Modi, HAF mourn Swami Dayananda Saraswati's death

New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the death of spiritual leader and his guru Swami Dayananda Saraswati, calling it a "personal loss".

"Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal peace," the prime minister tweeted from the US.

"My thoughts are with the countless people inspired by Dayananda Saraswatiji. He was a powerhouse of knowledge, spirituality and service," Modi added.

Dayananda Saraswati died in Rishikesh in Uttarakhand late Wednesday. The 87-year-old seer was not keeping well for over a month.

According to his disciples, he expressed a desire to breath his last on the banks of the river Ganga, after which he was driven back to his ashram from the hospital where he was being treated.

Although doctors asked him to remain in sanitized conditions, he chose to meet all his disciples and well-wishers, a close associate told IANS.

Modi had earlier this month paid him a visit and spent over two hours with him.

Born on August 15, 1930 in Tamil Nadu as Natarajan, he dabbled in journalism for a while before joining the Indian Air Force, which he quit in just six months.

He got drawn to spirituality, and eventually became a renowned teacher of Advaita Vedanta philosophy and founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam.

He got 'sanyas' in 1962 from his guru, Swami Chinmayananda, who gave him the spiritual name Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

He authored more than 70 books and lectured extensively in India and other countries, counting many well-known people as his devotees, one of them being Narendra Modi.

In Haridwar, the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya and spiritual group Shantikunj mourned his death.

The Vishwavidyalaya's head, Pranav Pandya, said: "Personally he was like my guardian. Such souls always remain immortal."

Swami Dayananda Saraswati visited Shantikunj and Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidhyalaya many times.

HAF mourns Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Philadelphia, PA (September 23, 2015) -- Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) joined millions around the world in mourning the passing of H. H. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, one of India’s great Advaita Vedanta masters and Hindu leaders. Swami Dayanandji, the founder of several centers of traditional learning in India and the U.S. under the banner of Arsha Vidya and Arsha Vijnana, passed away at his ashram in Rishikesh, India late Wednesday.

“The Hindu fraternity has lost a rare spirit. Swamiji was an exemplar of scholarship, devotion, and service,” said Suhag Shukla, HAF’s Executive Director. “He not only shared his deep knowledge of Hindu philosophy, but brought to light some of the most pressing issues facing Hindus today. We remain inspired in our work by his calls for studying the words of our realized scripture (Shruti) and internalizing them, engaging other faiths in a principled and assured manner, and speaking out against predatory proselytization and conversion, and the violence they wreak on people and communities of faith.”

In addition to teaching, Swami Dayanand convened the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, an apex forum comprising more than 130 Hindu religious leaders heading Mathas and Peethas in India (institutions of Hindu religious learning and practice) that are more than a few hundred years old and with an unbroken lineage from their founding.  Under the Sabha’s auspices, he launched All India Movement for Seva, or AIM for Seva, in 2000, a service organization with projects in education, environment, culture, health care, income generation, and women's empowerment throughout rural India. AIM for Seva gained special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and has reached millions through its humanitarian work. .  

“Having access to his ashram just outside of Philadelphia in the Poconos made the experience of traditional learning possible for Hindus and non-Hindus alike right in our backyard,” said Aseem Shukla, cofounder and member of the Foundation’s board.  “He will be deeply missed.  But we find solace in knowing that his teachings and spirit of service will live on through the Arsha Vidya family and beyond.”