Acharya Satyendra Das, the esteemed chief priest of the Ramlala temple in Ayodhya, passed away at the age of 80 on Wednesday morning at Lucknow PGI, following a brain hemorrhage he suffered on February 3. His mortal remains will be returned to Ayodhya for public homage at his ashram, Satya Dham Gopal Mandir.
Satyendra Das dedicated 32 years of his life to serving as the chief priest at Ramjanmabhoomi. He is notably remembered for carrying Ramlala in his arms during the tumultuous events of the Babri demolition on December 6, 1992.
Born on May 20, 1945, in Sant Kabirnagar, located 98 kilometers from Ayodhya, Satyendra Das exhibited a deep devotion from a young age. His father frequently visited Ayodhya, instilling in him a passion for the sacred city.
Satyendra Das became drawn to the ashram of Abhiram Das, a revered figure who claimed that the idols of Ram, Laxman, Bharat, Shatrughan, and Sita appeared in the Ram Janmabhoomi sanctum on December 22-23, 1949.
Renounced worldly life in 1958
Inspired by Abhiram Das's service to Ramlala, Satyendra Das chose to renounce worldly life and embrace sanyaas in 1958, a decision met with understanding and blessing from his father, who expressed pride in having one son dedicate his life to spiritual service.
Was appointed chief priest in 1992
In 1992, amidst major political and social upheaval regarding Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyendra Das was appointed chief priest on March 1, after the passing of the previous receiver, JP Singh. With strong connections to VHP leaders and other saints, he was entrusted with the management of the temple and the responsibility of overseeing four assistant priests, including Santosh Tiwari.
Satyendra Das's legacy as the chief priest continued to grow, culminating in his pivotal role during the Pran-Pratishtha of Ramlala scheduled for January 22, 2024. His unwavering devotion and leadership have left an indelible mark on the spiritual landscape of Ayodhya.
Prakash Kumar Pandey
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