Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 1: Arya Acharya P R (71), a litterateur and painter from Kalyananagara, Dharwad, and former employee of Syndicate Bank, breathed his last after a brief period of illness at a private hospital at Manipal on Friday September 30. Acharya also had become ascetic and served Shiroor Mathhere as Swamiji for about eight years before relinquishing the seat.

Arya Acharya, who was better known with his pen name, 'Arya', and whose real name was Punaroor Rajagopal Acharya, was born in the town in 1945 to parents, P Vittal Acharya and Rukmini Acharya couple. After completing PUC, he had shunned worldly pleasures and become a Swamiji of Shiroor Math for about eight years since 1963. He later acquired BA (external) from Karnatak University, MA in Sanskrit, and Hindi Ratna educational qualifications when in the service of the Math. He had organized his sole painting exhibitions in countries like Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands and USA.

He wrote a number of literary works including novels, collections of short stories, plays, short stories for children etc. He had directed the diamond jubilee documentary film of Syndicate Bank and translated several works from Kannada to English and vice versa. He had also worked as columnist for a number of publications and had bagged several awards including life time awards. His wife, Vidya Nilekani, a lecturer in French, had become a victim of cancer within a few years of their marriage.  He also worked as president and member of several trusts. Sri Laxmivarateertha Swamiji of Shiroor Math happens to be one of his brothers.


The funeral was conducted on the banks of Suvarna river at the base Shiroor Math at Hiriyadka on Friday.