Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, 27 June 2026, expressed deep grief over the passing of Mahant Santram Das Ji Maharaj, the revered head of the Panchang Patti Ujjainiya sect at Hanumangarhi in Ayodhya Dham, calling the loss irreparable for the saint community and the spiritual world.

Context

In his post, CM Yogi described the passing — referred to as golokgaman (departure to the divine abode) — as 'atyanth dukhdayi' (extremely sorrowful). He offered a humble tribute, writing: 'His mahaprayan [passing] is an irreplaceable loss for the sant samaj [saint community] and the spiritual world.' The Chief Minister prayed to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed soul a place at his feet and to give strength to the mahant's disciples and followers to bear the profound grief.

The post concluded with the sacred invocation Om Shanti, a customary mark of respect in Hindu mourning tradition.

Policy Backdrop

Hanumangarhi is one of the most prominent pilgrimage centres in Ayodhya, a city the Uttar Pradesh government has placed at the heart of its cultural and religious development agenda since 2017. Following the 2019 Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi case and the consecration of the Ram Mandir in January 2024, the state government accelerated infrastructure and cultural initiatives around Ayodhya's religious sites.

The Panchang Patti Ujjainiya is one of several monastic traditions associated with Hanumangarhi, and its mahants have historically held significant religious authority within the Ayodhya pilgrimage ecosystem.

Stakeholders and Impact

Yogi Adityanath, himself the head of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur, has maintained close ties with Hindu monastic orders across Uttar Pradesh. His public condolences to prominent sadhus and mahants are a consistent feature of his governance, reflecting the state's deliberate outreach to religious institutions. The passing of Mahant Santram Das Ji Maharaj leaves a significant void in the leadership of the Panchang Patti Ujjainiya tradition at Hanumangarhi.

Thousands of devotees and disciples associated with the sect, as well as the broader community of pilgrims who visit Ayodhya Dham, are affected by the loss of a senior spiritual figure.

What's Next

Attention within the saint community will now turn to the question of succession at the Panchang Patti Ujjainiya seat at Hanumangarhi. Any state participation in mourning observances or forthcoming monastic events in Ayodhya will be closely watched as an indicator of the government's continued engagement with the city's religious institutions.