Zee Media Bureau/Ajith Vijay Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram/Kollam: Speaking on the occasion of the 60th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate expressed confidence that India will soon regain its rightful place as Vishwa Guru (teacher of the world).

“It is natural to feel sad about the current state of our country but I am confident that the same people and skills can make us VIshwa Guru once again,” Modi said.

He went on to express his concern on the manner in which a wrong impression is being created about the work done by saints and seers by those “educated with Lord Macaulay’s influence”.

Taking pride in the spiritual legacy of India, Modi said, “Our forefathers gave us Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. There are not mere words but we have lived it.”

On the social work being carried out by Mata Amritanandmayi ‘Amma’, Modi said that she is doing things that are relevant for the society and which should have been done by the government.

“Our Rishis spoke about everyone`s happiness, Amma is showing the way to achieve that,” he said.

Modi also praised the scientific innovations being varied out by research institutions run by the Amritanandmayi Math. “The way the innovations were presented, it is shilanyas of a Bhavya Bharat,” he said.

Narendra Modi in Kerala: As it happened

12.52 pm:A wrong impression of saints and seers have been created by those educated with Lord Macaulay’s influence – Narendra Modi

12.50 pm:Today in Kashmir our soldiers were killed - Modi

12.45 pm: It is natural to feel sad about the current state of our country but I am confident that the same people, skill can make us VIshwa Guru once again - Modi

12.38 pm:Real Spirituality is Sarvajan Hiyat, Sarvajan Sukhay - Narendra Modi

12.36 pm:Amma`s birthday is being celebrated for society not for self - Narendra Modi

12.35 pm:She used to say that love is the centre of every relation. Real happiness lies in sharing unconditional love, compassion – Modi on Amma

12.33 amWhat has attracted me is Amma’s simple teaching through simple language - Modi

If you look at the work Amma has done closely, she is addressing things that are relevant. She is doing what Governments have to do - Modi

12.20 pmNarendra Modi begins speech

11.20 am: Among other dignitaries present on the dais are: Swami Vishvesha Tirtha of Pejavar Math, Udupi, Bhaiyaji Joshi of RSS, Noble Laureate Dr Leland H Hartwell, SNDP General Secretary Vellapally Natesan, film director Shekhar Kapur, Head of Nagore Dargah Mohammed Masthan Khalifa Sahib, Andaman-Nicobar MP Bishnupada Ray, Sukdev Singh Dhindsa of Akali Dal, Justice (Ret) V.R. Krishna Iyer, Kuldeep Bishnoi of Haryana Janhit Party, former Central Minister O Rajagopal, For CBI director AK Doval.

10.52 am:Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma church, also on the stage

10.50 am:Narendra Modi arrives on the dais with Mata Amritanandmayi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is in Kerala to take part in the 60th birthday celebrations of the “hugging saint” Mata Amritanandmayi.

He visited the famed Padmanabhswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram and also called upon the erstwhile royal family of Travancore before heading to Amma’s ashram, Amritapuri, in Kollam.

Former president APJ Abdul Kalam was the chief guest at the inaugural session yesterday.

This is Modi’s second visit to Kerala this year. In April, he had visited the Sree Narayana Mutt at Sivagiri, the seat of the spiritual order founded by 20th century saint-reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

The Left parties and the Congress had at the time slammed the Mutt for inviting Modi, arguing the ideology for which Modi stood was at variance with the message of universal love propagated by the Guru.

Youth Rally in Trichy

Later in the day Modi will head to Trichy in Tamil Nadu to address a youth conference of the BJP. The event is first of its kind for the BJP after Modi was anointed the prime ministerial candidate.

The event would help the BJP test waters in a state where it has traditionally been weak and has always needed the support of DMK or AIADMK to stay afloat.