Ujjain: Saints and followers of Gadipati Peer Parmanadapuriji Maharaj of Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhada arrived in Ujjain on Sunday in large numbers from across the country to attend the last rites of the seer who expired on Friday night. The funeral procession started from the Dutt Akhada located near the banks of river Kshipra accompanied by thousands of followers. The 93-year-old Parmanandpuriji Maharaj passed away on Friday night.
Followers and saints started gathering at the Akhada since early morning. The body was placed on chariot decked with flowers after performing the Dugdhabhishek of the seer’s body. Energy minister Paras Jain paid floral tributes to the seer on behalf of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The procession was taken out according to the custom and traditions of the Akhada. Several followers from abroad also attended the last journey of Parmanandpuriji. The funeral procession traversed through Danigate, Gopal Mandir, Patni Bazaar, Gudari Chouraha and Neelganga where various social organisations and groups paid floral tributes to the departed soul. After passing through Datar Akhada near Harsiddhi Mandir, the procession reached at Shri Panchdashnam Akhada where the body of the departed saint was laid to rest at 4 pm.
Shri Niranjani Akhada Pt Rajesh Vyas red out the condolence message of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Narendra Giri, in which he remembered Parmanandgiri Maharaj’s contribution to the saint community. Paying tribute to the seer, Mahant Sundarpuriji Maharaj said that he and Paramandpuri were brought up together and joined the army before adopting renunciation. He also admired the contribution of Paramanandpuri to the saint community.
Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad general secretary Harigiriji Maharaj, Premgiri Maharaj, Abyahypurji Maharaj, Kamalapuri Maharaj, Umashankar Bharti, Narayangiri Maharaj, energy minister Paras Jain, Mohan Yadav, SDM Kshitij Sharma and many public representatives and political leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress were in the funeral procession of the departed saint.
National spokesperson of the Akhada Vdyanandsaraswati Maharaj, Umashankar Bharti, Kamalpuri, Naryangiri Maharaj, Mahamandleshwar Dharmendra Puri Maharaj and Sompuri Maharaj, Anandgiri Maharaj, Pramodgiri Maharaj, Rameshwargiri Maharaj, Neelkanthgiri Maharaj, Kedarpuri Maharaj , Anandpuriji Maharaj, Mahant Mohan Bharati, Mahant and Mahant Ashok Bharati also paid tributes to the departed soul.
According to the tradition of the Akhada, rituals, hymns and prayers will last for 16 days followed by grand feast in the honour of the departed saint.