Acharya Satyendra Das is the chief priest of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which was inaugurated on January 22, 2024.
Wiki/Biography
Acharya Satyendra Das was born in 1940 (age 84 in 2024) from Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. Growing up, he often visited Ayodhya with his father. The religious milieu of the temple city played a key role in Satyendra Das’s inclination to become a priest. Moreover, his father was a close aide of saint Abhiram Das, who allegedly placed the statue of Ram Lalla at the Bab in December 1949 Inside the central dome of the mosque. On February 8, 1958, Satyendra Das moved to Ayodhya to study. Das has two siblings, a brother and a sister. When Das expressed his desire to become a “hermit”, his father was very happy because one of his sons would take care of the family and the other would serve the Almighty God. Satyendra Das received the title of Acharya from Sanskrit Vidyalaya in 1975. In 1976, he got a job as an assistant teacher at the Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Grammar Department in Ayodhya. His salary at that time was 75 rupees. During this time he often visited Ayodhya. He used to perform katha, puja etc. He also installs Kalash in temples during Navratri. At that time, he never imagined that he would become the abbot of Janmabhoomi.
appearance
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
He has a brother and his sister has died.
wife and children
He is unmarried. He practiced celibacy and became a sannyasin serving Lord Rama.
Religion/Religious Views
He follows Hinduism and is a devotee of Lord Ram.
Chief Priest of Ram Mandir, Ayodhya
While working as an assistant teacher at the Sanskrit University School in Ayodhya, he would visit Ram Janmabhoomi regularly. In 1992, Lardas served as the pastor of Ram Lalla. At that time, the role of receiver was usually filled by a retired judge and JP Singh held this position. After Singh’s death in February 1992, the supervision of Ram Janmabhoomi was transferred to the district administration. Discussions about replacing the priest Lardas also arose during this period. During this period, Das was in close contact with then-BJP MP Vinay Katyal, VHP leaders and several saints associated with VHP leaders. They agreed to appoint Das as the high priest and it was approved by VHP president Ashok Singhal. After the district administration was informed, Das was appointed as the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi on March 1, 1992. Das was given the power to appoint four assistant priests and he subsequently selected four persons for these offices. Satyendra Das said in an interview that maintaining harmony between the school and the temple was a bit difficult at that time. However, the helpful pastor made it easy. He used to stay in the temple from early morning until ten o’clock, and then he stayed in school from ten o’clock to four o’clock. Then, starting at 4 p.m., he stayed in the temple until the evening. According to reports, his salary at that time was Rs 100. Acharya Satyendra Das held this position for the next three decades.
Babri Masjid in Ayodhya before demolition
In 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid by Hindu nationalists triggered widespread Hindu and Muslim violence. Satyendra Das said in an interview that he was present when the Babri demolition incident took place. At 11 am, he picked up the idol of Ram Lala and left to ensure safety. A dispute between Hindus and Muslims over property ownership has turned into a legal dispute that has reached India’s Supreme Court. In 2000, many leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), including Ashok Singhal, forcibly entered Janmabhoomi. The media is also behind him. The then DM Bhagwati Prasad wanted to cover up the matter, but the news was published by the media. Later, when reporters asked Das and his assistant pastor about the matter, they revealed the names. The VHP was furious with his assistant pastor after the incident. On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the land should be transferred to a trust for the construction of a Hindu temple. When he retired as a teacher on June 30, 2007, he again started receiving a salary of Rs 13,000. Meanwhile, his assistant priest’s salary is Rs 8,000. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on December 30, 2024 on Ram Mandir issue in Ayodhya Targeting the BJP, it said the consecration ceremony should not become a political purpose. One party event. He slammed the BJP for consecrating Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024, claiming that he did not receive an invitation to attend the event. Das, therefore, hit out at Thackeray’s claims and said the invitations were sent only to those “devotees of Lord Ram”. Furthermore he added,
It is completely wrong to say that the BJP is fighting in the name of Lord Ram, our Prime Minister is respected everywhere. He did a tremendous job during his tenure. This is not politics. Such is his dedication. “
On January 20, 2024, when some old pre-installed pictures of the Ram Lalla idol went viral on the internet, Mahant Satyendra Das was criticized for expressing Dissatisfaction makes headlines. The 51-inch idol was carved from black stone by Mysore-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka. Representatives of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the temple trust have denied releasing any pictures of the idol, but the pictures are all over TV channels and social media platforms. In one of the photos, the statue’s eyes are covered with a yellow cloth and it is wearing a garland of roses. In another photo, its face is exposed. VHP officials explained that the pictures were secretly taken days before the idol was installed in the temple. The trust suspects that the photos of Ram Lala were leaked by officials who were doing construction work at the temple site. The background of the idol suggests that the pictures were taken when the idol was being transported to the temple complex after being kept in the ashram. Acharya Satyendra Das demanded an investigation into the case and said “the eyes of the idol of Lord Rama cannot be revealed until ‘Pran Pratishtha’ is completed.” He was appointed as Ram Chief Priest of Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
salary
He revealed in an interview that his monthly salary was only 100 rupees. Until 2023, he will receive only Rs 12,000 per month. However, there is an increase in 2024.
Facts/Trivia
- Acharya Satyendra Das is an avid animal lover. He is often seen petting the monkeys wandering around the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education