Padma Shri 128-year-old yoga guru Baba Shivanand passed away

Varanasi: 128-year-old yoga guru Baba Shivanand died in Varanasi at 8.45 pm on Saturday. He was admitted to BHU for the last three days, he had trouble breathing. Baba Shivanand dedicated his entire life to yoga practice. He lived a simple life and followed celibacy throughout his life. PM Modi himself was also a fan of Shivanand Baba’s yoga practice. He was awarded the Padma Shri on March 21, 2022. He is the oldest person to be awarded the Padma Shri.

Baba Shivanand lived in Kabir Nagar in Durgakund area in Bhelupur, Varanasi. His ashram is here. He will be cremated at Harishchandra Ghat in Varanasi. There was also a sad story in such a long life journey of Baba Shivanand. He was born on 8 August 1896 in Srihatti, West Bengal, in a beggar Brahmin Goswami family. At present, this place is located in Bangladesh. His parents used to earn their livelihood by begging. At the age of four, Shivanand Baba’s parents handed him over to Baba Omkarananda Goswami, a resident of Navadwip, for his betterment.

When Shivanand was 6 years old, his parents and sister died due to hunger, after which he learned spirituality under the guidance of his guru and followed celibacy throughout his life with his inspiration. Baba Shivanand continued to practice yoga throughout his life. He used to eat simple food and follow a lifestyle like yogis. Wherever he lived, he never forgot to come to Varanasi on the day of elections and exercise his right to vote. He also took a dip of faith in the holy Sangam by reaching Prayagraj Mahakumbh earlier this year.

Despite being so old, he used to do the most difficult yoga asanas easily. He was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Baba Shivanand used to leave his bed every day between 3 and 4 in the morning. Then he used to meditate and do yoga after taking a bath. He used to take only simple and boiled food in his diet. He did not eat rice. He used to say that by the grace of God, he has no attachment or stress towards anything. He used to say that desire is the cause of all problems. Baba Shivanand never went to school and whatever he learned, he learned from his Guruji. He also spoke English very well.

On March 21, 2022, if anyone was discussed the most in the Padma awards given by the President to 128 personalities in Delhi, then it was Baba Shivanand of Varanasi. He was awarded the Padma Shri. It was the simplicity of Baba Shivanand that he went to Rashtrapati Bhavan barefoot to receive the award. After being awarded the Padma Shri, he expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi by sitting on his knees. PM Modi also left his chair and bowed down in his honor. When Baba Shivanand bowed before the President, the then President Ramnath Kovind bowed and raised him up.