Ayodhya Ram Mandir Won't Have a Chief Priest As Trust General Secretary Says, 'Everyone Is Young And New'

Over a month after the demise of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir's chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das, the temple trust has clarified that the Ayodhya temple will not have a new chief priest.

General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai said that the discussion regarding the next chief priest happened with Acharya Satyendra Das six months ago and the decision to not appoint anyone was taken.

Subsequently, when Das passed away in February, after suffering a brain stroke on 3 February, the position of chief priest at the Ram Janmabhoomi has remained vacant.

Explaining the decision, Rai said, "There is no one of Satyendra Das's age and respect; no one else has been Hanumangarhi's Mahant for so long. He had been serving since 1993."

Appreciating Das's efforts for the Ram Mandir, Rai mentioned that he used to take a mere salary of Rs 100 per month and served for decades when Ramlalla was in a makeshift tent.

Rai expressed that he does not find anybody to fir the position of chief priest and said, "Now, everyone is young and new; no one is as learned as him. Now, addressing anyone as the chief priest would be an exaggeration."

Das was admitted in Lucknow PGI hospital after suffering a brain stroke at the age of 80. After he passed away while receiving the treatment, his body was brought back to Ayodhya for the final rites, where he was given jal samadhi in Saryu river.