Jayendra Saraswathi was born Subramaniam Mahadeva Iyer on July 18, 1935, at Irulneeki in Thiruvarur district. In 1954, at 19, he was given the pontifical title 'Jayendra Saraswathi' and anointed the successor to the Kanchi Mutt by his guru, and the 68th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti mutt, Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi. Under the guru' s tutelage, he delivered religious and spiritual discourses in various cities and involved himself in social welfare work.