Kanchipuram: Jayendra Saraswathi, who broad based the activities of the Sankara Mutt with inclusive activities, died in Kanchipuram on Wednesday in a private hospital. He was 82.

The 69th pontiff of the Mutt, established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, was ailing for quite some time. He was admitted to a private hospital early on Wednesday after he complained of breathlessness. Doctors said the pontiff died following cardiac arrest. His last rites will be conducted on Thursday and his body will be interred in the Mutt premises itself in accordance with traditions followed for Hindu seers.

The mortal remains of Saraswathi were kept at the Nandavanam in Kanchi mutt for devotees to offer their prayers. He would be given 'maha samadhi' at the Nandavanam, near the Chandrasekarendra Sarawathi Swami's. Meanwhile, junior pontiff Vijayendra Sarawati was elevated and given the charge of heading the mutt.

Born Subramaniyam Mahadevan on 18 July, 1935, in Irulneekki in erstwhile Thanjavur district, Saraswathi was anointed successor to the Mutt by Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal and was given the title Sri Jayendra Saraswathi on 22 March, 1954.

File image of Kanchi mutt pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi. Image courtesy: KA Vishwanathan

Saraswathi had a huge following in South India and had sought to play the role of a mediator in the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute during the BJP governments headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 1998 and 2004.

He was also mired in controversy when he was arrested in 2004 during the regime of late J Jayalalithaa and made an accused in the murder of Sankararaman, an official of the famous Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram.

He, along with junior pontiff of the Mutt Vijayendra Saraswathi and 21 others, was acquitted by a court in 2013 in neighbouring Puducherry where the case was transferred from Tamil Nadu.

Another controversy in which he was involved was in August 1987 when Saraswati suddenly decided to leave the mutt. After spending 17 days in Tala Cauvery in Kodagu in Karnataka, he returned to the Mutt to a warm welcome by thousands of devotees. He then kick-started his social organisation, Jana Kalyan.

Saraswathi sought to diversify the activities of the Sankara Mutt, which was largely run on orthodox lines for long, by entering into charitable activities. It ran several schools, eye clinics and hospitals. He had his spiritual tutelage from 'Maha Periyava' Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi and travelled the length and breadth of the country with his guru.

In January 1994, when Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi attained siddhi, Saraswathi formally took over as the head of the Kanchi Mutt. There began a spiritual journey that saw several highs and lows for the institution.

As news of his death spread, a pall of gloom decended on the Kanchi mutt with hundreds of his followers thronging the mutt to pay their homage. A host of national leaders and even political leaders in Tamil Nadu, who had differences with Jayendra Saraswathi and the Mutt, condoled his demise. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed their condolences.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the seer are kept in the Sankara Mutt in Kanchipuram so that people can pay homage.