Dayananda Saraswati's demise personal loss: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the death of spiritual leader Swami Dayananda Saraswati, calling it a "personal loss".

"Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's demise is a personal loss. I pray that his soul attains eternal peace," the prime minister said in a tweet.

"My thoughts are with the countless people inspired by Dayananda Saraswati ji. He was a powerhouse of knowledge, spirituality and service," he added.

Dayanand Saraswati died in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh late Wednesday. The 87-year-old seer was not keeping well for over a month.

According to people close to the seer, he told his disciples about his wish of breathing his last on the banks of the river Ganga, after which he was driven back to the ashram from the hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

Although, doctors asked him to remain in sanitized conditions, he chose to meet all his disciples and well-wishers, a close associate told IANS.

Modi had earlier this month paid him a visit and spent over two hours with him.