The sad passing away of Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya 1935 – 2018
The Hindu Council of Australia notes the movement of Shankaracharya Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswathi of the KanchiKamakotiPeetam (Mutt) to attain Moksha on 28 February 2018. His calling as the 69th pontiff in 1954 was at the age of 19 years. The Mutt was established by AdiShankaracharya in the 5th Century AD.
We applaud Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswathi for leaving behind a great legacy within which he:
- Delivered religious discourses and involved himself in various spiritual and social activities. Under his guidance, the Mutt started several schools, eye clinics, hospitals and several charity initiatives such as the JanaKalyan, Jana Jagaran, a movement to “serve the people and awaken the masses.”
- Focussed on the uplift of Dalits and was also interested in developing healthcare and educational facilities for the people apart from spreading spiritualism. He initiated countless programmes for the downtrodden across the country. Perhaps he was the only Hindu sanyasi who had visited the most number of slums and Dalit colonies in the country. He visited the inner most parts of the Dharavi slums in Mumbai and several other slums and Dalit colonies.
- Was involved in both spiritual and public life and was known for the efforts for a solution in the Ajodhya and the Ram Janmabhoomi -Babri Masjid issue by engaging with stakeholders from both communities and the Government.
- Visited Manasarovar and Kailash in 1998 where he installed the deity of AdiShankaracharya.
- Established the Sri ChandrasekharendraSaraswathiViswaMahavidyalaya, a deemed university in the name of his Guru.
He will live on in the hearts and minds of millions of devotees due to his exemplary service and noblest thoughts.
The Hindu Council of Australia sends our condolences on the passing away of ShankaracharyaJagadguruPujyashri Jayendra SaraswathiShankaracharya who was at the forefront of innumerable community service initiatives. He nurtured institutions which transformed the lives of the poor and downtrodden.
Our sincerest sympathies on this sad occasion.
