Vijayendra Saraswati
Encyclopedia
His Holiness Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal (born 13 March 1969 as Sankaranarayanan, son of Sri Krishnamurthy Sastrigal) is the seventieth Shankaracharya
(guru
and head or pontiff (In Tamil: Peetadhipathi)) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, a Hindu
religious institution established by Sri Adi Sankara in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal has been adorning the pontifical seat at Kanchipuram
since 29 May 1983 when he was anointed to be the seventieth peetathipathi, successor in waiting, to succeed the current peetathipathi, the sixty-ninth pontiff Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal Sri Pada
, at a later date. Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal was anointed by the sixty-eighth pontiff Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal VIII, reverentially known as "Mahaperiyavaa" and "Moving or Walking God".
in Uthukottai Taluk, Tiruvallore district, on the Madras-Tirupathi route via Red Hills, and was studying at Polur when taken as Acharya to the Peetam. His parents are presently living in Chennai.
In 2004, upon the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi
for the conspiracy in the murder of a temple manager, there were calls to immediately promote Vijayendra Saraswati to Jayendra Saraswathi's position, but in January 2005 Vijayendra Saraswati, too, was arrested as one of 24 persons suspected of the alleged crime. On 26 October 2005, the Supreme Court of India transferred the case out of the state of Tamil Nadu state to the adjoining Union Territory of Pondicherry. The case had not been settled as of February 2010, at which point 29 of the 59 witnesses in the case had been deemed hostile
by prosecutors.
As recently as 1 March 2011, the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam celebrated Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Day, to mark Vijayendra Saraswati's 43rd Jayanthi (43rd Birthday based on Tamil calendar).
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
(guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
and head or pontiff (In Tamil: Peetadhipathi)) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religious institution established by Sri Adi Sankara in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal has been adorning the pontifical seat at Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
since 29 May 1983 when he was anointed to be the seventieth peetathipathi, successor in waiting, to succeed the current peetathipathi, the sixty-ninth pontiff Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal Sri Pada
Jayendra Saraswathi
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is the 69th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham....
, at a later date. Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal was anointed by the sixty-eighth pontiff Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal VIII, reverentially known as "Mahaperiyavaa" and "Moving or Walking God".
History
Vijayendra Saraswati was born in a small hamlet known as "Thandalam" near Periyapalayam, a village near AraniArani
Arani or Aarani may refer to:* Arani, Hindu, goddess of female sexuality and fire.* Arani, Bolivia, a city in Bolivia* Arani Municipality, a municipality in Bolivia* Arani Province, a province in Bolivia...
in Uthukottai Taluk, Tiruvallore district, on the Madras-Tirupathi route via Red Hills, and was studying at Polur when taken as Acharya to the Peetam. His parents are presently living in Chennai.
In 2004, upon the arrest of Jayendra Saraswathi
Jayendra Saraswathi
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is the 69th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham....
for the conspiracy in the murder of a temple manager, there were calls to immediately promote Vijayendra Saraswati to Jayendra Saraswathi's position, but in January 2005 Vijayendra Saraswati, too, was arrested as one of 24 persons suspected of the alleged crime. On 26 October 2005, the Supreme Court of India transferred the case out of the state of Tamil Nadu state to the adjoining Union Territory of Pondicherry. The case had not been settled as of February 2010, at which point 29 of the 59 witnesses in the case had been deemed hostile
Hostile witness
A hostile witness is a witness in a trial who testifies for the opposing party or a witness who offers adverse testimony to the calling party during direct examination.A witness called by the opposing party is presumed hostile...
by prosecutors.
As recently as 1 March 2011, the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam celebrated Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Day, to mark Vijayendra Saraswati's 43rd Jayanthi (43rd Birthday based on Tamil calendar).