The nation-wide bandh call given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to protest the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi began at midnight on Sunday.

The day-long bandh has been called by the VHP to "give vent to the feelings of Hindus over the unjust arrest of the Kanchi seer", VHP Maharashtra general secretary Vynkatesh Abdeo said.

Meanwhile, adequate security arrangements have been made by authorities to tackle the bandh. The VHP leader said essential services have been spared from the bandh.

Ahead of the bandh, BJP president L K Advani asked partymen "not to be apologetic or defensive about the party's
ideology".

Advani reached Chennai on Monday as part of the party campaign to demand the release of the seer.