Birth Anniversary of Ramanujacharya. Also the main idea behind building this statue was to let the people know about Ramanuja’s philosophy and ideas. Also this was meant to be a place of daily worship for the devotees as well. Ramanuja advocated social equality amongst people from all sections and strata of the society. According to Chinna Jeeyar Swami, the main philosophy of Ramanuja was to embrace humanity above everything. Ramanuja also taught and preached about devotion to God along with mutual respect and equality. Therefore the JIVA Trust decided to name this Statute as the Statue of Equality.
Architecture of Statue of Equality
The Statue of Equality has a core that is covered in a sheet made of Panchaloha or 5 metals. This Panchaloha Sheet has a mixture of Gold, Silver, Brass, Copper and Titanium. Moreover the statue mounts on top of a three storey building which is the Bhadra Vedi. On top of the building you will find a 27 feet high lotus that 36 elephants are carrying. On top of the lotus the statue of Ramanuja is placed. The lotus-shaped platform is known as the Padma Peetam. The Bhadra Vedi base which is the three storey building, houses a library, a museum and an educational gallery.
In the meditation hall you will find a 54 inch statue of Ramanuja. This statue is made of 120 kgs of gold. Furthermore there are 108 Divya Desams which are mini replicas of model temples that surround the statue. The replicas are built of stone and have rich ornate detailing.
Things to do at Statue of Equality
Get blessings from Ramanujacharya
There is a miniature statue of Ramanuja at the meditation hall of Bhadra Vedi which is the base of the statue. You can visit here and get blessings from the saint.
View the tall statue of Ramanujacharya
As you approach the location you will be able to view the statue from afar. However as soon as you reach in front of the statue you will be able to witness the grandeur as well.
Take a walk through the Divya Desams
The statue of Ramanuja at the base of the statue is a major attraction here. However the 108 Divya Desams that surround the statue are also another major attraction here. So when you visit here you can see them as you find your way up to the statue.
Go through the works of Ramanuja
The main idea behind the creation of this statue was to promote the ideologies of Ramanuja. So when you visit here make sure to visit the Vedic Library here. Also there is a museum and a theatre as well along with an educational gallery. By visiting all these locations you will get an insight about Ramanuja’s principles and ideas. There is an auditorium here as well that conducts spiritual seminars which you can attend.
Enjoy the Musical Fountain
The Musical Fountain in the evening is a major attraction in the complex here. As the lights get lit during the evening the fountain dances here along with laser lights which look beautiful.
Wrapping Up!
So that was everything about the Statue of Equality Hyderabad. A location like this preaches one of the most important teachings of life. And the second tallest statue in a seated position in the world is definitely a site worth visiting. So whenever you are in Hyderabad you certainly need to visit the Statue of Equality to know more about the philosophies of great philosopher Ramanuja. You will surely gain a lot of perspective in life after you visit this location in Hyderabad. So when are you planning a visit to this statue in Hyderabad? Also do let me know if this article of Statue of Equality is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
