People who search for bhagwan modi or "bhagwan Narendra Modi" usually want to know one thing: does anyone really treat the Prime Minister as a god? The short answer is that a few supporters and some party figures have used god-like words about him, and a handful of small shrines have been built by followers. Narendra Modi himself has said different things at different times. In 2015 he said a temple to him was "shocking". In May 2024 he said he was convinced God had sent him. In January 2025 he said, "I am human, not God." No government recognises him as a deity, and the proposed Modi Mandir in Patna has not been built.

This page sets out who said what, and when, with a named source for each line. It does not take a side on whether such language is right or wrong. It explains why supporters use it and why critics object.

Key takeaways

  • "Bhagwan" means God or a revered divine being. Calling a living politician bhagwan is unusual in Indian public life and usually draws criticism.
  • In October 2018, a Maharashtra BJP spokesperson called Modi the "11th avatar" of Lord Vishnu. The Congress called it an insult to the gods.
  • In May 2024, Modi said in an interview he was convinced God had sent him. Opposition leaders mocked the remark.
  • In January 2025, on his first podcast, Modi said: "I am human, not God."
  • Shrines built by followers in Rajkot (2015) and Pune (2021) were removed or emptied within days. The Patna temple of 2026 is only a proposal.

What does "bhagwan" mean, and why does it matter here?

In Hindi, bhagwan is the common word for God, or for a deity such as Shiva, Vishnu or Krishna. It is also used with respect for saints and gurus, for example in titles. So the word carries a strong religious meaning. When people attach it to a living politician, they are either praising him in the highest terms, joking, or criticising others for hero-worship.

In Hindu tradition, an avatar is a form in which a god comes to earth, such as Rama or Krishna for Vishnu. Calling a living leader an avatar is therefore a much stronger claim than calling him a great leader. That is why such remarks tend to become news. For the wider history of honouring living rulers as divine, from ancient Egypt to Japan, see our short history of worship of living rulers.

Who has called Modi a god or an avatar?

We found several documented cases. None was an official party or government statement. Each was made by an individual, and most drew pushback, sometimes from within the BJP.

WhenWhoWhat was said or doneWhat followed
February 2015Followers near Rajkot, GujaratBuilt a small shrine with a Modi idolModi said he was appalled. The shrine was abandoned within a day
12 October 2018Avadhut Wagh, Maharashtra BJP spokespersonCalled Modi the "11th avatar" of Lord Vishnu on TwitterCongress called it an insult to the gods
August 2021Mayur Munde, BJP worker, PuneBuilt a shrine with a Modi bust in AundhThe bust was removed within days
May 2024Sambit Patra, BJP candidate for PuriSaid in a TV interview that Lord Jagannath was a devotee of ModiCalled it a slip of the tongue, apologised and fasted for three days
29 July 2026Bihar State Transgender Welfare BoardApproved a proposal for a Modi temple in PatnaStill a proposal. No land or money approved

The "11th avatar" remark, 2018

On 12 October 2018, Avadhut Wagh, a spokesperson for the BJP in Maharashtra, posted that Modi was the 11th avatar of Lord Vishnu, as The Statesman and other outlets reported. In Hindu belief, Vishnu has ten main avatars, so an "11th" was a striking claim. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe called it an "insult" to the gods. Mr Wagh defended the post in a Marathi news interview, saying the country was lucky to have a god-like leader.

The Jagannath slip, 2024

During the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, BJP candidate Sambit Patra told an Odia news channel that Lord Jagannath, the deity of Puri, was a devotee of Modi. The Tribune reported that he later called it a slip of the tongue, said he had meant that Modi was a devotee of Lord Jagannath, and announced a three-day fast as penance. Odisha's then ruling party, the BJD, and the Congress said the remark had hurt Odia sentiment.

What has Narendra Modi himself said?

Modi's own words have changed over the years. Here they are in order. Quotes from Hindi interviews are given as English outlets reported them, and translations differ slightly.

  1. February 2015, the Rajkot shrine. When followers built a shrine to him near Rajkot, the Daily Excelsior quoted his message: "This is shocking & against India's great traditions." He urged people not to build such temples and to put their energy into the Clean India campaign instead. Read the full story in our article on the Rajkot Modi temple.
  2. May 2024, "sent by God". In a News18 interview during the election campaign, Modi said that after his mother's death, looking back on his experiences, he was convinced that God had sent him, and that his energy could not be purely biological. The News Minute and other outlets reported the remark and the reaction to it.
  3. 10 January 2025, "I am human, not God". On his first podcast, with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Modi spoke about mistakes. ThePrint reported him saying that mistakes happen and "I am a human, not some God", adding that he never acts with bad intent.

The Congress's Jairam Ramesh called the 2025 remark "damage control", pointing back to the 2024 interview, as Deccan Herald reported. Readers can judge the words for themselves; we have linked each source below.

How did critics react to the "sent by God" remark?

The May 2024 remark drew sharp responses from opposition leaders, as reported by The News Minute and other outlets:

  • Rahul Gandhi (Congress) mocked the claim at a rally, saying everyone else was biological but Modi was not, and asked why God would not tell him to help the poor and farmers.
  • Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress) said, in sarcasm, that he was now calling himself the son of God.
  • Shashi Tharoor (Congress) asked whether the Election Commission had anything to say about the remark.

Supporters saw the remark differently: as a statement of personal faith and a sense of duty, not a claim to be a god. Many people of faith in India say they feel guided by God in their work. The disagreement is partly about whether a head of government should speak this way during an election.

Why do some supporters use god-like language?

We found no survey that measures this, so we will not give numbers. From the cases above, the reasons supporters give fall into a few groups:

  • Gratitude. Rajan Singh, who proposed the Patna temple, told PTI: "I proposed to build a temple for Narendra Modi because he gave us respect and rights." He linked this to the Transgender Persons Act of 2019.
  • Devotion in the style of bhakti. Indian popular religion has a long habit of songs, chalisas and shrines for people seen as great. Our explainer on the Modi Chalisa shows how a prayer form was used for a politician.
  • Party loyalty. Several of the people involved were party workers or office-holders, such as the builder of the Pune shrine and the 2018 spokesperson. Their gestures were not party policy, and in Pune, the builder said senior leaders told him worshipping a living person did not fit the party's ideas. Read more in our article on the Pune Aundh Modi temple.

Those reasons are not new and not unique to Modi. Shrines have been reported for other living leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Jagan Mohan Reddy. See our page on temples for living leaders in India for the documented cases.

Is there a "Bhagwan Modi" temple anywhere?

Not one that we could confirm is standing and active today. The two shrines that were built and shown in news reports, in Rajkot in 2015 and in Pune in 2021, were abandoned or emptied soon after. A farmer's shrine in Tamil Nadu was reported around 2020, but its current state is not confirmed. The Patna temple approved by the Bihar board in July 2026 has no land, money or building.

Our full list is in Modi temples in India: every known case, and the Patna story is in how the board approved the proposal. On whether a temple to a living person is even allowed, see can a temple be built for a living person in India.

Images of a golden "Bhagwan Modi" idol in a grand temple are illustrations or AI images, not photos of a real place. No such temple has been built.

Hard words explained

  • Bhagwan: God, or a divine being. Also used as a title of deep respect for saints.
  • Avatar: a form a god takes when coming to earth. Vishnu's ten best-known avatars include Rama and Krishna.
  • Bhakt: a devotee. Online, "Modi bhakt" is used by critics for very loyal supporters, and some supporters use it about themselves with pride.
  • Prana pratishtha: the ritual that is believed to make a statue a living deity. See our explainer on prana pratishtha.

Common questions

Is Narendra Modi called Bhagwan?

Some supporters and a few party figures have used god-like words for him, such as calling him an avatar of Vishnu in 2018. This is not an official title, and it has been criticised, including by people within his own party.

Did Modi say he was sent by God?

Yes. In a May 2024 interview he said he was convinced God had sent him. In January 2025 he said on a podcast, "I am human, not God."

What did Modi say about temples built for him?

In 2015, when followers built a shrine near Rajkot, he called it shocking and against India's traditions and asked people not to build such temples.

Is there a Bhagwan Modi mandir in Bihar?

No. A state welfare board approved a proposal for a Modi temple in Patna on 29 July 2026, but no land, budget or building exists.

Sources

Last checked on 3 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us through our contact page.