New Delhi: Swami Sivananda, a 125-year-old yoga guru from Kashi, received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday for his contribution to the field of Yoga.
The yoga guru, dressed in white kurta and dhoti, bowed down before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President at the ceremony, drawing a round of applause from the guests.
Swami Sivananda's disciplined life, including early morning yoga, oil-free boiled diet and selfless service to mankind, has permitted him to lead a disease-free life.
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He demonstrates his life as an exemplary lesson rather than preaching, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan document on Padma awardees.
Swami Sivananda, born on August 8, 1896, in Sylhet district (now Bangladesh) of undivided India, lost his mother and father at the age of six.
Due to poverty, his beggar parents could feed him only boiled rice in his childhood.
He was imparted spiritual education, including yoga, by Guru Omkarananda Goswami at Nabadwip in West Bengal.
He has been a positive thinker throughout his life. His belief is "the world is my home, its people are my fathers and mothers, to love and serve them is my religion".
According to the Rashtrapati Bhavan document, Swami Sivananda is still chasing that mission till today to serve the underprivileged in different parts of the country - in North East India, at Varanasi, Puri, Haridwar, Nabadwip and so on.
For the last 50 years, Swami Sivananda has been serving 400-600 leprosy-affected beggars at Puri.
"He perceives them as living God and serves them with the best available items. He arranges different materials like food items, fruits, clothes, winter garments, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils based on their expressed need," the document said.
Swami Sivananda's healthy and long life has garnered attention from across the globe. He has been a vocal supporter of Covid-19 vaccination after himself getting inoculated at the age of 125 years.
Hospitals across the nation have performed complimentary master health check-ups to assess the structural and functional status of his vital organs and systems to observe his lifestyle.
Swami Sivananda has pointed out different yoga and exercises as means of his healthy and long life.
Swami Sivananda has been honoured with various awards, including the Yoga Ratna Award in 2019 at Bengaluru, PTI reported. He was the senior-most participant from the country at the yoga demonstration on June 21, the World Yoga Day in 2019.
He was awarded with Basundhara Ratan Award by Respect Age International for his contribution to society on 30 November 2019.
(With PTI inputs)