Thaindian News

Pune/Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) Social worker and spiritual guru Narayan Vishnu alias Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari died at a private nursing home in Pune Tuesday. He was 86 and kept indifferent health for the last some months. With his relatives or followers inaccessible to the media for details, sources in the Deenanath Hospital in Pune said Nanasaheb’s body was taken to his home town Revdanda in Raigad district soon after his death at 5.45 p.m.

Born March 1, 1922, Dharmadhikari, who had devoted his life to preaching to his followers the tenets of virtuous life free from avarice, addiction and superstition, was decorated with the state government’s highest award “Maharashtra Bhushan” earlier this year along with celebrated poet Mangesh Padgaonkar.

Using Maharashtra’s 17th century saint Ramdas Swami’s precept book ‘Das-bodh’ as a medium for his discourses, Dharmadhikari would tell millions of his followers that doing one’s duty honestly was the best way to worship god and serve humanity.

Dharmadhikari is survived by his sons Dattatray and Shrikrishna, according to a family member.

He was known for social service in Raigad district, on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, for over 60 years.

Through his social organization, Shri Samarth Adhyatmik Stree Seva Samiti, Dharmadhikari stressed the need for education and equality and sought to bring women into the social mainstream in the Konkan and the rest of the state.

Expressing grief at his demise, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that he worked with dedication for the cause of women, health, education and society without ever craving for publicity.

“He touched the lives of millions across the state. We have lost a great son of the state,” Deshmukh said in a message.