Acharya Satyendra Das is the chief priest of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, which was inaugurated on 22 January 2024.
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Wiki/Biography
Acharya Satyendra Das was born in 1940 (age 84 years; as of 2024) and hails from Sant Kabirnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Growing up, he often visited Ayodhya with his father. The religious environment of the temple town played an important role in Satyendra Das’s inclination towards becoming a priest. Additionally, his father was a close associate of Sadhu Abhiram Das, who is credited with placing the statue of Ram Lalla inside the central dome of the Babri Masjid in December 1949. On 8 February 1958, Satyendra Das went to Ayodhya for studies. Das has two siblings, a brother and a sister. When Das expressed his desire to become a “sanyasi”, his father was extremely happy that one of his sons would take care of the family and the other would serve God. Satyendra Das graduated from Sanskrit school in 1975 and earned the title of Acharya. In 1976, he got a job as an assistant teacher in the grammar department of Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Ayodhya. At that time his salary was Rs 75. During this period he kept coming to Ayodhya. He used to do stories, worship etc. He also used to install Kalash in the temple during Navratri. At that time he never thought that he would ever become the chief priest of the birthplace.
Physical Appearance
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
He has a brother and his sister is dead.
wife and children
He is unmarried. He practiced celibacy and became a Sanyasi to serve Lord Rama.
religion/religious views
He follows Hindu religion and is a devotee of Lord Rama.
Chief priest of Ram temple in Ayodhya
While working as an assistant teacher in Sanskrit College, Ayodhya, he used to visit Ram Janmabhoomi regularly. In 1992, Laldas served as the priest of Ramlala. At that time, the role of receiver was generally assigned to a retired judge, and JP Singh held the post. After Singh’s death in February 1992, the supervision of Ram Janmabhoomi was transferred to the district administration. The discussion of replacing the priest Laldas emerged around this period. During this period, Das maintained strong relations with the then BJP MP Vinay Katiyar, VHP leaders and several saints associated with VHP leaders. They agreed to appoint Das as the chief priest and also got the approval of VHP President Ashok Singhal. The district administration was informed, and Das was appointed as the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi on 1 March 1992. Das was given the authority to appoint four assistant priests, and he later selected four individuals for these roles. In an interview, Satyendra Das said that at that time it was a bit difficult to maintain harmony between school and temple. However, helpful priests made it easy. He used to stay in the temple from 10 am to 10 am, then in school from 10 am to 4 pm. Then will remain in the temple from 4 pm till evening. Reportedly, at that time he was getting a salary of Rs 100. Acharya Satyendra Das remained in this post for the next three decades.
Babri Masjid in Ayodhya before demolition
In 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid by Hindu nationalists sparked widespread Hindu-Muslim violence. In an interview, Satyendra Das said that he was there when Babri demolition took place. It was 11 in the morning, they picked up the idol of Ramlala and left so that it was safe. Disagreements between Hindus and Muslims over ownership of property became a legal dispute and reached the Supreme Court of India. In 2000, many leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), including Ashok Singhal, forcibly entered the birthplace. The media was also behind him. The then DM Bhagwati Prasad wanted to suppress the matter, but the news was published in the media. Later, when journalists asked Das and his assistant priests about this, they revealed the names. After the incident, VHP became angry with their associate priests. On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the land should be transferred to a trust for the construction of a Hindu temple. When he retired from the post of teacher on June 30, 2007, he again started getting a salary of Rs 13,000. Meanwhile, his assistant priests received a salary of Rs 8000. On December 30, 2024, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hit out at the BJP over the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying that the consecration ceremony should not be politicized. A side event. He targeted BJP over the prestige of Ram Temple on January 22, 2024 and claimed that he has not received an invitation for the event. As a result, Das hit out at Thackeray over his claim that invitations were extended only to those who are “devotees of Lord Ram”. Furthermore he said,
It is completely wrong to say that (BJP) is fighting in the name of Lord Ram, our PM is respected everywhere. He has done a lot of work during his tenure. This is not politics. This is his devotion.”
On 20 January 2024, Mahant Satyendra Das came into limelight for expressing outrage when some pre-installation old photographs showing the face of Ram Lalla idol went viral on the internet. The 51-inch statue, carved in black stone by Mysore sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was brought from Karnataka. Representatives of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the temple trust denied that they had released any photographs of the idol, but the photographs were on all TV channels and social media platforms. In one photograph, the idol’s eyes were covered with a piece of yellow cloth and wrapped in a garland of roses. In the second its face was exposed. VHP officials said that these photographs were taken secretly a few days before the deity was installed in the temple. The Trust suspects that the officials engaged in the construction work at the temple site have leaked the picture of Ramlala. The background of the idol shows that the photographs were clicked when it was kept in an ashram before being moved to the temple complex. Acharya Satyendra Das demanded an investigation into the matter, saying, “The eyes of Lord Ram’s idol cannot be revealed before the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ is completed.” He was appointed the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
Salary
In an interview he revealed that his monthly remuneration was only Rs 100. Till 2023, he received only Rs 12,000 monthly honorarium. However, it increased in 2024.
Facts/General Knowledge
- Acharya Satyendra Das is an ardent animal lover. He is often seen petting monkeys roaming around the Ayodhya Ram temple complex.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn