One of those vehemently opposed to this plan was Sankararaman, who was close to Chandrasekharendra Saraswati.

Sankararaman filed a petition in court to stall the trip. He said Hindus were forbidden from crossing the seas, adding it was shocking that a religious head should even contemplate doing so.

Apparently embarrassed, Jayendra Saraswati called off the visit.

Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Also see: The case against the seer is feeble