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Not to be confused with Sivananda Saraswati.

Sivananda, also known as Swami Sivananda, is a yoga teacher from India, who has claimed to be born on August 8th 1896 (unverified) in Sylhet District of Bengal Presidency of British India. On 21 March 2022, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India.[2]

Biography

Sivananda is alleged to have been born on August 8th 1896, although this has not been independently verified. Indian media have taken his claimed date of birth at face value but credible sources supporting/contravening the same are lacking.[3] He was born in Sylhet District of Bengal Presidency of British India (present-day Sylhet Division of Bangladesh).

His parents lived in extreme poverty and had to beg for their living. His sister, mother, and father all died within a month of each other when he was just six years old. Then he travelled to Kashi from Bengal and began serving there. Swami Sivananda mastered yoga and meditation after receiving his education from Guru Omkarananda.[4]

For over three decades, he has taught yoga on the banks of river Ganga in Varanasi. Over the last fifty years he has served 400–600 beggars affected by leprosy. He arranges food, fruits, clothes, winter garments, blankets, mosquito nets, and cooking utensils for their needs. He promotes Yoga.[5]

Sivananda is a vegetarian.[6] He calls fruit and milk fancy food and avoids eating them, instead preferring lentils and rice.[3]

Awards

Sivananda is the recipient of several awards including the Yoga Ratna Award, the Basundhara Ratan Award (2019). In 21 March 2022, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Who is Swami Sivananda, the 127-year old Padma Shri awardee whom every Indian must know". Asianet Newsable. 22 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Watch: Swami Sivananda receives Padma Shri for his contribution in Yoga". The Economic Times. 21 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "India's 'oldest man ever' says yoga, celibacy key to long life". The Hindu. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. ^ "The 125-year-old yogi winning hearts: Who is Swami Sivananda, the oldest man ever to receive a Padma Shri?". Firstpost. 22 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Watch: Yoga Guru, 125, Bows To PM, President Before Receiving Padma Shri". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. ^ Jain, Aishvarya (22 March 2022). "'Be brave, be vegetarian', says Padma Shri awardee Swami Sivananda"". Times Now. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022.
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