NEW DELHI: Esteemed chief priest Acharya Laxmikant Dixit who led the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 86. Family members reported that Dixit had been unwell for the past few days. His last rites will be performed at Manikarnika Ghat.
Dixit played a significant role in the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram’s idol at the Ayodhya temple on January 22, an event presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Recognized as one of Varanasi’s senior scholars, Dixit was originally from Solapur district in Maharashtra, though his family has resided in Varanasi for several generations.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his sorrow over Dixit’s demise. In a post on ‘X’, Adityanath said, “The departure of Acharya Shri Laxmikant Dixit, a great scholar of Kashi and the chief priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Prana Pratishtha, is an irreparable loss to the spiritual and literary world.”
“He will always be remembered for his service to the Sanskrit language and Indian culture,” Adityanath added. “I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul at His feet and to provide strength to his disciples and followers to bear this sorrow.”