Meet the yoga guru who has attended every Kumbh Mela for 100 years—you won’t believe his age

Swami Sivananda Baba is a Padma Shri awardee and renowned yoga practitioner

Swami Sivananda Baba, a Padma Shri awardee and renowned yoga practitioner, has been a devoted attendee of every Kumbh Mela held in Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain, and Haridwar for the past 100 years, as confirmed by his disciple, Sanjay Sarvajana.

At his camp on Sangam Lower Road in Sector 16 during the Maha Kumbh, a banner displayed Swami Sivananda's Aadhaar card, which lists his birth date as August 8, 1896. While the revered yogi spent his morning meditating in his chamber, disciples gathered outside, eagerly awaiting his darshan.

Phalgun Bhattacharya, a disciple from Bengaluru, told PTI that Swami Sivananda was born into extreme poverty. His parents often entrusted him to visiting saints, hoping he would receive food. When he was four years old, they permanently handed him over to Saint Omkarananda Goswami.

Tragedy struck when Swami Sivananda returned to visit his family at the saint’s request. His sister passed away upon his arrival, and within a week, both his parents also died. Swami Sivananda performed their last rites on a single pyre, after which Saint Omkarananda became his guardian.

Until the age of four, Swami Sivananda had never seen milk, fruits, or bread. This simplicity shaped his disciplined lifestyle: eating only half a meal, sleeping at 9 PM, rising at 3 AM, and dedicating his mornings to yoga and meditation. He refrains from napping during the day, maintaining a life of austerity.

Hiraman Biswas, a disciple from Delhi, recounted a remarkable story of Swami Sivananda’s spiritual abilities. A hungry devotee was served kheer in an earthen bowl by the Swami. Though the portion seemed small, the devotee found himself unable to finish it and fell at Swami Sivananda’s feet, overwhelmed by the experience.

Biswas also shared his personal astonishment at Baba’s fitness. During their first meeting in Chandigarh in 2010, despite staying on the sixth floor of a building with non-functional elevators, Swami Sivananda climbed the stairs daily with ease.

Swami Sivananda was awarded the Padma Shri without any personal application, a recognition hailed by his devotees as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to honor India’s unsung heroes. Baba lives a simple life in Varanasi’s Kabir Nagar, eating boiled food without oil or salt, avoiding milk and its derivatives, and refusing donations.

Swami Sivananda advocates for a disciplined lifestyle, urging young people to rise early, dedicate 30 minutes to yoga daily, and prioritize physical activity. “Many suffer due to unhealthy habits. Walking every day is essential for good health,” he emphasized.

After completing his stay at the Maha Kumbh Mela, the revered seer will return to his home in Varanasi, continuing to inspire countless followers with his wisdom and way of life.

(With inputs from PTI)