Source: Press Reports
INDIA, February 4, 2002: His Holiness, Sri Swami Dayanandaji Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi today. Born in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, in 1923 to prosperous parents, he was known as Ramalinga Raju. When he was studying in college he felt an urge to renounce the world and found himself at the feet of Swami Sivananda. He was initiated into the holy order of Sannyasa in January 1948 and given the monastic name of Swami Dayananda. Swami was an active participant in the work of the Divine Life Society. In 1970 he was appointed as one of the Secretaries of the Divine Life society, in which post he continued until September, 1975 when he was elected by the Board of Trustees as a member of the Trust Board and Treasurer of the Divine Life Society, a position he held until his transition.