Swami Sathyananda Saraswati no more

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 24 (UNI) Septuagenerian Swami Sathyananda Saraswati, head of Sreeramadasa Ashram and a frontline campaigner of several temple rights movements in Kerala, died in a private hospital here today after a prolonged illness.

He was 71.

After teaching science in a high school for a few years, Swami Sathyananda Saraswati became disciple of Neelakanta Gurupadar and chose to lead an ascetic life.

Sankaran Nair, the real name of Swamiji, was born in a middle class family in Andoorkonam near here and shot to fame in early 1980s by organising movement for establishing the right of Sabarimala shrine over the vast stretches of land at Nilakkal.

A religious scholar and inspiring orator, he was the founder-editor of the ''Punyabhoomi'' daily.

He also played a key role in forging unity of Hindu organisations in the state since the 1970s.

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