Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, passed away to the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences here on Wednesday morning after a prolonged illness.
The 87-year-old chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple was admitted to the SGPGIMS earlier this month after he suffered a brain stroke.
“Satendra Das ji, chief priest of Ram Mandir Ayodhya, breathed his last today (Wednesday). He was admitted to the HDU (High Dependency Unit) of neurology ward on February 3 with a stroke in critical condition,” the hospital said.
The mortal remains of Acharya Satyendra Das were taken to his residence in Ayodhya.
The demise of Acharya Satyendra Das has left a deep void in both political and spiritual circles.
A wave of mourning spread among saints and devotees as soon as the news broke. Just four days ago, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited the SGPGIMS to check on his health and had assured all possible assistance.
Condoling the demise of Das, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his entire life was dedicated to the service of Lord Ram.
Modi lauded his scholarship in religious texts and rituals, and said the invaluable contribution of Das to the country’s spiritual and social life would always be remembered.
Expressing grief, Chief Minister Yogi described the demise of Acharya Satyendra Das as 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. Heartfelt tribute! We pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet and to give strength to his grieving disciples and followers to endure this profound loss. Om Shanti!” Chief Minister Yogi wrote in a post on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said he “prays to God to give courage to his followers to bear the huge loss”.
Acharya Satyendra Das witnessed key milestones in Ayodhya’s history, from the demolition of the disputed structure to the construction of the grand Ram temple. He had been devoted to Ram Lalla’s service since 1993, offering prayers from the makeshift tent to the sanctum of the newly constructed temple.
Appointed as Ram Lalla’s priest in 1992, he initially received a salary of Rs 100, but his commitment to service remained unwavering for 34 years. Before becoming a priest, Acharya Satyendra Das was a teacher, having earned an Acharya degree in Sanskrit in 1975. He began his career as an assistant teacher at Sanskrit College in Ayodhya before being appointed as a priest in March 1992 by the receiver of the temple.
Acharya Satyendra Das was witness to Ram Lalla’s transition from a makeshift tent to the grand temple. Following the installation of Ram Lalla in the newly-constructed Ram Janmabhoomi temple, he had requested to be relieved of his duties. However, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust declined his request, affirming that he would continue as the chief priest and could offer prayers to Ram Lalla whenever he wished, without any restrictions.
Belonging to a Brahmin family from Sant Kabir Nagar, Satyendra Das arrived in Ayodhya in the early 1950s, where he became a disciple of Abhiram Das, the saint who installed the idol of Ram Lalla in 1949. He shared guru bhai relations with Ram Vilas Vedanti and Sant Dharamdas of Hanuman Garhi, further deepening his connection to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Expressing grief over the demise of Acharya Satyendra Das, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai along with other members of the temple management, conveyed their deep condolences.
Hailing from the Nirvani Akhara, Acharya Satyendra Das was among the most accessible saints of Ayodhya and the go-to person for many media persons from across the country wanting information on Ayodhya and Ram temple developments.
Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Ayodhya-based spokesman Sharad Sharma condoled the demise of Das. “He was a widely respected figure and among those who knew the history of the Ayodhya movement by heart. We condole his death,” he said.
