Pramukh Swami cremated in Sarangpur

Ahmedabad, Aug 17 (PTI) Pramukh Swami, the spiritualhead of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS)sect, was cremated at Swaminarayan temple in Sarangpur thisevening with BJP chief Amit Shah, party patriarch L K Advaniand Union Minister Arun Jaitley attending the last rites. The cremation were held as per Vedic rituals in an openground on the premises of the temple in the presence ofthousands of devotees and a number of dignitaries. Saints and devotees bid their final adieu to him withtears amid chants and prayers. The 95-year-old spiritual head had died on August 13 atthe Sarangpur temple where he had been residing since the lastfew years. He had not been keeping well since long due toage-related problems and was being treated at the temple whichis around 150 km from here. Swami’s mortal remains were kept at the temple till thismorning to enable devotees and citizens to have a finalglimpse. Reportedly over 20 lakh devotees of the Swaminarayansect from across the globe visited the temple to pay tributes. Shah, Jaitley, Advani and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhuwere among the dignitaries who paid their last respects to thedeparted soul. Shah said it will be impossible to fill the vacuumcreated by Swami’s death. "Since I was born and brought up in Gujarat, I was awitness to Swami’s influence on the lives of people of notonly Gujarat but also of the country. He did a commendable jobof pursuing people to give up smoking and other addictions. Ibelieve that it will be impossible to fill up the void createdby his death," Shah said. In his condolence message, Jaitley praised Swami formotivating millions to walk the path of ‘dharma’. "For a very long period, Swami persuaded millions ofpeople across the globe to walk the path of religion andsacrifice. He was having the power to motivate people to workfor the betterment of the society. I believe that he isirreplaceable," the Finance Minister said. (More) PTI PJT PDNRBAAR