PM Modi started with 'Surya Arghya' which is a ritual associated with spiritual practice involving salutations to the Almighty, manifested in the form of sun.
PM Modi paid floral tributes to the statue of Swami Vivekananda.
Clad in saffron, PM Modi walked around the mandapam with his 'japa mala' in his hands.
Photographs and video clips of PM Modi in meditating posture were apparently taken during a different time.
On Saturday, when PM Modi finishes his meditation, he will likely visit the Thiruvalluvar statue, next to the memorial.
For PM Modi's 45-hour stay all arrangements, including heavy security, are in place.
This is the first time the Prime Minister will be staying at the memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda.
At the end of 2019 Lok Sabha polls PM Modi chose Kedarnath cave to reflect and meditate.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai termed PM Modi's visit to the memorial as an out-and-out 'private' visit.