Acharya Satyendra Das, the Chief Priest of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, passed away at the age of 83 while undergoing treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow.
The institute confirmed his demise in an official press statement.
"Satendra Das ji, Chief Priest of Ram Mandir Ayodhya, breathed his last today. He was admitted in HDU (High Dependency Unit) of Neurology ward on February 3 with stroke in critical condition," the hospital statement maintained.
Acharya Das was admitted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the Neurology ward on 3 February after suffering a brain stroke a day earlier. His condition remained critical throughout his hospitalisation.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited SGPGIMS on 4 February to enquire about his health and monitor his treatment.
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Das played a pivotal role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and had been associated with the temple for decades.
On 6 December 1992, the day the Babri Masjid was demolished, he was present at the site and was responsible for relocating the idols to the nearby Fakire Mandir before the demolition.
Following the demolition, he placed the idols in the makeshift temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site.
Since the consecration ceremony of the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Acharya Das had been serving as its Chief Priest.
Taking to his X handle, Adityanath expressed condolences.
On the demise of the Chief Priest, UP CM Dy Brajesh Pathak said, "Ayodhya Dham's Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das has passed away. We are saddened. We pray to God to give him peace and give his followers the strength to bear this pain. All his life was spent at the feet of Ram Lalla. He was a pious soul..."
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