Taking a dig at ‘godmen’ at an event organised by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Kochi, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that a great person who has acquired mystical powers won’t market themselves, and they do so only as a marketing gimmick. However, he also praised Amritanandamayi and compared her to Swami Vivekananda.

Speaking at the event on Saturday, Pinarayi Vijayan said, "Every human being is capable of developing mystical powers through practices and scale great heights, as Swami Vivekananda did. Mata Amritanandamayi is such a person whose virtues have been recognised all over the world,”, according to The New Indian Express. 

Leaders of the Left in Kerala are known for their stand against religious leaders, and this statement has since raised eyebrows. Vijayan said that a great person who has acquired mystical powers won't market them. A spiritual person is refers to himself as a 'godman' only when he attempts to market his mystical powers, the description as a ‘god-man’ was a part of a marketing gimmick, he said.

The chief minister made the statement while inaugurating a centre for high-precision radiation therapy by Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi. AIMS is run by Mata Amritanandamayi Math. The chief minister also praised the Institute for providing free treatment for poor. “Amrita hospital gives free treatment for poor, which should be emulated by others,” he reportedly said.   

In 2014 Amritanandamayi’s ex-aide Gail Tredwell alias Gayatri in her memoir “Holy Hell” had alleged sexual exploitation and promiscuity among senior ashram inmates. Vijayan was then the state secretary of the CPI (M). He had said that the allegations against the Ashram were serious in nature and should be investigated, while other leaders maintained silence over the issue.