President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mourned the death of Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th pontiff of the Sankara Mutt in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu.
In his message, Kovind said: “Sad to hear of the passing of Jayendra Saraswatiji, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Our country has lost a spiritual leader and social reformer of rare eminence.”
“My condolences to his countless disciples and followers,” he said.
Modi said he was “deeply anguished” by the passing away of the pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
“He will live on in the hearts and minds of lakhs of devotees due to his exemplary service and noblest thoughts. Om Shanti to the departed soul,” Modi tweeted along with his pictures with the pontiff.
He said that Saraswathi was at the forefront of “innumerable community service initiatives”.
“He nurtured institutions which transformed the lives of the poor and downtrodden,” Modi said.
The Congress President in his message said: “I’m saddened to hear about the death of Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.”
“He was revered by lakhs of believers all over the world for his teachings. May his soul rest in peace,” he added.
Saraswathi passed away at a private hospital in Kanchipuram on Wednesday. He was 82. He was ailing for some time and was admitted to the hospital early on Wednesday.