PM Modi seeks blessings from AI avatar of late Hindu spiritual leader

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with an AI-powered holographic avatar of Hindu spiritual leader Swami Chinmayananda, who died in 1993, and sought his blessings for his future endeavours at an event in New Delhi.

The unusual interaction took place on Friday during the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam. Modi described the experience as deeply emotional, saying the technology had taken him back 33 years to his 1993 meeting with the spiritual leader.

The Prime Minister recalled meeting Chinmayananda around February or March that year to invite him to the centenary celebrations of the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. The spiritual leader accepted the invitation but died on August 3, 1993, weeks before the event.

Modi said the holographic representation had brought back memories of Chinmayananda’s affection and blessings, making him feel the spiritual leader’s presence once again.

The Prime Minister also praised the Chinmaya Mission for promoting Indian culture and values, particularly among young people. He highlighted the role of its educational institutions in passing India’s cultural heritage to the next generation.

With India approaching the centenary of its Independence in 2047, coinciding with the Chinmaya Mission’s centenary period, Modi called on spiritual and cultural organisations to work together towards the goal of a developed India.

The three-day conference, running from October 23 to 25, marks the culmination of year-long celebrations commemorating 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission, founded by Swami Chinmayananda in 1951.