February 12, 2025: Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, passed away at the age of 83 at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow. The institute confirmed the news in an official statement.

The senior priest was admitted to the HDU of the Neurology ward on February 3 after suffering a brain stroke on February 2. Despite receiving medical treatment, he succumbed to his condition.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited SGPGIMS on February 4 to inquire about Acharya Satyendra Das’s health, highlighting the significance of his role in the temple and his deep spiritual influence.

Acharya Satyendra Das had been an integral part of the temple’s history, serving as its chief priest since the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. During that historic event, he had shifted the idols to the nearby Fakire Mandir before the demolition and later placed them in the makeshift temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site. His role continued even after the consecration of the newly constructed Ram Temple, where he led religious ceremonies and guided devotees.

Just a month before his demise, on January 11, Acharya Satyendra Das had led the celebrations of the first anniversary of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the temple, calling the occasion “very beautiful.”

His passing marks the end of an era in the spiritual and religious landscape of Ayodhya. His contributions to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the temple's legacy will be remembered for generations to come.