Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was among several Sangh Parivar leaders who paid glowing tributes to Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans, who passed away on Thursday morning.

"His death has shocked me profoundly. He was extremely benevolent towards me. When I was going on a foreign visit, he had specially sent his blessings," he said in his message.

"Paramhans was firm like a mountain and affectionate like River Sarayu. His contribution towards the Ramjanambhoomi movement will be etched in golden letters. I offer my humble tributes at his feet," the prime minister said.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani said, "The death of Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans has deeply shocked me. Paramhans was very firm on whatever he said, and was kind and affectionate to all. Even at the age of ninety years, he was active till he breathed his last."

"His contribution to the Shri Ramjanambhoomi movement cannot be assessed easily and it will be written in history in golden letters. While paying my humble tribute to Paramhans, I feel we have lost a great saint who sacrificed his life for the movement," Advani said.

Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "He was not only a religious leader, but also very patriotic. A moderate, he was a crucial link towards finding an amicable solution to the vexed (Ayodhya) issue."

Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activists and members of affiliated organisations met at RSS's Jhandewalan office in central Delhi and paid homage to the Mahant.

Led by Delhi RSS chief Satyanarayan Bansal, the congregation recalled his services to the Hindu society and the nation and observed two-minute silence in his memory.

Describing Paramhans as the 'leading pillar' of the Ram Janambhoomi movement, Vishwa Hindu Parishad joint general secretary Onkar Bhave said it would work with full strength towards the realisation of his dream of a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya.

PTI