Kolkata, May 9 (IANS): Displaying his deep reverence for the Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) monks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday initially declined to even accept a flower bouquet when he went to see the order's president Swami Atmasthananda at a hospital here.

The monks were bowled over as Modi said he was one of them and needed no special treatment.

According to Swami Guneswarananda Maharaj, in-charge of maintenance at the RKM Seva Pratisthan, a charitable hospital run by the order, Modi wanted their blessings instead.

However, he received the floral offering when the monks insisted it was for the Indian prime minister.

"He accepted the flower bouquet only when we said it is meant for the prime minister of India," said the monk, who turned emotional while narrating the moments to IANS.

He said patients admitted in the hospital were keen to meet the Indian prime minister, but their request couldn't be fulfilled due to security reasons.

Modi wanted to join the order of RKM during his youth and had approached Atmasthananda, who then was posted in Gujarat, but was turned away with suggestion for an alternate career.