THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Swami Sachidananda, the governing council member of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust, clarified on Monday that there were no differences of opinion among Sivagiri Mutt members regarding the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to him the statement of Trust general secretary Swami Rithambarananda was mistook by the media. “We have been inviting the Prime Minister to visit Mutt during pilgrimage for the last two years. As the timing was not convenient he advanced his visit,” said Sachidananda adding that the meeting held by Trust on Sunday decided to offer a warm welcome to Modi.
“There was no truth about Mutt leaning towards RSS or BJP. Mutt cannot be judged by the number of party leaders visiting its premises. We had more leaders of Congress and Communists among the visitors when compared to BJP,” he said. On whether the Mutt had any difference with SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan for forming a political party, Sachidananda said Mutt did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of SNDP.
Sachidananda was accompanied by Saradananda, the manager of Sivagiri schools and publications, and Sivaswaroopananda, the secretary of ashram in Aluva.
Stage set for Sivagiri Visit
The representatives of Sivagiri Mutt said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would land at Papanasam helipad at 4.05 pm on Tuesday, and would proceed to Mahasamadhi, the final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru for paying floral tributes.
Sivagiri Dharma Sangham Trust president Swami Prakashananda and general secretary Swami Rithambarananda would lead Mutt members in receiving the PM at the venue. After that, the PM would head to Sarada mutt and plant a sapling to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the visit of Mahatma Gandhi to the Mutt.
The Prime Minister would also unveil a plaque of Daiva Dasakam inscribed in Malayalam and English to mark the centenary of the composition of Daiva Dasakam by Guru.
Mutt would submit a memorandum to make Daiva Dasakam as one of the national prayer songs and about the Sivagiri package. After attending the prayers and rituals at Sharada mutt, Modi would address the public at 4.25 pm for 10 minutes.