Jeyendra Saraswathi: Brahmin Reformer or Murderer?

by Shan Ranjit

July 1994, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu:  Maha Periaval (Sri Chandrasekar Saraswathi , the predecessor of the present Mutt head, Sri Jayendrar Saraswathi , who is accused in a murder case) had attained Maha samadhi ( permanent liberation) only a few months before.  He was cremated inside the mutt itself in Kanchipuram.  In front of this sacred samadhi the famous Mandolin player Srinivas and his bother Raju are giving a heart -rending mandolin performance.

When myself and my wife entered the mutt, all those inside the mutt - especially the younger Brahmins - turned their attention towards us.  Their behavior was not only perplexing to me, but also annoying.  This is a mutt that is considered to be the "Vatican" of Southern India ( especially for the Tamil Brahmins).  I am still not sure what made these young Brahmins focus their attention on us.  Maybe both of us were dressed somewhat extravagantly - my wife in a rich, flashy Kanchipuram saree and my self in a colored silk verti).

When Srinivas finished his program, several young Brahmins approached us and started talking to us.  I found this very odd for a simple reason.  I had very much wanted to pay my humble respects to the Maha Perival’s samadhi.  He was considered a "walking God" on earth when he was alive.  However, in front of his own samadhi, his close followers' behavior was somewhat questionable.  Some of the young Brahmins wanted us to buy their silver coins - which they took out of their pocket - in dollars.  I was shocked at this request .  Sure, the Indian temples are well known for their commercialism and corruption, but, I never expected such behavior inside the Kanchi mutt.

All of a sudden, there was some commotion.  From his small room, the present head, Sri Jeyandrar emerged with his followers .  He had his famous "Thanda" ( a long bamboo stick) in his hand.  He went to a middle of the compound to conduct a fire ritual.  All those young Brahmins immediately scattered , and were now following their Guru to the ritual spot.  Yet, they were giving signals for us wait for them.

I found their behavior and conduct very troublesome.  I was upset to learn that commercialization had even crept into this once sacred mutt.

Today, the present head of the Kanchi mutt , Sri Jeyendrar is the prime accused in the murder of Sankararamanan.  Sankara amanan was the manager of the Varadarajaperumal Temple in Kanchipuram - the temple belongs to the Kanchi mutt.  Sankararamanan was a staunch and fanatical devotee of Maha Perival (the late Sri Chandrasekhar).  His family has been at the service of the Kanchi mutt for generations.  When the present head and the accused, Sri Jeyandrar, took over as the head, there were many differences between Sankararamanan and Jeyandrar. Jeyandrar wanted to bring major, revolutionary changes within the ancient and traditional Kanchi mutt.  Sankararamanan strongly opposed such changes based on the old traditions of the mutt.  When Jeyandrar wanted to go to China, Sankararamanan opposed, arguing that the ancient Hindu tradition bars the Kanchi head from crossing the ocean.  He moved his appeal to the Madras high court.  Before the court could give the verdict, Jeyandrar announced that he was canceling his China visit.

Sankararamanan was a perpetual complainer.  He wrote hundreds of anonymous letters accusing the Kanchi mutt of fund misappropriation.  The Kanchi mutt is considered one of the wealthiest mutts in India.  He even accused the employees of the mutt in scandalous sexual affairs.

Sankara Ramanan was becoming a big headache for the mutt.  Two months ago, while he was in the office (inside the temple premises), five highly inebriated men barged into his office and grotesquely chopped him to death - in front of many witnesses who have refused to testify.

The Tamil Nadu police say that there is convincing evidence that the person who gave the order to kill Sankara Ramanan was none other than Sri Vijendrar , the present mutt head.  The price for the murder was a whopping 45 lakhs Indian rupees-  according the police this money was drawn from the Mutt’s bank account.

WHO IS SRI JEYENDRAR?

He is short, stout and with a graybeard.  He wears only dark orange robes; holy ash is prominently applied and displayed all over his body; he normally carries a long bamboo stick (thanda) whereever he travels.  That man is none other than the 70 year old Jayendra Saraswathi , the 69th pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam , considered to be the most ancient and influential Hindu mutt in India and the world.  The Kanchi Mutt was established in the 8th century AD by Adi Shankara . Because he runs the mutt and its activities as a successful business venture, he was called as the CEO ( Chief Executive Officer) of Kanchi Mutt, Inc.

FROM PALANQUINS TO EXECUTIVE JETS:

Jayendra has defied almost all the ancient customs and practices laid down by his mutt since assuming the office of Pontiff.  Today he is driven around in an air-conditioned bullet-proof Tata Sumo van – previous pontiffs had refused to use any mode of modern transport and walked or were carried in palanquins.  Jeyndrar travels across India in charted executive planes - unheard of and unthinkable in mutt history.  While only devotees surrounded previous pontiffs, Jayendra was surrounded and fiercely protected by security men, drawn from the same force that guards the Presidents and Prime Ministers of India.  His predecessors kept away from politics and politicians. His immediate predecessor - much loved and known as Periavar who died at the age of 100 some time back - did not even break his Mauna viratham (Vow of silence) when Indra Gandhi once visited him.  She sat before him for more than an hour, with tears rolling down her cheeks without a single word spoken between them.

Jeyendrar, without any hesitation, dealt with all shades of politicians – from controversial Hindu extremists to Muslim fundamentalists.  While other pontiffs religiously avoided cameras and TV, Jeyendra was the most photographed Hindu monk in India.

He even wanted to break the most ancient Hindu custom - never cross the ocean and go abroad. Due strong opposition within the mutt, he had to give up that idea.

JEYENDRA – THE REBEL

Jeyendra was born in 1931 to a middle class Brahmin family in a village called Irulneeki (remover of darkness) in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu.  His father taught him the Vedas and Hindu scriptures at an early age.  As per the ancient traditions of the mutt, his predecessor chose Jeyendra at an early age to succeed him.  Jeyendra then underwent some of the most rigorous monastic training at the Kanchi mutt for the next several decades.

Adi Shankara, the founder of the Kanchi sect, lived around the 8th century AD.  It is interesting to know that Adi Sankarar never established the mutt in Kanchipuram.  He established four mutts in India - Sringeri in the Western Ghats in Karnataka is the only mutt that he established in South India .  Nobody clearly knows how the Kanchi mutt became established.  Kanchipuram (also called Kanchi) lies about 145 Kms from Chennai.  Kanchi is famous for its colorful and expensive Kanchipuram sarees.  Kanchi was once the capital city of the Pallava kings.  Kanchi mutt is considered the bastion of orthodox Brahminism.  The rules and regulations at this orthodox mutt are so strict that, until some years ago, non-Brahmins were not even allowed to have their meals with Brahmins.  It has branches all over the world.

Jayendra has been a rebel from an early age.  He did not like the absolute dominance and sway of the orthodox Brahmins over the Kanchi mutt.  However, he was simply powerless and helpless as long as he remained the second in command.  About two decades ago, becoming frustrated with the mutt, he ran away and sought recluse in a small monastery near Mysore in Karnataka.  For more than two weeks no one could find him.  The Brahmins were embarrassed, and when they found him, they pleaded with him to come back to Kanchi.

REFORMER OR PUBLICITY SEEKER?

When Jeyendra became the 69th pontiff, he was determined to change the practices and customs at his ancient mutt.  Today, there are more non-Brahmins than Brahmins visiting the mutt.  Even Dalits (untouchables) have started visiting the mutt.  He has said that anybody could touch him and move freely within his mutt.  Previously , only Brahmins could do service to the Pontiff.  The Orthodox Brahmins were furious over the changes effected by Jayendra.

DABBLING IN POLITICS:

Jeyendra had an opinion on every single controversial political and economic issue in India.  He freely appeared on TV, expressing his opinions.  In fact, critics accuse him of rendering more opinions on politics and economy than on Vedanta.  He confers with the Prime Minister of India on the Kashmir issue one day and the next day is seen seated with fundamentalist Muslim leaders dealing with the tricky Ayodhya issue.  Politicians of all hues visit him to seek advice and get blessing.  The former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremasinghe, once made a special visit to the Kanchi mutt, and was closeted with Jeyendrar for a long time.  Economists and top rung businessmen wait for days to get an appointment with him.

However, the pet project of Jayendra is rural empowerment and Dalit (untouchables) enlistment.  This is astonishing for a Pontiff whose mutt has been at the forefront of protecting and propagating Orthodox Brahminism.

NO MORE HINDU TEMPLES:

Jayendra issued a firm order that not to build any more new Hindu temples.  Instead, he wanted the resources to be used for building schools and hospitals that will immensely benefit the poor.  This has been the main difference between him and the fundamentalist Hindu extremists, who have gone on a temple-building spree of late.

The Kanchi mutt under Jayendra's guidance was involved in a large number of social and charitable activities throughout India and abroad.  He gathered a group of young men and women who have promised their services to create a society that is not only hunger- free, but also devoid of any socio-religious conflicts.  In fact, Jaeyndra preaches that the best way for the souls to attain inner peace and liberation is through such social service activities.

FROM SCHOOLS TO HOSPITALS:

Jeyendra has promised that he will build 50 schools throughout India that will offer free education. The mutt runs a deemed university where courses ranging from Sanskrit to sciences are offered.  It runs several free hospitals in various parts of India; runs a rural health clinic for tribal in remote mountainous regions; and provides free health services for terminally ill patients in Chennai.  It is estimated the mutt manages about 1,000 crore through its various projects.

FURIOUS ORTHODOX BRAHMINS:

Orthodox Brahmins have been furious with Jayendra. They are angry with him for traveling in vans and planes; they are upset that he has allowed the untouchables inside their ritually clean mutt; they are pained that he accepts food from everyone.

Jayendra has had an excellent rapport with the Muslim leaders.  Muslim leaders have respected and trusted his yearning for communal peace.  In fact, when he was arrested many Muslims leaders protested.  But this cordial relation with the Muslims has brought trouble with the Hindu extremists.  They accuse Jayendra of getting too close with the Muslims.  In fact, the Hindu extremists have threatened his life.

RAJA GURU:

The pontiffs of the Kanchi mutt has been known as the ‘ Raja Guru ‘ ( chief priest) for the Kings of Nepal for centuries.  The Kanchi mutt also has the sole responsibility for appointing the Brahmin priests for the ancient Devayani temple in Kataragama, Sri Lanka.  For centuries, the priests at the Devayani temple have come from a particular Brahmin sect in Allahabad, North India.

TWO FACTIONS INSIDE THE MUTT:

Jeyandrar’s junior - Sri Vijendrar - was chosen by the late Sri Chandrsekhar ( Maha Periaval).

The junior is also known as " Bala Periyavar".  The junior came from a Tamil Nadu Brahmin family.  He was chosen when he was young.  It is believed that there have been many frictions between Jeyndrar and Vijeyndrar.  The junior has been a traditionalist, sticking with the ancient customs of the mutt.  Hence, the junior was a favorite of the orthodox Tamil Nadu Brahmins.  There are rumors that the brother of the Junior Swami ( Ragu) has been a thorn in the relationship between the senior and Junior.  There are unsubstantial rumors that Ragu had a terrible weakness for women.

I think Jeyndrar foolishly thought that he could be a Sanyasi and also dabble in politics.  Politics is a dirty game.  Politics is not for those who claim that they have given up everything and taken the high road of spiritualism.  Let this be a good lesson for all those spiritual aspirants that they should keep away from politics if they want to advance in their quest for spirituality.  Like Catholism, Hinduism should seriously consider whether Hindu monks - especially those who come into contact with the people - should be celibate.