New Delhi, Feb. 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the idea of a temple dedicated to him was "appalling" and "shocking" and goes against India's "great traditions".

The temple in Gujarat's Rajkot, which has a sculpture of Modi's upper torso and head in its sanctum, was to be inaugurated on February 16 by a central or a Gujarat minister.

In a series of tweets today, the Prime Minister said: "Have seen the news about a Temple being built in my name. I was appalled. This is shocking and against India's great traditions."

Modi continued: "Building such Temples is not what our culture teaches us. Personally it made me very sad."

Modi urged his fans from the Om Yuva Group, which has raised the temple, to "not do it" and if they have the "time and resources", devote them "towards fulfilling our dream of a Clean India".

After Modi's tweets, a member of the group was quoted as saying that a statue of "Bharat Mata" would be installed in place of Modi's and mass marriages conducted on the day of the inauguration.

The temple was constructed in 2006 when Modi was chief minister. It had photos of Modi and a "Bharat Mata" idol.