"While visiting Tirupati temple last evening, my father was chanting Vishnu Sahasranam on his own and had a darshan of the Lord. He is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu," Patnaik's elder daughter Dr Sudatta Patnaik said.
After returning from the temple he had discussion with Sanskrit scholars on the Jagannath cult, Sudatta said.
Patnaik (89), had gone to Tirupati yesterday to attend the convocation of Tirupati Rashtriya Sanskruta University, of which he was the Chancellor, as the chief guest.
Stating that all his parameters were perfect barely three days ago, Sudatta said her father had a thorough health check up at a reputed hospital here. "However, he was complaining of breathing problems since some time," she said, adding that he passed away all of a sudden.