Ayodhya Ram Temple’s chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das passes away
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Ayodhya Ram Temple’s chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das.
New Delhi: Acharya Satyendra Das, the revered chief priest of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85. He was undergoing treatment at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow after suffering a brain stroke. His disciple, Pradeep Das, confirmed the news of his demise.
According to an official statement from the hospital, Acharya Das was admitted to the neurology ward’s High Dependency Unit (HDU) on February 3 in critical condition. In addition to the brain stroke, he had been battling diabetes and high blood pressure.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the chief priest, calling it an "irreparable loss to the spiritual world."
"The demise of Acharya Shri Satyendra Kumar Das Ji Maharaj, the supreme devotee of Lord Ram and the chief priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Shri Ayodhya Dham, is extremely sad and an irreparable loss to the spiritual world. Humble tribute! We pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant a place to the departed soul at his feet and give strength to the grief-stricken disciples and followers to bear this immense loss. Om peace!" CM Yogi wrote in a post on X.
Acharya Satyendra Das dedicated his life to serving the Ram temple and held immense respect across Ayodhya and beyond. He had been the chief priest for decades and was serving at the temporary Ram temple in 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished.
Born into a life of devotion, he chose the path of spirituality at the age of 20 and was associated with the Nirvani Akhara, one of Ayodhya’s most prominent religious sects. Known for his humility and accessibility, he was widely regarded as one of the most approachable saints in Ayodhya, frequently sought after by journalists for insights into the Ram Temple movement and developments in the holy city.
His passing marks the end of an era, as he was the longest-serving chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, leaving behind a profound spiritual legacy.
With IANS inputs