Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi was appointed as the 69th pontiff of Kanchi Sankara Mutt in 1994. Under his guidance, the 8th century mutt launched several community service initiatives including schools, eye clinics and hospitals. Saraswathi, who was named in the murder of a Kancheepuram temple manager, was acquitted in 2013. The 82-year-old passed away following a cardiac arrest on Wednesday.