Sarangpur/Ahmedabad: Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha(BAPS) head Pramukh Swami passed away today at 6.00 pm following chest infection and heart problem. He was ailing since over a month. He was 95. He had refused to leave Sarangpur campus which has memories attached to his Guru. An Intensive Care Unit(ICU) was created within Sarangpur BAPS campus for treatment of Pramukh Swami. For last few days Pramukh Swami was giving darshan on alternate days.

BAPS in its official note said: Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor in the guru parampara tradition of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. For more than seven decades he had been travelling tirelessly, visiting over 17,000 towns and villages in India and abroad. However, for the last two years, because of old age and frail health, he had been residing at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Sarangpur under the able care of expert doctors. Most recently, Pramukh Swami Maharaj had been affected by a chest infection from which he had gradually recovered. However, due to his longstanding heart problems, he passed away peacefully at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Sarangpur.

Earlier bulletin of BAPS bulletin said: His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual head and president of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, inspirer of countless and a great servant of society, passed away today, 13 Aug 2016, at 6 pm in Sarangpur. We deeply mourn the departure of our revered guruji. The arrangements for final darshan will be announced later today.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj (born Shantilal Patel, 7 December 1921; ordained Shastri Narayanswarupdas) received initiation as a Hindu Swami in 1940 from Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS, who later appointed him as President of BAPS in 1950. Yogiji Maharaj declared Pramukh Swami Maharaj to be his spiritual successor and guru of BAPS, a role he commenced in 1971.

As president of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj had overseen the growth of BAPS from an organization centered in Gujarat, India, to one maintaining Hindu Mandirs and centers outside of India. He had also spearheaded the efforts of BAPS Charities, which is the charitable service organization affiliated.

Photographs attached with this article were clicked a day before his passing away. Pramukh Swami had given his last public appearance yesterday 12 August. Later BAPS had issued a statement: Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s improving health had allowed him to give regular darshan on alternate days but once again his health has weakened due to chest infection. Doctors have advised complete rest. Hence there will be no darshan until his health permits.

Last rites on 17 August

Pramukh Swami’s lats rites will take place at 3.00 pm on August 17 at Sarangpur. His antim darshan will begin from 7.00 am tomorrow round the clock. His antim darshan will be available online on BAPS website.

Akshardham complexes to remain closed for visitors

Akshardham complexes built by Pramukh Swami at Gandhinagar and Delhi will remain closed for three days next week on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday following passing away of Pramukh Swami.

12 August Guruhari Darshan of Pramukh Swami

DeshGujarat