Srirangam, Mar 19: The Srirangam Srimath Adavan Ashram Jeer (head) Sri Ranga Ramanuja Mahadesikan died in Chennai after a prolonged illness today, the mutt officials said. Srimath Andavan, as the jeer was reverently known among thousands of his Vaishnavite disciples, died of a heart attack, they said.

The jeer, 84, was a great scholar in Vaishnavism. The mutt, headquartered in this temple town, about 300 km from Chennai, has been a centre for spreading the philosophy of "Visistadvaita" and has branches in several states.

The body of the jeer was being brought here and would be buried as per the ashram custom, the officials said. People can pay homage to the jeer at the ashram tomorrow before last rites were performed, they added.