Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with a holographic avatar of Swami Chinmayananda, who died in 1993, during the inauguration of the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan in New Delhi. The interaction brought back memories of his meeting with the spiritual leader more than three decades ago.
During the exchange, Modi sought the spiritual leader's blessings for the work he intends to undertake.
"It was my great fortune that I met you, and today I want you to bless me for the work I wish to do," the Prime Minister said.
The holographic avatar responded by expressing happiness at seeing Modi become the Prime Minister and offering his support. "India is with you, Narendra," it said.
Technology brings back memories of 1993
Addressing the gathering at Bharat Mandapam, Modi described the interaction as an emotional and spiritual experience, thanking the saints for their blessings.
"It is another kind of spiritual experience. This is a blessing from our saints for me. The Chinmaya Mission is not merely an institution; it represents 'Chinmaya Vichar'," he said.
The Prime Minister said the use of technology had made the experience particularly vivid, allowing him to revisit memories of his meeting with Chinmayananda in 1993.
"The use of technology here has made this experience even more lively. Seeing the divine presence of Chinmaya Ji through his hologram, I felt as if I had travelled back 33 years," he said.
Modi recalled meeting the spiritual leader around February or March 1993 to invite him to the World Parliament of Religions' centenary celebrations in Chicago. Chinmayananda accepted the invitation but died on August 3, a few weeks before the programme.
"For a moment, I felt as though I had gone back to that time. For me, this is an emotional moment," Modi said.
Chinmaya Mission marks 75 years
The three-day global conference, running from October 23 to 25, 2026, is expected to bring together more than 9,000 participants from India and abroad. It marks 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission, founded in 1951 to spread the teachings of Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita.
Recalling his conversations with Chinmayananda, Modi said their discussions had focused on youth empowerment and nation-building.
"I still remember the serious discussion we had during my last meeting with him. The central theme was building youth power and, through it, building a strong and capable India. Friends, a few years after meeting him, the people blessed me with the opportunity to serve as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Since then, for the past 25 years, I have continuously served the country as head of government to the best of my ability. Gurudev's blessings have been with me throughout this journey," he said.