Swami Sivananda, a 125-year-old yoga icon and Padma Shri awardee, lives a simple lifestyle, eats a basic diet, and selflessly helps others.
On Monday. Swami Sivananda, a 125-year-old yogi, was barefooted when he had entered the Darbar Hall at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It drew the attention of everyone in the room.
He kneeled in front of the Prime Minister and President before and after receiving the award. Swamiji dressed simply in a white kurta and dhoti. This demonstrates his humility even at this age.
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Swami Sivananda was born in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, in August 1896. He has written 296 books on yoga, Vedanta, and other topics.
Swami’s publications placed a strong focus on the practical application of yoga philosophy rather than academic understanding. According to a Rashtrapati Bhawan article on Padma Awardees, the 125-year-old yoga hero is still healthy enough to practice yoga for hours.
Early Life of Swami
Swami Sivananda’s parents and sister died before he was six. Therefore, he refused his family’s funeral ceremonies and chose celibacy. His relatives sent him to a Guru. He did send to Nabadwip Ashram in West Bengal.
Guru Omkarananda Goswami raised Swami. Without schooling, he taught him practical and spiritual skills, including yoga. Swami toured 34 different nations, including Europe, Russia, and Australia.
Swami dedicated his life to serving society. He spent a lot of time doing yoga, being disciplined, and being a monk.
Swami’s Daily Routine and Eating Habits
Swami awakens as early as 3 a.m. every day and follows a strict schedule. Sivananda, who stands at 1.58 meters tall, sleeps on the floor on a mat with a wooden slab as a cushion. He is in excellent health, does yoga daily, and is self-sufficient in all rituals.
He lives a humble life, eats a simple diet, and helps others selflessly. During his childhood, he had to go to bed hungry. Yet his family could afford to give him boiled rice and water.
Swamiji’s Philosophy
‘The world is my home, its inhabitants are my parents, and loving and serving them is my religion,’ he thinks.
He has been teaching and doing Yoga at Kashi ghats for over 30 years.
Swami is helping leprosy patients in Puri for 50 years, dedicating his life to humanitarian work. He sees them as living gods and serves them with the finest. His good health and long life have drawn national and worldwide attention.
He provides various resources such as food, fruits, clothing, winter coats, blankets, mosquito nets, and cooking utensils depending on their declared need,” it claimed.
“Yoga is the route to a healthy existence, it governs the senses, mind, and will. It leads to God and divinity,” Swami feels.
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Honors and recognition
Swami Sivananda has received several honors, including the Yoga Ratna Award in Bengaluru in 2019. On June 21, 2019, World Yoga Day, he was the country’s most senior participant. On November 30, 2019, Respect Age International presented him with the Basundhara Ratan Award for his social service.
Swami is still assisting the poor in North-East India, at Varanasi, Puri, Haridwar, Nabadwip, and other places, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan documentation on Padma honorees.
Published By: Manan Khurana
Edited By: Subbuthai Padma
