Swami Shivamayananda, one of the four vice-presidents of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, passed away on Friday night. He was 86 and had tested positive for Covid.

Popularly known as Ranen Maharaj, Swami Shivamayananda was admitted to Seva Pratishthan on May 22. Six days later he was put on non-invasive ventilation and shifted to mechanical ventilation on June 10.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the demise of Swami Shivamayananda.

Born in Supaul town of Bihar on December 20, 1934, Swami Shivamayananda joined the order at Belur Math in 1959 and received sanyasa diksha from Swami Vireshwarananda Maharaj in 1969.

He served the order at Belur Math and Sargachhi, Katihar, Rahara and Seva Pratishthan centres for several years.

In 1990 Swami Shivamayananda was appointed a trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and a member of the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission.

In 1992, he became assistant secretary of the twin organisations which he served for 13 years. In 2017, Swami Shivamayananda was elected vice-president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.

Swami Shivamayananda had been mostly staying at the Kankurgachi Math since 2017.

In April 2021 he had moved to the Cossipore Math after assuming charge as its head, in addition to his holding the office of vice-president.