Wed Feb 12 05:05:09 UTC 2025: ## Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Chief Priest Passes Away
**LUCKNOW, February 12, 2025** – Mahant Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, passed away at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) on Wednesday. He was 85.
Das, who had served as the temple’s head priest since the age of 20, was admitted to the hospital earlier this month after suffering a brain stroke. He was a prominent figure in Ayodhya, known for his accessibility to the media and his deep knowledge of the city’s history, particularly regarding the Ram temple movement. His tenure as chief priest spanned the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, a pivotal moment in the history of the temple. Following the demolition, he continued to lead prayers for the Ram Lalla idol under a temporary structure.
Vishva Hindu Parishad spokesman Sharad Sharma expressed condolences, describing Das as a widely respected figure and a key source of information on the Ayodhya movement.
First Piper 