Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Swami Prakashananda in New Delhi (Press Trust of India)
Swami Prakashananda, head of the Sivagiri Mutt of Kerala, today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The Sivagiri Mutt is located at Varkala in Kerala, the final resting place of 20th century saint-reformer Sree Narayana Guru who preached the message of unity.
"Swami Prakashananda blessed the Prime Minister on behalf of the Sivagiri Mutt," an official release said.
The Prime Minister tweeted:
"It was great meeting Swami Prakashananda, Head of Sivagiri Mutt, Kerala," Modi tweeted.
He had visited the Sivagiri Mutt in April 2013 as well, when he was chief minister of Gujarat and launched a mobile library of the Mutt at a function at Varkala.
He was invited then for the inauguration of the golden jubilee of the Sree Narayana Dharma Meemamsa Parishad.
Amid criticism from CPI-M in Kerala at time that the monks of the Mutt were trying to 'saffronise' the spiritual institution, mr Modi had then said that though spiritual leaders and reformers played a key role to eradicate stigmas in society, "political untouchability" was increasing in the country.