Sant Hirdaram cremated

Bhopal, Dec 21 (UNI) Sindhi community seer Sant Hirdaram's mortal remains were consigned to flames this afternoon at his ashram in the satellite town of Bairagarh.

Thousands of devotees, political leaders, social activists and other eminent citizens were present during the funeral.

The pyre was lit by his favourite disciples Siddh Bhau and Hanuman Bhau.

Sant Hirdaram died last night at his ashram in Bairagarh following a brief illness.

''The sant wished to be cremated in the ashram but specifically said that no memorial should be built. The ashes will be scattered in the Ganga at Haridwar and a sarovar in Rajasthan's Pushkar. He spent a considerable amount of time at these places,'' Siddh said.

The devotee said that the seer equated educational institutions and hospitals with temples and spent his life building and bettering them. The Jeev Seva Sansthan Nyas was founded at his initiative.

He had come to Bhopal about five decades ago. His ashram was the focus of lakhs of devotees in India and abroad.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Personnel Suresh Pachauri paid floral tributes to the seer this morning. The township's shops and other commercial establishments remained shut today.

Bairagarh had been renamed Sant Hirdaram Nagar.

Condolences were expressed by Governor Balram Jakhar, former chief minister Digvijay Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party state President Narendra Singh Tomar, his Congress counterpart Subhash Yadav and Leader of the Opposition in the Assmebly Jamuna Devi.

UNI Team-AC YA DB2120