Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual guru and head of Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sansthan (BAPS) of Swaminarayan sect passed away on Saturday at his ashram located at Sarangpur. He was 95.

Fondly known as Swami among his disciples, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, after a brief illness of about a month, breathed his last on Saturday at 6 p.m, reports said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over his death. Modi tweeted, "HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a stalwart among humans who embodied compassion & humility. His service to society will always be remembered."

Modi saw a mentor in Pramukh Swami Maharaj as he wrote in his second tweet, "HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a mentor to me. I will never forget my interactions with him. Will miss his presence."

Pramukh Swami Maharaj was kept in an Intensive Care Unit(ICU) specially set up within the Sarangpur BAPS campus.

Born on December 7, 1921 to a Patel family of Chansad village near Vadodara, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was named Shantilal Patel and later ordained as Shastri Narayanswarupdas. He received initiation as a Hindu Swami in 1940 from Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS.

He was made President of BAPS in 1950. Former head and spiritual guru, Yogiji Maharaj declared Pramukh Swami Maharaj as his spiritual successor and guru of BAPS in 1971.

Under Pramukh Swami's leadership, the BAPS grew from an organisation mainly restricted within Gujarat, to become one of the most widely spread Hindu institution having its presence across the globe.

According to sources, his last rites, which is likely to be attended by hundreds of thousands of his disciples from across the globe, will be conducted after two days, thereby giving his believers an opportunity of his 'last darshan'.

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