The head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and the 69th Shankaracharya Guru Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya has died today.
The Shankaracharya had breathed his last at a private hospital in Kanchipuram. As per reports, the 82-year-old was admitted to the Sankara hospital due to breathing difficulties.
News agency PTI, citing unnamed hospital sources, reported that the Shankaracharya Guru died after a cardiac arrest.
Following his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress with the death of the Shankaracharya Guru.
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
BJP’s National General Secretary Ram Madhav also tweeted about the Guru’s death.
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.
— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) February 28, 2018
For the past few months, the Kanchi Mutt head has been ailing and had previously collapsed due to shortness of breath. He was immediately rushed to the hospital in Porur where it was found that his blood sugar level had dipped. However, he showed signs of recovery after the treatment. Though he had been keeping unwell lately, the actual reason behind the death is still not known.
Swami Jayendra Saraswathi was admitted to a hospital in 2016 after a sudden spurt in his blood pressure. His followers flocked there to inquire about his health.
Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry, also tweeted out the death of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi.
Shocking& saddening news of Mahasamadhi of Kanchi Acharya Pujya Jayendra Saraswati ji,revered saint, worshipped by millions.
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) February 28, 2018
Chief Minister West Bengal Mamata Banerjee also took to social media to express her condolence.
Saddened at the Mahasamadhi of Kanchi Acharya Pujya Jayendra Saraswati ji
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 28, 2018
According to latest reports, the last rites of Shankaracharya will commence tomorrow at Brindavanam inside Kanchi mutt at 9 am.
In 1994, Jayendra Saraswathi became the head of Kanchi Mutt after Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal, nominated him as his successor. He was given the divinely ordained pontifical title of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi on March 22, 1954.
Swami Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested in connection the murder of a Sankararaman, manager of a temple in Kanchipuram. However, nine years later, he was cleared of the charges as the trial court found “no incriminating evidence” after the family of the deceased “failed to identify the accused”.