In case the Shankaracharya of Kanchi is indeed guilty of ordering the murder of Shankararaman, then he would be the only murderer that I have touched the feet of and sought blessings!

It happened when I was touring South India with my parents, about 14 years ago. I do not remember the exact place, but it was a in a huge temple complex where we had just finished gaping at the architecture and had clicked some mandatory snaps. We noticed this figure shrouded in an orange cloth, carrying a staff, walking across the courtyard. Some of the more religiously aware members of our touring party recognized that figure as Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati and rushed towards him. So did everyone else around… including me. And thats when I bowed before him and sought his blessings.

If I had known that he would turn out to be a murderer, I might have just given him a surly look!