Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswati, the reigning ‘Sankaracharya’ whose term as the chief of the Sankara Mutt in Kancheepuram was ridden with many controversies, breathed his last early in the morning yesterday in Chennai.  He was 83 years of age.

Jayendrar was not keeping good health and remained hospitalized for 3 days a couple of months back at a leading private hospital in Porur off Chennai.  He complained of difficulties in breathing early in the morning yesterday after which he was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he breathed his last.  His mortal remains have since been kept at the Mutt for the people and devotees to pay their last respects.

In 1994, Jayendrar took over as the 69th Seer of the Kanchi Mutt after getting appointed 40 years prior to that as a ‘young Seer’ in 1954 when he was just 19 years of age.  With the passing away of the Seer, the famed Kamatchi Amman Temple in Kancheepuram was closed down as a mark of respect to the top Seer.  Devotees who had come to the temple for worship were asked to leave in a hurry.

It may be recalled that Jayendrar was arrested on 11th November, 2005 in connection with the murder of Varadaraja Perumal Koil’s manager Sankar Raman and was out on bail in a couple of months.  In the year 2013, a Puducherry Court absolved Jayendrar and Vijayendrar of any role in the incident.  Mutt authorities have informed that the last rites of the Kanchi Seer are to be performed this morning.

Let’s pray to the Almighty to lay the Seer’s soul in ever-lasting peace!