Updated : 05-05-2025
Author : Kritika sewag
Padma Shri awardee Baba Sivanand passed away at the age of 128 on the night of May 3, 2025, in Varanasi.
The yoga guru had been receiving treatment at the BHU Hospital. He was a mentor to many, and his disciplines and way of living are a legacy to all the Indians.
10 Interesting Facts About Baba Sivanand
Born on August 8, 1896, in Kashi, he devoted his life to yoga, meditation, and spiritual growth.
He belonged to a brahmin Bengali family. They were Vashnavites.
The Padma Shri national awardee was recognised for his work in society because of his dedication to holistic wellness and traditional Indian values.
1. At the age of 128, he was recognised as the oldest person in the world.
2. At the age of 4, he was initiated into yoga and spiritual practices by Saint Omkarananda Goswami.
3. He was awarded awards like Yog Ratna, Basundra Ratna, and Padmashri.
4. He never ate breakfast after turning 100 years old, as his appetite was reducing.
5. He served people with leprosy, physical disabilities, and mental illness without accepting donations.
6. His family lived in complete destitution, so they had to survive through begging. When he was only six years old, his sister was followed by his mother, and then his father passed away within a month.
7. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2022 as recognition for his social service dedicated to yoga promotion.
8. Baba Sivanand used to travel abroad, delivering motivational speeches to spread his knowledge. However, he later abandoned this pursuit, realising that it lacked a deeper, meaningful purpose.
9. His disciples explain his long life through his strict way of living. Every morning at 3 a.m., he practised yoga before doing all his daily work independently..
Baba Sivanand chose boiled food as his only sustenance while sleeping on a basic mat to demonstrate his belief in living minimally.
10. For a man in excellent health, he never used medications and led a simple life, connecting to nature, humans, and God.
In many interviews, he said that his secret to longevity is not wanting the material world. He expressed his love and empathy towards poor people and served them with selflessness.
Babaji taught his devotees the path of self-realisation and happiness with his practices.
He believed that this life is made to be lived fully as God’s gifts and not chasing material things. He inspired many people and his devotees.
