CHENNAI: Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, was placed in a 'samadhi' within the Mutt premises in the temple town of Kanchipuram near here on Thursday morning right next to the Brindavan (final resting spot) of the 68th pontiff Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswathi Swamy.
The rituals were performed by the 70th Acharya Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi and over 1.5 lakh persons, including a large number of VIPs who had gathered on the occasion. Sri Jayendra Saraswath suddenly swooned on Wednesday and was rushed to the ABCD Hospital sponsored by the Kanchi Mutt in Kancheepuram, where he breathed his last at 9 am on Feb. 28. He had been the head of the Mutt since 1994.
The Mutt officials stopped the darshan early on Thursday morning for devotees who have been thronging the Mutt to pay their last respects to the Seer and commenced the process of placing the mortal remains of the Seer in the Brindavanam, reciting slokas.
State Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Union Ministers: Pon. Radhakrishnan and Sadananada Gowda, were among those present when the rituals were
performed. Devotees bade a tearful adieu to the pontiff who was kept on a chair and laid to rest on the left side of the Brindavanam of his guru and predecessor.
Being a sanyasi, Sri Jayendra Saraswati was not cremated but was interred in a Samadhi, referred to as an ‘adhishthanam’ and a Saligramam will be consecrated on top of it. It will then become a permanent shrine for the devotees to visit and offer prayers. The process of interment is called ‘Brindavana Pravesha Karyakramam’ and it began at about 8 am on Thursday. Sri Vijayendra
Saraswathi performed the poojas for his guru and predecessor.
After the rites were conducted, thulasi leaves were placed and it has been planned to raise a memorial at the spot. The Brindavan of Maha Periyava was decked with thulasi and flowers on the occasion.
“It was Periyava’s wish that he be laid to rest near the Samadhi of his guru. It was fulfilled today,” an office-bearer of the Mutt in the temple town of Kancheepuram near here said. “As per the wishes of Bala Periyava (Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi), the Jankalyan and devotees offered floral tributes to the Acharya and organised annadhanam at various places including Nandavana Ananda Shirdi Saibaba and Avadi Athankarai Baba temple in the city,” says V. Subramanian, secretary of Jankalyan.
