Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, was on Thursday buried in the Brindhavan annexe in the premises of the religious establishment here with Vedic honours. The final rituals for burying the mortal remains, called 'Brindhavana Pravesam,' began with an 'abishekam' or bath.
The 'abishekam', held in the main hall of the mutt, was followed by recital of Vedic hymns by priests in the presence of Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, the junior pontiff of the mutt and some close family members. Scores of people gathered to pay their last respects to the 69th pontiff, who passed away on Wednesday.
Union Ministers Pon Radhakrishnan and Sadananda Gowda, BJP Tamil Nadu unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan were among the dignitaries present during the last rites ceremony.
The 82-year-old head of the Kanchi mutt was suffering from diabetes and had collapsed with shortness of breath and was admitted to Chennai's Ramachandra hospital last month. The mortal remains of the pontiff were kept at the Nandavanam in Kanchi Mutt for devotees to offer their prayers.
Born Subramaniyam Mahadevan on July 18, 1935, in Irulneekki in erstwhile Thanjavur district, Jayendra Saraswathi was anointed successor to the Mutt by Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal and was given the title Sri Jayendra Saraswati on March 22, 1954.
WATCH VIDEO: Devotees pay homage to Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi
