Rishikesh/New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's spiritual guru Swami Dayanand Giri died on Wednesday at his ashram in Sheeshamjhadi area in Rishikesh after a prolonged illness. He was 87.
Swami Dayanand breathed his last on Wednesday, said his close aide and trustee of Dayanand Ashram, Shantatmanand Saraswati.
He had been brought back to the ashram earlier after 10 days of treatment at the Jollygrant Himalayan Hospital, where his condition had begun to decline steadily, he said.
The spiritual guru had been ailing for a long time.
On September 11, Prime Minister Modi had paid a visit to Swami Dayanand at his ashram to enquire after his health.
"Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal peace," Modi wrote on Twitter, soon after he landed in New York on Thursday.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal peace.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2015"My thoughts are with the countless people inspired by Dayananda Saraswati ji. He was a powerhouse of knowledge, spirituality & service," Modi said.
My thoughts are with the countless people inspired by Dayananda Saraswati ji. He was a powerhouse of knowledge, spirituality & service.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2015
