Ram Janmabhoomi Temple chief priest, who witnessed Babri Masjid demolition, passes away
Satyendra Das served as the head priest of the temple since he was 20 years old
By Newsmeter Network Published on 12 Feb 2025 10:52 AM IST
Acharya Satyendar Das
Lucknow: Chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya passed away at a hospital here on Wednesday. He was 85.
Mahant Satyendra Das was admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) earlier this month after he suffered a brain stroke. The news of the chief priest's death in Lucknow was confirmed by his disciple Pradeep Das.
Satyendra Das served as the head priest of the temple since he was 20 years old. He was also the chief when Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. He was around nine months into his job when the Babri mosque was demolished. Post-demolition, Das continued to serve as the head priest when prayers were offered to the Ram Lalla idol under a makeshift tent.
Das, who hailed from the Nirvani Akhara, 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.
According to Pradeep Das, the priest's cremation will take place on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya on Thursday.
In his condolence message, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the elderly priest's death was "an irreparable loss."
