From childhood runaway to Ayodhya’s spiritual voice:Vedanti Maharaj, later the face of the Ram Mandir movement, chose temple town as his permanent home despite family pleas

A teenager studying in the eighth grade left home one day without informing anyone. Walking on foot, he reached Ayodhya and never returned. Four years later, when his family received news of him being alive and came to bring him back, he said in humble but firm words that Ayodhya was now his home. This very boy later became Dr. Ramvilas Das Vedanti Maharaj, who was a prominent face of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and a two-time Member of Parliament. In fact, Dr. Ramvilas Das Vedanti Maharaj, a renowned saint from Ayodhya and former MP, passed away on Monday in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. He had come to Rewa to narrate Ramkatha. During this time, his health deteriorated, and he was admitted to a super specialty hospital. He breathed his last on Monday at 12:40 PM. According to doctors, he was suffering from septicemia. The infection had spread through the blood to his kidneys and other organs. Coincidentally, his birthplace was also near Rewa. After the news of his demise, many prominent political figures of the country, along with the saint community, paid tribute to him. Team reached ancestral village, brother narrated untold story The Bhaskar team reached his ancestral birthplace, Gudhwa village. Here, in a conversation with his elder brother Lakshminidhi Tripathi, the story of Vedanti Maharaj leaving home and adopting a saintly life came to light, which was known to very few people apart from his family and close relatives. Inclination towards saints since childhood
Laxminidhi Tripathi says that Vedanti Maharaj used to recite Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas since childhood. He was influenced by seeing saints. He studied up to eighth grade in the village itself. At around 12 years of age, he left home one day without telling anyone. The family searched extensively among relatives and in nearby villages, but no trace was found. Time passed and four years went by. The family remained worried whether their son was even alive or not. News received in Ayodhya after four years
During this time, some people from the village went to Ayodhya for darshan. There, at Hanumangarhi, they saw a young man and recognized him—this is Pandit Ramsuman Tripathi’s son. Upon inquiry, it was found that he was living there. The villagers spoke to the saints and asked for permission to take him home. The saints looked at Ramvilas. He got up and went inside, and after a while came out and said—I will not go anywhere, Ayodhya is my home. Family arrived to persuade him, but he did not agree.
Returning to the village, the father was informed. As soon as she heard the news of her son being alive, the mother insisted on bringing him back. After this, the father, elder brother, and some villagers reached Ayodhya after a journey of about two days via Prayagraj. Vedanti Maharaj was surprised to see his family at Hanumangarhi. In conversation, he revealed that he had been living in Ayodhya for about four years and had adopted a saintly life. Despite being told about his mother’s wait and the family’s concern, he refused to return. That very day, the family understood that he would never return home. First night spent on a tree in the jungle
Ramvilas had told his family that after leaving home, he reached Sohagi in Rewa on foot. As night fell, he had to stop in the jungle. There were sounds of jackals and the danger of wild animals, so he climbed a tree and stayed there all night. As morning broke, he started walking again. After about a week of walking, he reached Ayodhya and went straight to Hanumangarhi. There, the kirtan (devotional singing), prasad (offerings), and affection of the saints bound him so much that he didn’t feel like returning. This is where his religious education began. Brother held his hand and made him sit beside him
Elder brother Lakshminidhi Tripathi says that he went to meet him in the hospital a day before his demise. As soon as he saw me, he held my hand and made me sit beside him. We sat silently for about half an hour. He kept looking at me with compassionate eyes. I didn’t know that this would be our last meeting.” Life of service and clear principles
The brother says that whenever Vedanti Maharaj met him, he would definitely give him some money, but clearly saiddo not use these for household expenses, spend them only on service to saints, cow service, and Thakur service. Those very funds were used to organize community meals (bhandaras) and service activities in the village. From Ram Janmabhoomi Movement to Parliament
Dr. Ramvilas Das Vedanti Maharaj was among the leading saints of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He was the Peethadhishwar (head priest) of Shri Ramvallabha Kunj, Janki Ghat, located in Ayodhya. He represented the saint community twice as a Lok Sabha MP. He was vocal in favor of Ramlala, raised public awareness across the country, and was recognized as a famous Ramkatha narrator on religious platforms. Vedanti Maharaj, a prominent Sanskrit scholar, was a disciple of Mahant Abhiram Das of Hanumangarhi and also a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. Dr. Ramvilas Das Vedanti Maharaj was the fifth among eight siblings. The order of siblings was as follows: Brothers: Sisters: Read what everyone said on the demise of Dr. Vedanti Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav wrote – I offer heartfelt tributes to the guide of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement, former MP and revered saint of Vashishtha Ashram in Ayodhya Dham, Dr. Ramvilas Vedanti Ji Maharaj, on his heavenly abode. May Lord Shri Ram grant the departed soul a place at his feet and provide strength to the grieving followers. Om Shanti! Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla said, “He not only united Ram devotees through public awareness but also fearlessly testified in court in favor of truth and faith.” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to him on social media platform X. He wrote, “The demise of revered saint Dr. Vedanti is an irreparable loss to Sanatan culture. His passing marks the end of an era. His life dedicated to religion, society, and the nation is an inspiration for all of us.”