PM Modi's spiritual guru Swami Dayanand passes away

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's spiritual guru Swami Dayanand Giri passed away on Wednesday at his ashram in Sheeshamjhadi area here after a prolonged illness. He was 87.

Swami Dayanand breathed his last late on Wednesday night, said his close aide and trustee of Dayanand Ashram, Shantatmanand Saraswati.

He had been brought back to the ashram after 10 days of treatment at the Jollygrant Himalayan Hospital, where his condition had begun to decline steadily, he said.

The spiritual guru had been ailing for a long time.

On September 11, Prime Minister Modi had paid a visit to Swami Dayanand at his ashram to enquire after his health.

Modi condoled the demise of his guru saying it is a personal loss. "Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal Peace." Modi tweeted.

Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal peace.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2015

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"My thoughts are with the countless people inspired by Dayananda Saraswati ji. He was a powerhouse of knowledge, spirituality and service," he added.