SRI JAYENDRA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL

From Sampath’s Desk:

  




SHRI JAYENDRA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL

18 July 1935 - 28 February 2018

 

To say that SHRI JAYENDRA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL, the 69th Pontiff of Kanchi monastery passed away on 28.2.2018 is just customary and rather perfunctory; contrarily, the fact is that he got united with the ‘Lord Almighty’ leaving the material and corporeal world but still continues to reign in our hearts through the spiritual legacy along with social footprints and a treasure trove of numinous theology lectures and messages that he has left behind for the extramundane advancement of devotees. The multi-linguist seer was not just a religious or spiritual leader with reformist thinking but was instrumental to the establishment of many educational and healthcare institutions including undertaking renovation of many ancient temples and consecrating new ones besides involving himself in social cause and community service initiatives across the country. 

 

After assumption as the Peetathipathi of the Mutt in 1994, He literally broke the wall of rigidity that was surrounding the Mutt till then to move closer to people. He founded two welfare outfits - Jan Kalyan and Jan Jagran - for social service activities. Every year, the Mutt used to honour artists from many fields.

 

If Guru ‘His Holiness Chandrasekhara Saraswathi Maha Periyavaa Swamigal’ was a silent revolutionary who found and inculcated inner peace, tranquility, and prosperity in devotees in holistic ways, Sri Jayendrar was outspoken and freely mingling with people. Sensing people's devotional impulses, yearning, and craving, the saint clothed as He was with new and redefined spiritual depths and insights quenched their spiritual thirst and helped them embark on a quest for realization of the Eternal Supreme Being in special but easy ways. He went beyond remaining a mere head at the Mutt and had, in fact, explored thitherto unchartered and unexplored avenues of social networking and societal engineering with a focus and thrust on people’s welfare and well-being on the educational and healthcare fronts. And that endeared Himself to people taking Him closer and nearer to them than any other seer.

 

Sri Jayendrar's involvement in social service activities as a means to bridge the gap between the common people and the Mutt was significant. The mutt began expanding its activities. The Hindu Mission Hospital which made its humble beginning at Tambaram in the 1980s now has 44 hospitals under its control including the Child Trust Hospital, Chennai. The Mutt is also running a deemed university for Ayurveda studies.


 

Sri Jayendrar’s high point, like a pontiff donning a political hat as well, was when He was the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's unofficial ambassador' to re-initiate the dialogue process to resolve the Sri Rama Janmabhoomi (Ayodya) issue in 2003. Shri Vajpayee had thought that Sri Jayendra Saraswati’s charismatic, moderate, and middle-path persuasive abilities could bring all contentious groups on board, including the Sangh Parivar, VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad), and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to a discursive wavelength that could pave way for a resolution during his lifetime. And of course, He and His predecessor worked relentlessly for spiritual renaissance, social synergy, and societal convergence. The truth is that both are still living amongst us in an asomatous form and in incorporeal eternity.

 

In a nutshell, Shri Jayendrar was an epitome symbolizing a rare blend of Good Samaritan, philanthropic and spiritual patriotism aimed at societal cohesion and social outreach with a trans-traditional approach.

 

 R.SAMPATH

1/3/2018

 

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