Sri Arunagirinathar, the 292nd pontiff of the Madurai Adheenam, has passed away on Friday night at the age of 77 in Madurai due to age-related ailments. He was one of the notable religious faces in Tamil Nadu, having been accredited for his services. He was getting treated at the Apollo Hospitals in Madurai for the past few days and he breathed his last on Friday. Several leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had paid their tribute to the departed soul and remembered his works and contribution.

According to reports, the veteran pontiff was sick for the past few days after he developed respiratory complications. He was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Madurai on August 9. He was getting treated in life support and while he responded a little to the treatment, there was a sudden setback in his health condition as it deteriorated on Thursday. Amid the treatments, he had passed away on Friday night at the age of 77. After knowing that the health condition of the pontiff had worsened, the disciples of Sri Arunagiri Nathar had closed the rooms at the Mutt premises as a precautionary measure. 

The Madurai Adheenam is an ancient Saivaite mutt and sits near Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. Being the oldest Saivaite adheenam, it was established 1,500 years ago and it was revived by Thirugnana Sambandar, a saivaite poet and saint of Tamil Nadu who lived sometime in the 7th century. Besides being one of the most important Shiva-Shakti shrines, Madurai Adheenam has been an active centre of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy. Sri Arunagirinathar had become the 292nd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam in the 1980s and before joining the mutt, he worked as a journalist with Murasoli and his association with late DMK President M Karunanidhi was well known. 

In 2012, Sri Arunagirinathar ran into controversy by announcing self-styled godman Nithyananda as the junior pontiff of the mutt. The pontiff had drawn major flak from other Saivaite mutts in the state that voiced against Nithyananda's appointment as the junior pontiff of the ancient mutt. After furious criticisms, Arunagirinathar had withdrawn the announcement after a few months post which Nithyananda left the mutt. The controversial godman had then approached the court seeking justice by claiming that he should be the next pontiff of Madurai Adheenam. The case is still pending in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. 

Madurai Adheenam has a pile of assets under its control. It includes several immovable in the form of cultivable lands in the Thanjavur district and the mutt is a trustee in four temples, including the Kanjanur Agneeswarar Swami temple and Sakthinatheswarar temple in Thiruppurambiyam. Sri Arunagirinathar, besides controlling these assets, had also exercised close ties with the political leaders in the state and he had breathed his last on Friday. After learning about his demise, several political leaders had paid their tribute to the deceased and expressed condolences to the religious institution. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to social media and wrote, "I was saddened to learn the demise of Arunagirinathar, who was loved by all for his spiritual and public service. I express my deepest condolences for those who are grieving his loss." The reports say that following the demise of Sri Arunagirinathar, the Madurai Adheenam had appointed Srila Sri Hariharar Thesiga Gnanasambandha Thesiga Paramachariya Swamigal as its next and 293rd pontiff to succeed the departed soul. The new pontiff will be taking charge in ten days. Several pontiffs across Tamil Nadu had paid their last respects to Sri Arunagirinathar and he will be laid to rest in a land that belongs to the mutt in Munisalai in Madurai at 3 pm on Saturday. 

ஆன்மீகப் பணியிலும் மக்கள் பணியிலும் அருந்தொண்டாற்றி அனைவரின் அன்பிற்கும் உரியவராகத் திகழ்ந்த மதுரை ஆதீனம் திரு. அருணகிரிநாதர் அவர்களின் மறைவுச்செய்தி அறிந்து துயருற்றேன். அன்னாரது மறைவால் வாடும் ஆன்மீகப் பெருமக்களுக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும் ஆறுதலையும் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன். pic.twitter.com/yPZzEsNvuB

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 13, 2021