Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s body to be brought to Allahabad tomorrow

ALLAHABAD: The body of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who passed away in Holland two days ago, will be brought to Allahabad on Saturday for the last rites even as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded that state honours be accorded to the Yogi.

Addressing a joint press conference here with VHP international President Ashok Singhal, Mayor Chaudhary Jitendranath Singh said that the Maharishi’s body would arrive here on Saturday morning by a special flight from Amsterdam via Varanasi.

Singh, who has also formed a citizens’ committee, comprising religious leaders, jurists and other renowned figures to oversee the arrangements for the last rites, said the body of the Maharishi will be taken in a grand procession to his ashram at Arail where it will be kept for “darshan” until Feb 11 when his mortal remains will be consigned to flames.

The legendary spiritual guru was a Physics graduate from the Allahabad University.

Speaking at the conference, Ashok Singhal said he had a “deep and profound” relationship with the Maharishi, who had rendered “an unparalleled service to the Indian civilisation by spreading the message of Hindu spirituality across the world”.

He also said that the Maharishi should be given state honours, “which, in fact, would be an honour not for the spiritual giant but for the Government of India itself”.

He claimed that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the issue, hoping “he retains some respect for Hindu culture despite being part of a regime which casts doubt on the existence of Lord Rama”

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