Chennai: The 292nd pontiff of the Madurai Adheenam Sri Arunagirinathar passed away at the Apollo hospital in Madurai on Friday night. He was 77.
According to an official in the Adheenam, a Shaivite math, the pontiff breathed his last at a private hospital in the city where he was admitted to a few days ago after complaining of difficulty in breathing.
Adheenam is known for his spiritual and social work. Meanwhile, after fugitive self-styled godman Nithyananda staked claim as the successor of Madurai Aadheenam Arunagirinathar in a statement released recently, the rooms of Madurai Adheenam were sealed.
Disciples of Sri Arunagirinathar, after realising the deteriorating condition, locked up the rooms at the Math premises situated near the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai on Friday as a ‘precautionary’ measure, sources stated.