The picture is three years ago. When Shivanand Baba was awarded the Padma Shri.
128 -year -old yoga guru Swami Shivanand Baba of Varanasi died on Saturday night. He was admitted to the Jatric ward of BHU for the last three days. There was difficulty in breathing. He was awarded the Padma Shri three years ago.
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Shivanand Baba’s camp was organized in Prayagraj Mahakumbh. He also took a bath after reaching Kumbh. The date of birth on Shivanand Baba’s Aadhaar card is 8 August 1896. He was born in Srihatti district of Bengal. His parents died due to hunger, after which Baba used to eat half stomach. Now Baba knows the story of Shivanand from the beginning …
Parents and sister died of hunger when 6 years old 8 August 1896. A boy was born in a Brahmin family in Srihat district (now in Bangladesh) in Haripur village. Named Shivanand. Shivanand had four people in his family. She, her parents and an elder sister. His parents used to live the whole family by demanding alms. For some time, the whole family went on, but now the difficulties had started increasing.
There was no money in the house, so the parents started worrying about Shivanand. When he was 4 years old, he was dedicated to Baba Shri Omkaranand Goswami, so that he could be taken care of there. Since childhood, Shivanand started studying near the Guru.
At the age of 4, Shivanand Baba came to Shri Omkaranand Goswami. This is where Shivanand studied.
Nearly two years later… One day Shivanand’s parents and sister went out to ask for alms. They wandered from place to place but found nothing to eat. Tired, he came back home. The same trend continued for a few days. They used to go to ask for alms but returned empty handed. The health of the whole family started deteriorating. Finally one day Shivanand’s parents and sister died due to hunger.
Guruji was near and saw hot rice for the first time After the death of Shivanand’s parents, his entire responsibility was taken by Baba Shri Omkaranand on him. Now Shivanand’s entire maintenance was in the ashram of the Guru. Shivanand never went to school. Staying near the Guru, he took practical knowledge and education.
Baba’s family used to live by asking for alms. In begging, only boiled rice mand was available, so he had drunk only rice mand till he came to the Guru. When he came here, he understood the importance of food. For the first time here, he came to know what is called hot rice. He did not eat food till date after the death of parents.
When his parents died, he decided that he should not run after money, but to live with knowledge and serve people. Baba often lived on an empty stomach for several days in childhood because nothing was to eat.
He had decided that he would eat half stomach. From the age of 6, Baba used to eat half stomach food and give the remaining half food to the poor. He believed that as if his family members left him, no one else should die of hunger. Therefore, he had put his entire life in the service of the poor.
The world turned around but peace in Varanasi Found
Baba Shivanand roamed abroad separately but he did not find peace like Varanasi. He has an ashram in Varanasi, he lived there.
Baba learned yoga by staying with the Guru and started doing yoga from the age of 6. His guru ordered him a world tour, so he went to different countries for about 34 years. At the time of independence, staying outside the country and teaching yoga to foreign nationals started to maintain themselves. He also saw Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose very closely.
He lived abroad, but his mind was in India. So in the year 1977, he went to Vrindavan. After coming here, he visited the whole of India. Going from place to place taught yoga to people. Finally, he found the atmosphere in Varanasi which he was looking for across the country. Since then Baba came to Varanasi and still started living here. Baba Shivanand used to say that he does not get happiness in big buildings. He felt that the peace in Kashi is nowhere.
This was some stories of Baba Shivanand’s early life, now how was his routine …
Woke up at 3 in the morning, bathed with cold water and used to do yoga for 1 hour
Baba Shivanand used to do hard yoga easily even at the age of 128.
Baba Shivanand’s routine was considered to be the secret of his health. He used to get up every morning at 3 in the morning. Whether it was summer or cold, used to bathe with cold water. After this, he would do yoga for 1 hour. Also used to do Sarvangasana for 3 minutes three times a day. After this, one minute of Shavasana, including Pawan Muktasana and many easy every day.
He used to take food every day at 8 pm and eat food. His disciples say that he used to do all his work himself. Used to wash their utensils and clothes on their own. He also preferred to clean his room himself. Baba used to wear only one dhoti in every season.
Eat neem leaves and boiled food Baba used to like to live life while staying away from all the comforts including delicious dishes. Shivanand Baba’s disciple says that he did not even eat fruits or milk. Shivanand Baba used to eat only boiled food, in which the amount of salt is very low. In dinner, porridge made of barley, potato chokha and boiled vegetables would sleep till 9 o’clock.
Sleeping by laying a mat in the balcony, making a pillow of a wooden slab Baba used to climb twice thirty steps daily. He used to spend days with disciples in a small flat of an old building. At night, he used to sleep in the balcony. Baba’s disciples say that where we all got upset with the heat, Baba did not use AC even in the hot summer nor the blower in the cold.
At the same time, he used to use mat to sleep and make pillows with wooden slabs. This is the reason why seasonal diseases like cold, cough and fever would also stay away from them. He did not even marry.
No one could live in Kali Yuga for so many years
Baba had always told the secret of his such age to eat yoga and plain.
“Can we live like you for such a long life?” Swami Shivanand was asked six years ago during a documentary shoot. He gave a flat reply, “No, never” and said, “This is Kali Yuga… all are greedy.”
Baba believed that if someone wants to live for a long time, then there should be a health priority for him. Even though many types of fitness forms are available today, nothing more natural and beneficial than yoga. Yoga is the best thing for people of all ages. It can be made part of the routine from the age of five. It has a 360-degree effect on your health, whether it is physical, mental or spiritual.
Was honored with Padma Shri, PM Modi bowed down
Three years ago, Baba Shivanand was awarded the Padma Shri. PM Modi also bowed down to him.
The day was 21 March 2022 … Rashtrapati Bhavan’s court hall was echoing with a thunderous applause. The name was called… Swami Shivanand. Then wearing white dhoti-kurta then 125-year-old Shivanand comes and bows to PM Modi. PM Modi also stands with his chair and bowed down with folded hands to Baba Shivanand.
After this, Baba Shivanand bowed to the then President Ramnath Kovind and greeted him. President Kovind raised him with his hands. He was then awarded the Padma Shri Award.
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