Kanchi Shankaracharya : Lesser Known Facts about the Pontiff
Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, the head of the Kanchi Mutt, died on Wednesday in Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram. He suffered from cardiac arrest. The rites of the 82-year-old guru, described as ‘Brindavana Pravesha Karyakramam’ in vedic parlance, will commence on March 1 from 8 am, according to the mutt. His samadhi will be placed closer to his predecessor and guide Chandrashekarendra Saraswati. The website of the organisation announced, “The 69th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal attained Siddhi at 9 am today – Shukla Trayodashi – 28 Feb 2018 at Sri Kanchi Kamakotii Peetam Sankara Matam, Kanchipuram.”
Brindavana Pravesha Karyakramam of HH Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal will be performed tomorrow ( 1 March 2018) from 8 am. Darshan can be had throughout ( including today night) till tomorrow morning.
— KanchiMatham (@KanchiMatham) February 28, 2018
The acharya was not keeping well for over a month and was rushed to a Kanchipuram hospital early in the morning after he complained of breathlessness. He was unconscious when he was brought to the hospital. His vital parameters, including blood pressure and pulse, were weak. He died despite doctors’ efforts to revive him.
Here are Few lesser known facts about Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi:
- Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, a matha or mutt is a prominent Hindu monastic institution in Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram. Its head is known as “Shankaracharya”.
- Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati was born in Irulneeki, a village in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvarur district, as Sri Subramaniyam on July 18, 1935.
- He was only 19 years old when he was chosen as the successor to Parmacharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi was heading the Kanchi Mutt since 1954. He was its 69th pontiff.
- The mutt was founded by Adi Shankaracharya in 482 BC and runs several schools, eye clinics and hospitals. It has a huge following in South India.
- Jayendra Saraswati was one of the most influential spiritual leaders of his times. He was the 69th pontiff of Kanchi Mutt.
- In 1987, Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati disappeared from the mutt leaving all his books and sacred pieces in the mutt. However, 3 days after he disappeared, he was traced in Karnataka but the reason why he disappeared is still unknown.
- The Kanchi Mutt under his leadership expanded itself and created the Mutt as a spiritual powerhouse and made it financially sound. The Mutt currently runs several hospitals and educational institutions. It also runs a medical college.
- Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati is also known for negotiating the issue of Ayodhya dispute.
- The junior pontiff Vijayendra Saraswathi will succeed Jayendra Saraswathi as the 70th pontiff of the mutt, according to the mutt rules.
- Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi was among those charged in a 2004 murder of a Kanchipuram temple employee. In 2013, he and 22 others were cleared of the charges.
Must Read : Mahasamadhi of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi : Nation pays Tributes with Reverence
