Ahmedabad, 10 April 2013

During his Kolkata visit, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi spent 25 minutes alone in Swami Vivekananda’s room for meditation. The room is located to the southeast of the old Ramakrishna temple at Belur Math. Swami Vivekananda lived and died here in July 1902. The room has several personal effects of Swami Vivekananda. Visitors are usually not allowed in. Modi asked for permission to enter the room and spend some time meditating there. The Ramakrishna Math and Mission headquarters made an exception for Modi. After stepping out of the room, Modi spent a few minutes watching the river from the verandah.

Modi wanted to become a monk

According to a report published in Telegraph and other local newspapers in Kolkata, Modi had first visited Belur in the early Sixties as a 17- year- old boy aspiring to join the order and lead a monk’s life. Math veterans recounted how the then president of the Mission, Swami Madhavananda Maharaj, had gently dissuaded the teenaged Modi from taking the step. He advised Modi to complete his studies before contemplating becoming a monk.

Modi was asked to keep beard by Atmasthanandaji

Kolkata’s Telegraph quoting a source in its report says: Since that episode, Modi twice attempted to join the order, only to be advised against it.In the early Seventies, Modi met Swami Atmasthananda in Rajkot to say he was desperate to join the order. He was advised to pursue something else along with the suggestion that he should keep a beard, the report says quoting a veteran monk. Modi apparently reminisced about those times with Swami Atmasthananda, currently the president of the Math and Mission.

Whatever I am, I am because of you, said Modi

“Modiji jokingly told president maharaj that whatever he is today is because of him,” said a senior monk who was privy to the meeting.

“The duo conversed in Gujarati, occasionally breaking into laughter,” report says quoting sources.

🗃️ This story is from our archives and may contain outdated information.