The head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jayendra Saraswathi passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 82

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The head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jayendra Saraswathi passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 82, CNN-News18 reported. The pontiff died in a private hospital near Kamakshi Amman temple in Kanchipuram, reported The Hindu.

Saraswathi was the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, which was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the Fifth Century AD. Saraswathi was named by Chandrasekharendra Swamigal, who was also known as Periyavar, as his successor in 1954.

The seer shot to national infamy when his name emerged in an alleged conspiracy to kill Sankarraman, an accountant in his mutt. His consequent arrest in November 2004 shocked the Hindu clergy. Saraswathi was acquitted in the murder case in 2016.

According to a report in The Hindu, Saraswathi was facing breathing issues since a couple of weeks. He had been taken to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre in Chennai in January after his health deteriorated rapidly.

Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, died on Wedneday. His body is kept at the mutt for public view.

Kanchi Shankar mutt officials said that Jayendra Saraswathi’s body will be kept at the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kancheepuram till 7am on Thursday and he will be laid to rest at the Mutt premises tomorrow.

Speaking to Firstpost, a Mumbai-based devotee B Shridhar said that the greatness of Jayendra Saraswathi, who passed away on Wednesday, can only be understood by those who have met him in person. "Whatever he touched turned to gold. If he inaugurated something with his hands, then the institution was surely on its way to success. It is for this reason that people always wanted Swamigal to inaugurate several projects," he said.

"A police company has been deployed at the mutt and senior polices officers like the DIG and SP are also here supervising the security arrangements. The crowd is moving smoothly and so far more than 2,000 people have come to pay their respect," Mugilan, DSP Kancheepuram.

Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, condoled the death of Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. Palaniswami, in a statement here, said he was saddened to know that Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi math, passed away this morning due to ill-health. He said apart from spiritual work, Jayendra Saraswathi was actively involved in social development activities.

Jayendra Saraswathi chose to bring warring factions into table and wrote a series of letters to All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishadh (VHP) to work out a solution.

Unlike his predecessors in Kanchi Sankara Mutt, Jayendra Saraswathi was involved in both spiritual and public life and was known for the efforts for a solution in the Ayodhya issue during the erstwhile period of Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, but it failed to fructify.

Born as Subramaiyam Mahadeva in Irulneeki village in Thiruvarur district in 18 July, 1935, he was named the successor to Kanchi Mutt by Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swami and was given the title Jayendra Saraswathi on 22 March, 1954, when he was just 19. He had his spiritual tutelage from 'Maha Periyava' and travelled length and breadth of the country with his guru. He delivered religious discourse besides involving himself in various spiritual and social activities. Under his guidance, the mutt started several schools and hospitals.

Speaking to Firstpost, B Shridhar says that Saraswathi shared an extremely cordial relationship with his guru Maha Periyava. He says that Maha Periyava was always concerned about Saraswathi and took care of him. "Swamigal used to visit Maha Periyava once a day till the day he was alive," Shridhar says. Maha Periyava died in 1994. "Whenever, he used to narrate stories of his guru, he cried like a baby," Shridhar remembers.

'I was shocked to know that Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi Swami died due to ill-health. I pray the Almighty for his soul to rest in peace.'

According to B Shridhar, a Mumbai-based devotee of the Kanchi seer, Chandrashekharendra Swamigal had observed three unique qualities in his shishya : Jan Akarshanam, Dhan Akarshanam and Jal Akarshanam. Shridhar said that Saraswathi had the ability to attract people anywhere. He added that Saraswathi's power was such that people used to call him to places where there was drought. "He had the unique power of attracting rains anywhere. So people used to have great faith in him," he said. Speaking about Saraswathi's midas touch, Shridhar remarked that any public project inaugurated by the Kanchi seer used to taste success.

It is debatable whether Kanchi mutt — one of the most powerful religious institutions with a history dating back 2,000 years to the times of Adi Shankara — has seen a head who was as unconventional and contentious as Jayendra Saraswathi, who passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 82. Jayendrar was no copybook pontiff. Although the mutt is primarily a religious organisation, Jayendrar, whose character was underpinned by a strident social consciousness, had both the conviction and courage to steer the mutt into territories into which it had not ventured before.

"I’m saddened to hear about the death of Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham," Gandhi tweeted. Gandhi noted that the Shankaracharya was revered by lakhs of believers across the world for his teachings. "May his soul rest in peace," the Congress chief said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the demise of Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th Shankaracharya of the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. The 82-year-old seer passed away today morning in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu following a cardiac arrest.

The previous Kanchi mutt head, Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi (or Periyava, as the primarily upper-caste patrons of the mutt were wont to call him) had a profile and presence that combined religious benevolence and spiritual sensitivity. He rarely spoke in public. But he was actively sought by the high and mighty of the land (including prime ministers like Indira and Rajiv Gandhi). In that sense, Kanchi mutt always had access to political levers.

Rao in an official statement praised the great services rendered by Jayendra Saraswathi for the development of Kanchi Peetham.\\

Narasimhan in an official statement conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the countless devotees of the Jagadguru and said "it is an irreparable loss to humanity at large".

Swami Jayendra Saraswati was a colossal spiritual figure and initiated innumerable programmes for the downtrodden across the country. Although he fell foul of the law over the murder of a Kanchipuram resident before being cleared of all charges, Jayendra Saraswati had a huge following both in India and abroad. Many compared him with Ramanuja — the legendary Vaishnavite guru and a social reformer. Jayendra Saraswati, the 69th pontiff of the Sankara Mutt in Kanchipuram, was a Saivite — a follower of Lord Shiva.

The 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jayendra Saraswathi is expected to be laid to rest beside his guru, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, media reports say.

While Sri Chandrashekara Saraswathi Swamigal was focused on spiritual side, his junior Jayendra Saraswati was interested in societal activities as well and was also part of some controversies. As a junior pontiff, Jayendra Saraswati had left the mutt for some days without informing anybody alledgedly owing to some difference of opinion with his senior. However, later he came back to the mutt and reassumed his position, reported IANS.

The final rituals for burying the mortal remains, called 'Brindhavana Pravesam,' began with an 'abishekam' or bath. Milk and honey were the ingredients used in the abhishekam. The 'abishekam', held in the main hall of the mutt, was followed by recital of Vedic hymns by priests in the presence of Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, the junior pontiff of the Mutt and some close family members, reported PTI.

A big bamboo basket with the body in a seated posture will be taken to the annexe and lowered into a 7x7 feet burial pit. "The burial pit is ready and as soon as the body is lowered tomorrow, deities in a particular form called 'Saligrama' will be placed over it," a senior mutt official in charge of the burial arrangements told PTI. The pit will be filled with herbs, including 'Vasambu,' salt and sandalwood.

According to reports, both Union ministers will be attending the final rites of Jayendra Saraswathi as the Centre's representatives.

Later, rituals such as 'Kabaalamoksham' wherein a coconutwill be placed on the head and symbolically broken, will take place. Such rituals mark the completion of the burial, reported PTI.

Top actor Rajinikanth on Wednesday condoled the demise of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi."Saraswathi's soul had joined the divine abode. My condolences to his devotees," he said in a tweet.

The major test of his life was when he was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in November 2004 on the eve of Diwali over the charges of his involvement in the murder of Sankararaman, an official of the famous Varadharaja Perumal temple in Kanchipuram. Jayendra Saraswati was jailed for quite some time by the state police and later was acquitted of all the charges.

A Mutt official said the body of Jayendra Saraswathi will be carried later to the adjacent 'Brindavan Annexe,' where the mortal remains of his predecessor Sri Chandrasekerendra Saraswathi were interred in 1993, reported PTI.

While Sri Chandrashekara Saraswathi Swamigal was focused on spiritual side, his junior Jayendra Saraswati was interested in societal activities as well and was also part of some controversies. As a junior pontiff, Jayendra Saraswati had left the mutt for some days without informing anybody alledgedly owing to some difference of opinion with his senior. However, later he came back to the mutt and reassumed his position, reported IANS.

The final rituals for burying the mortal remains, called 'Brindhavana Pravesam,' began with an 'abishekam' or bath. Milk and honey were the ingredients used in the abhishekam. The 'abishekam', held in the main hall of the mutt, was followed by recital of Vedic hymns by priests in the presence of Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, the junior pontiff of the Mutt and some close family members, reported PTI.

A big bamboo basket with the body in a seated posture will be taken to the annexe and lowered into a 7x7 feet burial pit. "The burial pit is ready and as soon as the body is lowered tomorrow, deities in a particular form called 'Saligrama' will be placed over it," a senior mutt official in charge of the burial arrangements told PTI. The pit will be filled with herbs, including 'Vasambu,' salt and sandalwood.

According to reports, both Union ministers will be attending the final rites of Jayendra Saraswathi as the Centre's representatives.

More than 1 lakh people have taken his darshan since yesterday. At 8 am,we will start the rituals.Obituary will be done at this place only, so public can see.He will be decorated & his body will be taken to the place he has to be kept: Sundareshan, Manager of Kanchi Sankara Mutt. pic.twitter.com/Wb5zP7NmTU

#KanchiSankaraMutt #JayendraSaraswati paid my Last respect to Holy Feet of Guruji with Hon'ble Governer of #Tamilnadu His Excellency Sri Banwarilal Purohit ರವರು And Union Minister Sri @PonnaarrBJP ರವರು pic.twitter.com/Yw35b1rP6f

Later, rituals such as 'Kabaalamoksham' wherein a coconutwill be placed on the head and symbolically broken, will take place. Such rituals mark the completion of the burial, reported PTI.

Top actor Rajinikanth on Wednesday condoled the demise of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi."Saraswathi's soul had joined the divine abode. My condolences to his devotees," he said in a tweet.

The major test of his life was when he was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in November 2004 on the eve of Diwali over the charges of his involvement in the murder of Sankararaman, an official of the famous Varadharaja Perumal temple in Kanchipuram. Jayendra Saraswati was jailed for quite some time by the state police and later was acquitted of all the charges.

A Mutt official said the body of Jayendra Saraswathi will be carried later to the adjacent 'Brindavan Annexe,' where the mortal remains of his predecessor Sri Chandrasekerendra Saraswathi were interred in 1993, reported PTI.

Latest updates: Jayendra Saraswathi's body will be kept in state in the Kanchipuram mutt till 7 am on Thursday. According to the mutt, his final rites will take place at 8 am on Thursday. Devotees can pay their final respects to the seer till then. Tributes began pouring in for the Kanchipuram seer. According to earlier reports, the crowd was moving smoothly and so far more than 2,000 people had come to pay their respect.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguish over the death of the "institution builder". Congress said, "Our thoughts go out to his close associates and millions of his followers around the world." Several BJP leaders including Ram Madhav too have paid their tribute to the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "’I'm saddened to hear about the death of Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham."

The head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jayendra Saraswathi passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 82, CNN-News18 reported. The pontiff died in a private hospital near Kamakshi Amman temple in Kanchipuram, reported The Hindu.

According to another report in The Hindu, Saraswathi was facing breathing issues since a couple of weeks. He had been taken to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre in Chennai in January after his health deteriorated rapidly.

Zee News reported that the seer, who is also the Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram mutt, had collapsed after complaining of a breathing problem.

Saraswathi was the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, which was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the Fifth Century AD. Saraswathi was named by Chandrasekharendra Swamigal, who was also known as Periyavar, as his successor in 1954.

The seer shot to national infamy when his name emerged in an alleged conspiracy to kill Sankarraman, an accountant in his mutt. His consequent arrest in November 2004 shocked the Hindu clergy. Saraswathi was acquitted in the murder case in 2016.