Varanasi, 22 June (HS): Acharya Laxmikant Dixit, the top priest who consecrated Ayodhya's Ram temple, died on Saturday morning.Dixit, 86, was not feeling well in recent days, according to family members. His death ceremonies will take place at Manikarnika Ghat.

On January 22, Prime Minister Modi presided over the consecration of Lord Ram's idol at the Ayodhya shrine. Dixit, a prominent scholar in Varanasi, was born in the Solapur area of Maharashtra but has lived in Varanasi for numerous generations. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed sadness at Dixit's death.

In a post on 'X', he stated that the departure of Acharya Shri Laxmikant Dixit, a famous scholar of Kashi and the main priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Prana Pratishtha, is an irreparable loss to the spiritual and literary world. Adityanath stated that he will be remembered for his contributions to Sanskrit and Indian culture. I appeal to Lord Shri Ram to lay the departed soul at his feet and to grant his disciples and followers the fortitude they need to bear this sadness, he continued.