Swami Vagishananda, the senior most vice-president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, passed away at Ramakrishna Seva Pratishthan on Friday evening. He was 91.

He suffered a heart attack around 7.10pm.

Swami Vagishananda was elected vice-president of the order in June 2014, three years after he was authorised to give mantra diksha (spiritual initiation) to devotees.

“A loving spiritual guide, his understanding, affection and sympathy will remain an invaluable asset to devotees,” said a senior monk of the order on Friday night.

Swami Vagishananda's mortal remains will be kept at Cossipore Math till 8.30am on Saturday and in Belur Math from 9am to 8pm. The cremation would take place at 9.30pm on Saturday.

Swami Vagishananda was born in Chittagong in Bangladesh on January 12, 1930.

An initiated disciple of Swami Shankarananda, he joined the order at Saradapith centre in 1954 and had taken sanyasa from Swami Vishuddhananda in 1962.

Swami Vagishananda served as assistant secretary of the Institute of Culture, Gol Park, for several years and headed the Morabadi centre in Ranchi for four years. He was also the head of Malda, Kamarpukur, Mumbai and Cossipore centres.

In March 1990, Swami Vagishananda was appointed trustee of Ramakrishna Math, Belur, and a member of the governing body of the Ramakrishna Mission.

He had visited several countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius and Japan with the message of the Math and Mission.