82-year-old Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of Kanchi Math died on Wednesday. He had been sick for a long time. According to sources, he suddenly had got difficulty in breathing last month, after which he was admitted to the hospital. He breathed for the last time in a private hospital, suffering month prolonged illness.
Significantly, the Kanchi monastery is located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is one of five Panchasasthanas. The monastery here is called Shankaracharya. It is one of the important religious places of South India.
His successor, Vijayendra Saraswathi, is now expected to take over the Mutt from him.
Jayendra is known as the successor to the senior pontiff — also, the 69th head of the Kanchi mutt — when he was only 19 years old, in 1954. However, in 1987, he decided to leave the mutt. Three days after he left, he was traced to Talacauvery in Karnataka. Meanwhile, Vijayendra Saraswati had been chosen as his successor by Jayendra — was anointed the 70th head of the mutt while Jayendra had gone missing, in order to continue to daily rituals and traditions of the mutt.
“Sad news of the Mahasamadhi of Kanchi Acharya Pujya Jayendra Saraswati maharaj. He was a reformist saint, kept himself engaged in nation-building initiatives. Reverential pranams to d departed holy soul.” Tweeted RSS ideologue and BJP leader Ram Madhav.
