Shankaracharya Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi the 69th Guru and head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham passed away on Wednesday, in a private hospital at Kancheepuram, confirmed doctors. He was 82.

PM Modi took to twitter to pay his condolences and said, 'Deeply anguished by passing away of Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jagadguru Pujyashri #JayendraSaraswathi Shankaracharya. He'll live on in hearts & minds of lakhs of devotees due to his exemplary service & noblest thoughts. Om Shanti to the departed soul,' PM Modi tweeted.

 Vice president of India Vainkya Naidu also poured his respects and said,” I pay my respects to Kanchi peethadhipathi Shri Jayendra Saraswati who attained moksha. His contribution for the welfare of mankind and in promoting spirituality will always be an inspiration for others. #JayendraSaraswathi, he tweeted.

The Shankaracharya was admitted to a hospital on Wednesday morning in a critical state.

In mid-January, he was admitted to a hospital after in trouble at the math due to breathlessness, said media reports. The Shankaracharya had visited Delhi in November 2017 when he had no severe health issues.

It was said to be taken early in the day to ABC Hospital in the Kancheepuram town.

The immediate reason for his death is not clear yet, but he was said to be not keeping well for last few days.

Jayendra Saraswathi was the 69th Guru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, which was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the Fifth Century AD. Saraswathi was named by Chandrasekhar Swamigal, who was also known as Periyavar, as his successor in 1954.