(Trinidad Guardian) Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and a man who carved out a legacy for himself as a fighter, Satnarayan Maharaj, 88, has died.
He died at 12.01 am Saturday, eight days after he suffered a stroke.
Maharaj had been warded at Medical Associates in St Joseph in critical condition and yesterday his son Vijay Maharaj announced that he had been taken off support systems.
In the lead-up to his passing, over 100 pundits and devotees gathered at seven mandirs across Trinidad for pujas, havans and jaaps, as it was becoming clear that Maharaj may not have had long again to live.
The devotees chanted the Rudri, recited the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra and read from the Gita, chapters devoted on the journey after death.
A statement by Radio and TV Jaagriti said that Maharaj passed peacefully in his sleep.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone for their dedication of prayers and offerings of support in varying forms and fashion,” the statement said.
“As per Hindu traditions, Sri Satnarayan Maharaj was under the protection of Tulai Leaves and he also drank holy water from the most revered Triveni River. In his dying moments, he clasped a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa which he always kept in his possession when he was alive.”
The statement went on to say that his passing was “entirely free of any pain and suffering and was a smooth transition from this mortal world”.