Imphal, Oct. 3: Iskcon leader Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja, who sustained splinter injuries in the August 16 blast at the Iskcon temple here, died at his Calcutta residence at 2 am yesterday.

The body was earlier scheduled to arrive in Imphal today. But the programme was changed and his mortal remains were taken to Vrindavan for the last rites owing to the condition of his body. He was 69.

Damodara was discharged from Calcutta’s Apollo Hospital, where he was treated for injuries to his hand and ear, by doctors around 10 days ago. Doctors said his death was caused by cardiac arrest.

Six people, including a girl and two children, were killed and 50 others wounded when unidentified assailants hurled a Chinese-made hand grenade at the Iskcon temple, which is located near Imphal airport, during a Ras Lila performance on Janmashtami.

Born at Toubul in Bishenpur district in 1937, Damodara joined the Iskcon movement and established the Manipur branch of the organisation after obtaining a doctoral degree in physical organic chemistry from the University of California in the late Sixties.

His disciples in Imphal said though his death had no connection with the injuries he suffered in the blast, the spiritual leader — popularly known as Swami Damodara — could not recover from the shock and trauma caused by the attack on the temple.

Governor S.S. Sidhu and the Manipur government condoled the spiritual leader’s death. Elaborate arrangements had been made at the Iskcon temple for devotees, friends, relatives and well-wishers to pay their respects to the departed leader, before they learnt that the body had been taken to Vrindavan.