The prime minister’s fans had spent thousands of pounds building the temple in his home state of Gujarat and it was due to open with a dedication to him on Sunday.
The temple in the western city of Rajkot featured a seated statue of Modi under a wind gauge shaped like a lotus, the symbol of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, Modi's reaction has made them rethink.
"I was appalled," Modi said. "This is shocking and against India's great traditions. Building such temples is not what our culture teaches us."
Some of those who backed the project now plan to replace the statue of the prime minister with the idol of a Hindu god but others insist he is still worth honoring.
"We love Modi and worship him because he is the finest leader we have ever had," said Paresh Rawal, an edible oil trader who donated the land for the temple.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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