Jayendra Saraswathi (Shankaracharya)

Pontiff of the Kanchi monastery

Indian Irulneeki, Thiruvarur

Quick Info

ProfessionPontiff of the Kanchi monastery
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth18/07/1935
Age82 years (died on 28, Feb, 2018)
BirthplaceIrulneeki, Thiruvarur
Date of Death28/02/2018

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Bio/Wiki

Real NameSubramanyam Mahadeva Iyer

Educational Qualification(s)

EducationVedic Education

Personal Life

ReligionHinduism
AddressKanchi Kamakoti Peetham 1, Salai Street, Ennaikaran, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Relationships & More

Marital StatusUnmarried (celibate)

Family

FatherMahadeva Iyer
MotherSaraswathi
SiblingsM.K. Raghu

Career

Initiated into Sanyasa and declared successor Acharya on 22/03/1954 at age 19.
Assumed charge as the 69th pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham on 22/03/1994 after the passing of senior pontiff Chandrasekharendra Saraswati.
Founded Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Viswa Mahavidyalaya, a deemed university.
Established Sankara Nethralaya group of eye hospitals.
Launched Jan Jagran movement in October 2002 for social welfare and national unity.
Visited Manasarovar in 1998 and installed idols of Adi Sankara on Mount Kailas.
First Shankaracharya in recent history to visit Dhaka, Bangladesh in June 2000.

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. He was appointed as the 69th successor to the Mutt at the age of 19 on 22 March 1954.
2. He had a deep understanding of various Hindu scriptures.
3. He lived a simple and disciplined life.
4. In 1994, he became the Peetathipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
5. The math he led established numerous schools, hospitals, eye clinics, and public welfare institutions.
6. He actively campaigned against untouchability and social inequality.
7. He preferred traveling in a private aircraft.
8. He maintained good relationships with political figures like Jayalalithaa.
9. In 2002, he shared his thoughts on the Babri Masjid and Ayodhya dispute.
10. In 2016, he was acquitted of a murder case.
11. He passed away in 2018 due to respiratory issues.
12. He passed away on 28 February 2018 due to cardiac arrest following respiratory issues.
13. Established Kanchi Kamakoti Seva Foundation in the United States to support community service initiatives.
14. Initiated Jana-Kalyana and Jana-Jagarana programs to provide social services to the poor regardless of caste.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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