128 year old Swami Shivanand Saraswati has been coming to Kumbh Mela for the last 100 years.
Kumbh Mela 2025: Very little time is left for the formal beginning of Mahakumbh. Mahakumbh 2025 is starting tomorrow i.e. from 13th February. Even before its commencement, many saints, sages and devotees are reaching Prayagraj. Meanwhile, at the age of 128, Swami Shivanand Saraswati is mesmerizing the devotees in Mahakumbh and inspiring many with his remarkable life story and simple but profound philosophy. Let us tell you that Swami Shivanand has been coming to the Kumbh Mela for the last 100 years and takes a holy bath on every occasion. They have been coming for darshan and bath in this grand event.
Sharmila Sinha, one of Swami Shivananda’s disciples, said that Swami Shivananda has been coming to the Kumbh Mela for the last 100 years and has been taking the holy bath on each occasion. She said, “I have known Baba since childhood. His lifestyle is very simple. He used to bow to everyone. People do not care about any worldly thing from Baba. He does not take charity and he takes charity from anyone. Baba did not touch money till 1977.”
Was honored with Padma Shri in 2022
It is noteworthy that Swami Shivanand Saraswati is a yoga guru who has been practicing and teaching yoga on the ghats of Kashi. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India on 21 March 2022. To date, he is the oldest person to receive this award. He said, “When the people coming to the Maha Kumbh see Baba at the age of 128, they will get inspiration. Baba has been coming to the Kumbh Mela for the last 100 years and has been taking bath in every Kumbh.”
Swami Sivananda attributes his extraordinary longevity to a life free from desires, devoted entirely to the service of others. His daily routine includes meditation, yoga and a simple diet of boiled food without oil, salt or sugar.
‘My only desire is to serve the poor’
Swami Shivananda Saraswati said, “My birth name is Swami Shivananda and my date of birth is August 8, 1896. I come to every Kumbh Mela because holy people gather there, so I come and benefit from their blessings. There is no desire behind a long life, my only desire is to serve the poor.” Swami Sivananda’s daily routine is a testament to his discipline and his commitment to the spiritual path. He wakes up at 3:00 in the morning, meditates for an hour, then takes a bath and practices yoga for an hour.
He said, “I wake up at three o’clock, then go to the bathroom, take a bath and then do yoga for an hour. Everyone should do yoga for at least half an hour.” When asked what he eats he said, “Only boiled food, no oil, no salt, no sugar.”
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