J B Patnaik chanted 'Vishnu Sahasranam' hours before end, says daughter Dr Sudatta Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: A great devotee of Lord Jagannath, former Odisha Chief Minister J B Patnaik himself chanted " Vishnu Sahasranam" while having darshan of Lord Balaji at Tirupati temple hours before he breathed his last at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences.

"While visiting Tirupati temple last evening, my father was chanting Vishnu Sahasranam on his own and had a darshan of the Lord. He is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu," Patnaik's elder daughter Dr Sudatta Patnaik said.

After returning from the temple he had discussion with Sanskrit scholars on the Jagannath cult, Sudatta said.

Patnaik (89), had gone to Tirupati yesterday to attend the convocation of Tirupati Rashtriya Sanskruta University, of which he was the Chancellor, as the chief guest.

Late in the night, he felt severe pain in the chest and was admitted to Shri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, a private hospital, where he passed away at about 3 am today.

Stating that all his parameters were perfect barely three days ago, Sudatta said her father had a thorough health check up at a reputed hospital here. "However, he was complaining of breathing problems since some time," she said, adding that he passed away all of a sudden.