Ram Temple Chief Priest, Witness to Ayodhya, Passes Away
Acharya Satyendra Das Image credit UP Info Dept
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By Raisina Correspondent
Lucknow, February 12: Acharya Satyendra Das (87), the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, passed away on Wednesday morning at PGI Lucknow after a prolonged illness.
His demise 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 PGI to check on his health and assured all possible assistance,” said the Uttar Pradesh government in a media statement.
Expressing grief, Adityanath described Acharya Satyendra Das’s passing 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,” said the UP Chief Minister.
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 ₹100, but his commitment to service remained unwavering for 34 years,” added the state government.
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 bore 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 Tirth 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,” said the state government.
He shared Guru Bhai relations with Ram Vilas Vedanti and Sant Dharamdas of Hanuman Garhi, further deepening his connection to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust confirmed that Acharya Satyendra Das breathed his last at PGI Lucknow around 7 AM on Magh Purnima. He had been serving Shri Ram Lalla since 1993, dedicating himself to the temple and its traditions.
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Expressing grief over his demise, Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra, along with other members of the temple management, conveyed their deep condolences.
On Sunday evening, after a sudden deterioration in his health, priest Pradeep Das admitted him to Shri Ram Hospital, where he was found to have high blood pressure. He was subsequently referred to the Medical College, and as his condition worsened, he was shifted to PGI Lucknow.
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