Auditor S Gurumurthy pay his last respects to Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, in Kanchipuram on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)
The last rites ceremony of Kanchi Sankara Mutt’s senior seer Sri Jayendra Saraswathi began on Thursday in Kanchipuram. He died of cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at a hospital. He was 83. Jayendra Saraswati is expected to be laid to rest beside his predecessor, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi. His successor, Vijayendra Saraswathi is overseeing the last rites ceremony.
Jayendra Saraswathi will be remembered for his efforts to popularise the mutt after the death of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, the 68th pontiff of the mutt.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death and shared an old photograph with Jayendra. “He nurtured institutions which transformed the lives of the poor and downtrodden,” he tweeted.
Jaynedra Saraswathi was born in Iruneekki in Thanjavur. He completed his education with late DMK leader Murasoli Maran, former union minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s nephew. He took charge of the mutt in 1994. He was also known for his proximity towards leaders from the BJP, RSS and VHP.
During his time as the head seer, Jayendra Saraswathi launched several charity initiatives such as the ‘Jana Kalyan, Jana Jagaran,’ a movement to “serve the people and awaken the masses”.
The charity programme aimed to establish temples in Dalit colonies and engage Dalits in temple rituals to expand the Hindu collective beyond the Dravidian polity’s anti-upper caste stance, and equating Hinduism with an inherent suspicion of Brahminism. He also appointed Dalit trustees in temples such as Mylapore Kapaleeshwarar.
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi final journey LIVE UPDATES:
Radhakishan GanguMar 1, 2018 at 11:44 amTaking inspiration from the services of Kanchi seer, Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi all mutts across the nation, Hindu organizations should start new schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, clinics, old age homes, goshaalas etc in every village and town taking care of the temples where there is little income. The services provided to the people should be mixed up with spirituality, sacredness and true love and affection so that Vedic culture, traditions solidifies across India and the world. The government or the private firms should take as an example to deliver quality services provided by the kanchi mutt. If the departed brightened soul takes rebirth, he should be a powerful leader of the world to make India a developed, bright,sacred, powerful nation in the world eliminating all the evils in our society and as well to make all the people happy and peaceful promoting Vedic culture, traditions and strong family bonds.Reply- Radhakishan GanguMar 1, 2018 at 11:37 amTaking inspiration from the services of Kanchi seer, Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi all mutts across the nation, Hindu organizations should start new schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, clinics, old age homes, goshaalas etc in every village and town taking care of the temples where they have little income. The services provided to the people should be mixed up with spirituality, sacredness and true love and affection so that Vedic culture, traditions solidifies across India and the world. The government or the private firms should take as an example to deliver quality services provided by the Kanchi mutt. If the departed brightenend soul took rebirth, then he must come as a powerful leader of the world to stop all the evils in Indian society and make India a developed, sacred, powerful and bright nation, with happiness, peace around.Reply
Thousands of devotees pay tribute to Jayndra Saraswathi.
The rituals for lowering Jayendra Saraswathi's body in the 7 x 7 ft burial pit in the Brindhavanam Annexe is expected to be completed sometime after 11 am.
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, a mutt official told PTI.
The final rites of Jayendra Saraswathi began with an 'abhishekam' ( bath) with milk and honey.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit participated in the burial ceremony by offering flowers, reported PTI.
Jayendra Sarawasthi is expected to be laid to rest beside his guru, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Union Ministers Sadananda Gowda and Pon Radhakrishnan will attend today's last rites ceremony in Kanchipuram.
At the moment priests are performing abhishekam, a ritual that involves chanting of mantras.