Pandit Laxmikant Mathuranath Dixit, a revered Vedic scholar from Varanasi, who led the priests at the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. Dixit breathed his last at 6:45 am.
His family disclosed that Dixit had been unwell for several days. His last rites will be performed at Manikarnika Ghat.
Renowned for his deep-rooted devotion to the Hindu community and his leadership, Dixit was a Vedic 'karmkand' (ritualism) scholar.
He was chosen to lead a team of 121 scholars from all branches of the Vedas to solemnize the Ramlalla Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
Dixit was also a descendant of the distinguished Kashi scholar Gaga Bhatt of the 17th century, who led the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674.
Dixit originally hailed from Solapur district in Maharashtra, though his family has resided in Varanasi for generations.
He gained national prominence when he performed the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram's idol at the Ayodhya temple on January 22, an event graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over Dixit's demise.
On 'X', he stated, "The departure of Acharya Shri Laxmikant Dixit, a great scholar of Kashi and the chief priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Prana Pratishtha, is an irreparable loss to the spiritual and literary world."
Adityanath praised Dixit's lifelong dedication to the Sanskrit language and Indian culture, adding, "He will always be remembered for his service to Sanskrit language and Indian culture."
The Chief Minister also offered his prayers, "I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and give strength to his disciples and followers to bear this sorrow."
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