Ahmedabad: Head priest of Maninagar Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan succumbs to Covid-19

In the wake of the pandemic, an arrangement for a live telecast for his followers has been made by the temple trust before his cremation which is scheduled for this afternoon.

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Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj with his successor hree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swami.

Shree Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, 78-year-old head priest of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Ahmedabad, popularly known as P P Swami, died of Covid-19 early Thursday. His funeral was done as per the Covid protocol with devotees paying their last respects on video.

He was admitted at CIMS hospital, Science City area on June 28 after he was tested positive for Covid-19. He was soon put on ventilator while he was also administered two doses of plasma therapy. However, his condition did not improve as he remained critical and under observation. He along with 10 other priests of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan was admitted to various private hospitals in Ahmedabad after they tested positive for coronavirus.

As his condition did not improve, on July 12, the temple trust appointed his spiritual successor — Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swami.

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The official statement issued by the temple stated that “due to his long-term illness and poor health condition, Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj has not appointed his successor… Following the process stated in this Sant-Parshad Mandal Bandharan, the senior sants with the unanimous support of all other sants, appointed Sadguru Shastri Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swami to be the spiritual heir of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, and successor to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj’.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over his demise.

“Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj was blessed with immense wisdom. His emphasis on community service, education and women empowerment will always be remembered. I will never forget my many interactions with him. Om Shanti,” Modi tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled the demise of the head priest. In a message, the home minister said the spiritual leader’s life was full of values and wisdom and he selflessly devoted himself to the greater cause of humanity and blessed and enlightened millions of lives. Swamishree Maharaj’s divine teachings and selfless contributions towards the welfare of society have no parallels, he said.

With PTI

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