Kanchipuram: Jayendra Saraswathi who broad based the activities of the Sankara Mutt with inclusive activities died in Kanchipuram on Wednesday in a private hospital. He was 82. The 69th pontiff of the Mutt established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century was ailing for quite some time. He was admitted to a private hospital early on Wednesday after he complained of breathlessness. Doctors said the pontiff died following cardiac arrest. His last rites will be conducted on Thursday and his body will be interred in the Mutt premises itself in accordance with traditions followed for Hindu seers. The mortal remains of Saraswathi were kept at the Nandavanam in Kanchi mutt for devotees to offer their prayers. He would be given maha samadhi at the Nandavanam near the Chandrasekarendra Sarawathi Swami s. Meanwhile junior pontiff Vijayendra Sarawati was elevated and given the charge of heading the mutt. Born Subramaniyam Mahadevan on 18 July 1935 in Irulneekki in erstwhile Thanjavur district Saraswathi was anointed successor to the Mutt by Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal and was given the title Sri Jayendra Saraswathi on 22 March 1954. File image of Kanchi mutt pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi. Image courtesy: KA Vishwanathan Saraswathi had a huge following in South India and had sought to play the role of a mediator in the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute during the BJP governments headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1998 and 2004. He was also mired in controversy when he was arrested in 2004 during the regime of late J Jayalalithaa and made an accused in the murder of Sankararaman an official of the famous
http://raceiq.us/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=user&id=1940272 Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram. He along with junior pontiff of the Mutt Vijayendra Saraswathi and 21 others was acquitted by a court in 2013 in neighbouring Puducherry where the case was transferred from Tamil Nadu. Another controversy in which he was involved was in August 1987 when Saraswati suddenly decided to leave the mutt. After spending 17 days in Tala Cauvery in Kodagu in Karnataka he returned to the Mutt to a warm welcome by thousands of devotees. He then kick-started his social organisation Jana Kalyan. Saraswathi sought to diversify the activities of the Sankara Mutt which was largely run on orthodox lines for long by entering into charitable activities. It ran several schools eye clinics and hospitals. He had his spiritual tutelage from Maha Periyava Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi and travelled the length and breadth of the country with his guru. In January 1994 when Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi attained siddhi Saraswathi formally took over as the head of the Kanchi Mutt. There began a spiritual journey that saw several highs and lows for the institution. As news of his death spread a pall of gloom decended on the Kanchi mutt with hundreds of his followers thronging the mutt to pay their homage. A host of national leaders and even political leaders in Tamil Nadu who had differences with Jayendra Saraswathi and the Mutt condoled his demise. President Ram Nath Kovind Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed their condolences. Meanwhile the mortal remains of the seer are kept in the Sankara Mutt in Kanchipuram so that people can pay homage. Sad to hear of the passing of Jayendra Saraswatiji the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Our country has lost a spiritual leader and social reformer of rare eminence. My condolences to his countless disciples and followers #PresidentKovind President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 28 2018 Deeply anguished by the passing away of Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya. He will live on in the hearts and minds of lakhs of devotees due to his exemplary service and noblest thoughts. Om Shanti to the departed soul. pic.twitter.com/pXqDPxS1Ki Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 28 2018 Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was at the forefront of innumerable community service initiatives. He nurtured institutions which transformed the lives of the poor and downtrodden. pic.twitter.com/s1vTpSxbbl Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 28 2018 I m saddened to hear about the death of Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. He was revered by lakhs of believers all over the world for his teachings. May his soul rest in peace. Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 28 2018 Deeply saddened by the demise of Jayendra Saraswati ji the Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram Kamakoti Peetam math. With his demise we have lost a great saint of present times who has been a guiding force for the millions. My prayers for the liberated soul. Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 28 2018 Saddened at the Mahasamadhi of Kanchi Acharya Pujya Jayendra Saraswati ji Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 28 2018 Senior BJP leader and former Union Home Minister LK Advani in his condolence message said that he knew the seer closely who played a key role in defusing acrimony between the Hindu and Muslim communities over the Babri Masjid dispute. I had the privilege of knowing Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji very closely. Our association became closer during the rule of NDA-I when I was the Minister of Home Affairs in the government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji Advani said in a written message. Swamiji proactively initiated a dialogue with various religious and social leaders of the Muslim community to evolve an amicable solution to the Ayodhya dispute. This dialogue helped a lot in promoting mutual trust and goodwill between Hindu and Muslim communities he added. The BJP veteran said he joined millions of devotees of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt in offering prayers to the Almighty and in seeking peace to the departed soul . Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit and leaders of political parties on Wednesday expressed their condolences. In a statement Purohit said: Yesterday only I have met him and got blessings of Sankaracharyaji. During his period Jagadguru Sankaracharya had started many schools eye clinics and hospital Childs Trust Hospital Hindu Mission Hospital Tamil Nadu Hospital and other public welfare institutions for the welfare of the society. His death is a great loss to the society particularly to his followers he added. Former Union minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said the pontiff had moved well with the people and his death is a great loss to those who are associated with him. DMK leader MK Stalin in his message condoled the demise of Sankara Mutt pontiff and conveyed his condolences to those who are close to Saraswathi. The Tamil Nadu unit chief of BJP Tamilisai Soundararajan said the nation has lost a spiritual leader with a nationalist outlook. She said the seer got down to the ground and worked against the conversion of downtrodden people. He also set up several educational institutions and hospitals by going beyond the spiritual calling she added. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) condoled the seer s death and said Saraswathi served for protection of Hindu Dharma Hindu culture and uplift of Hindu society. It is a great loss not only to Tamil Nadu but also to the entire Hindu society.
By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: February 28 2018 12:44 pm Born in Tamil Nadu s Thiruvarur district Jayendra Saraswathi was chosen as the successor to Parmacharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi when he was only 19. Related News Jayendra Saraswathi (1935-2018): Spiritual leader who expanded Kanchi mutt s business servicesKanchi Seer Jayendrar Saraswathi passes awayKanchi seers 22 others acquitted in 2004 Sankararaman murder caseThe senior seer of Kancheepuram Sankara Mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamy passed away at a hospital in Kanchipuram. He was 82. The mutt administration issued a brief statement on their website. The 69th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal attained Siddhi at 9.00 am today Shukla Trayodashi 28 Feb. 2018 at Sri Kanchi Kamakotii Peetam Sankara Matam Kanchipuram. He will be succeeded by Vijayendra Saraswathi who will be anointed as the 70th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Disappearance Born in Tamil Nadu s Thiruvarur district Jayendra Saraswathi was chosen as the successor to Parmacharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi when he was only 19. In 1987 Jayendra Saraswathi mysteriously disappeared from the mutt. He reportedly left behind his sacred thread and other articles of faith in his living quarters. Jayendra Saraswathi however was traced in Karnataka s Talacauvery three days after he went missing. His chosen successor Sankara Vijayendra Sarasvati was given charge of the mutt s daily rituals in Jayendra Saraswati s absence. Jayendra Saraswathi till date hasn t fully explained the circumstances surrounding his sudden disappearance. Nearly forty years after he was chosen as a successor Jayendra Saraswathi succeeded Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi as the 69th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 1994. Sankararaman murder case Jayendra Saraswati s role as the senior-most seer increasingly came under the spotlight in 2004 after he was named as an accused in the murder case of Sankararaman a temple manager. In 2000 when Jayendra Saraswati intended to visit China Sankararaman sought the court intervention to stop the senior seer from travelling abroad. Sankararaman argued that a Hindu would lose his/her religion if he/she crossed the ocean and as the head of the Kanchi mutt Jayendra Saraswati should have known better. Jayendra Saraswati was forced to abandon his plans. Sankararaman was allegedly barred from entering the mutt owing to differences between the two. He even wrote open letters to Jayendra Saraswati warning him against abusing his position at the mutt and threatened to move to court seeking his removal. The junior seer and his successor Vijayendra Saraswathi was also named as an accused in the case. Jaynedra Saraswathi was however acquitted in the case in 2013 after a prolonged legal fight. In 2004 Sankaraman was attacked by five men at the Debrajasamy temple and stabbed him to death. For all the latest Who Is News download Indian Express App Get assembly election result LIVE updates from each constituency in Tripura Nagaland and Meghalaya IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd More Related News Hearing in Sankararaman murder case adjourned to September 6 Bond of Music Tags: Jayendra Saraswathi PPriyamvadaMar 1 2018 at 3:26 amWhat a one-sided article on one of India s leading Gurus! No mention of all the social welfare schemes like Jana Kalyan and Jana Jagaran no mention of the orphanages and hospitals founded during his tenure as pontiff. I expected a better article from The Indian Express. Very disappointing.(1)(0) Reply RRaviFeb 28 2018 at 3:14 pmHighly biased article. Mentioning only the controversial parts of his life. He had several noble work done during his life time.(6)(0) ReplyJJVkumarFeb 28 2018 at 4:12 pmWell documented one(0)(2) Reply RramakrishnaFeb 28 2018 at 12:48 pmThere is no death ---SIVAIKYAM---GURU PADARAVINDAM SIRASA NAMAMI MNASA SMARAMI------- ATTAINS ONENESS(5)(1) Reply SSuhasFeb 28 2018 at 12:15 pmAfter srideve died our media gave 24 7 hrs coverage. All news channels showing only sridevi. But no one knows who was jayendrs saraswathi. That is the respect we give to our guru and to cine personalities. Sridevis death is very very sad but the way media is covering it 24 7 for last 5 days is nothing but pervrt obsession of media. I feel like vomiting bt seeing the type and time of coverage. Absolute humbug. That does not mean i am not sad about her death. But media coverage has crossed all limits of pervert level of obsession. This coverage by media is an insult to the viewers.(0)(0) Reply
