Mortal remains of Kanchi Sankaracharya to be laid to rest today

The last rites ceremony of Kanchi Sankara Mutt's senior seer Jayendra Saraswathi began on Thursday in Kanchipuram.

The last rites, known as the 'Brindavana Pravesha Karyakramam' in Vedic context, are likely to continue until noon today.

Scores of people gathered to pay their last respects to Kanchi Shankaracharya, who passed away on Wednesday after a prolonged illness.

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit also paid tribute to Kanchi Shankaracharya.

Kanchi Shankaracharya is likely to be laid to rest beside his guru, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi.

The 82-year old head of the Kanchi Mutt was suffering from diabetes and had collapsed at the mutt with shortness of breath and was admitted to Chennai's Ramachandra hospital last month.

He was 69th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and was named by Chadrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal as his successor on March 22, 1954.

--ANI