DEVOTEES PAY RESPECTS TO HARIPRASAD SWAMI
AN INDIAN spiritual leader is being mourned by followers in India and abroad after he passed away on Monday (26).
Hariprasad Swami, the founder of Yogi Divine Society and the head of Haridham Sokhada Swaminarayan Temple, died around 11 pm local time in India.
The 87-year-old saint was undergoing treatment for kidney ailments at Bhailal hospital in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Followers from all over the world expressed their grief and hundreds of devotees gathered at the hospital on Tuesday (27) to pay their respects.
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani also condoled Hariprasad Swami’s death.
Rupani paid tribute to Hariprasad Swami’s contribution to inspire young people to pursue their education and said his messages of spirituality and social service will be remembered.
Born at Asoja in Vadodara district in 1934, Hariprasad Swami spent more than 55 years of his life as a monk.
His body will be kept for antim darshan (final sighting) at Haridham Sokhda until Saturday (31). The last rites will be performed at
Haridham Sokhda on Sunday (1).
Hariprasad Swami got his diksha (consecration) for monkhood from His Holiness Pujya Yogiji Maharaj in 1965. Before that, he worked as a secretary to Pujya Yogiji Maharaj for about 10 years.
Hariprasad Swamiji’s organisation offers quality education to students in Gujarat through his Atmiya institutions.
He visited the hospital for dialysis last Sunday (25) and was admitted the next day for treatment. On the occasion of Gurupurnima recently, saints offered prayers for his recovery. The event was also broadcast online.