New Delhi: The Mahakumbh Mela this year has started from January 13 and it will go on till February 26. One of the largest festivals of the Hindus, it is being held in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj and crores of people are visiting the Mahakumbh to take a holy dip as it is believed to wash away all sins, helping to attain salvation. The Mahakumbh is witnessing the visit of several unique monks who have garnered attention among the pilgrims for their interesting lives and personalities. One of them is Swami Sivananda Baba, whose life story and determination have not only been applauded by the common people by also by the Government of India.
Who is Swami Sivananda Baba?
Swami Sivananda Baba is a yoga practitioner and a recipient of Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award who has this incredible distinction of attending every Kumbh Mela across Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain for the past 100 years. This fact has been confirmed by his disciple Sanjay Sarvajana as per a PTI report. Notably, there is a banner outside the camp of the Baba on Sector 16’s Sangam Lower Road which displays his Aadhaar card. As per the card, the date of birth of Swami Sivananda Baba is August 8, 1896. While the Baba was engrossed in meditation and yoga in the morning in his chamber, his disciples waited outside to a glimpse of the revered monk during the Mahakumbh Mela.
Swami Sivananda Baba and a difficult childhood
A disciple of Swami Sivananda Baba from Bengaluru named Phalgun Bhattacharya told PTI that the monk was born into an extremely poor family and when he was four years old, his family handed him over to Saint Omkarananda Goswami. When Swami Sivananda Baba was six years old, he returned to visit his family and then, tragedy struck. His sister died shortly after his return, and within a week, both his parents passed away. He performed their last rites on a single pyre and Saint Omkarananda became his sole guardian.
A disciplined lifestyle
According to Bhattacharya, Swami Sivananda did not see milk, fruits or bread until the age of four and his childhood struggles played a big role in shaping his disciplined lifestyle. He sleeps at 9 pm, rises at 3 am, dedicates his mornings to yoga and meditation and eats only half a meal. He does not take a nap during the day and leads a life of austerity.
Hiraman Biswas, a disciple from Delhi, told PTI that the Baba has profound spiritual abilities and he gave an example through an incident. Once, a famished devotee arrived and Baba served kheer in an earthen bowl. He claimed that the devotee called it insufficient but the Baba asked him to eat it. Soon, it was found the devotee could not finish it and overwhelmed by the experience, he fell at Baba’s feet. Also, Biswas, who first met Swami Sivananda in 2010 in Chandigarh, was amazed by his fitness. Swami Sivananda lived on the sixth floor of a building whose elevators did not work, and he used to climb the stairs daily with ease.
A message from the Padma Shri recipient
On March 21, 2022, Swami Sivananda received the Padma Shri and as per the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he was 125 years old at that time. According to a devotee, he received the award without any application which shows PM Narendra Modi’s ability in identifying and honouring gems like Baba. The revered seer’s disciples has stated that Baba lives a simple life in Varanasi’s Kabir Nagar, refuses donations, eats boiled food without oil or salt and avoids milk and its derivatives. He will return home after completing his stay at the Mahakumbh Mela.
Swami Sivananda, a revered saint who continues to inspire countless people with his wisdom, has a message for the youth. He urged young people to start their day early and dedicate at least 30 minutes to yoga. He emphasized them to maintain a proper lifestyle as many people suffer due to lack of physical activity and unhealthy habits. He said that walking everyday is necessary for good health.
Swami Sivananda Baba, a 129-year-old Padma Shri awardee, is a prominent figure at the 2025 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. His remarkable life journey, marked by poverty, resilience, and unwavering devotion to yoga and meditation, inspires millions. Despite his age, he maintains an incredibly disciplined lifestyle. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
