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Time of India
05-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mortal remains of Yoga guru Swami Sivananda consigned to flames
1 2 3 4 Varanasi: The mortal remains of Yoga Guru Padma Shri Swami Sivananda were consigned to flames at Harischandra Ghat on Monday evening. His disciples, including two women, performed his last rites. Swami Sivananda died of pneumonia and subsequent cardiac arrest late Saturday. He was 129. His cremation was delayed due to differences of opinion among his disciples and followers about whether he should be cremated or given a Samadhi. However, after his disciples and followers failed to find a suitable place to give him Bhusamadhi by Monday afternoon, they unanimously decided to cremate his mortal remains. The funeral procession was taken out from Sivananda Baba Ashram in Kabirnagar Durgakund area according to Bengali customs . Scores of disciples, followers of the Yoga Guru, dignitaries, and locals joined the funeral procession, which culminated at Harischandra Ghat in the evening. Local BJP MLA Saurabh Srivastava and Kashi ADCP T Sarvanan offered floral tributes to him before the mortal remains were placed on the pyre. Later, his disciples— Hiramani Vishwash, Sanjay Sarvajna, Purushottam Bhattacharya, Mamoni Didi, Sushant, and Sarmila— who arrived from London, lit the funeral pyre . Earlier, uncertainty persisted over the mode of his last rites due to differences in opinion among his disciples and followers. After consulting some seers, one group decided to give Bhusamadhi (bury) his mortal remains, while another group favoured Jalsamadhi, as it is given to sages after their death. Due to these differences of opinion, the initial decision to cremate Swami's mortal remains at Manikarnika Ghat on Monday morning was postponed, said Debashish Das of Bangiya Samaj, who is also associated with Swami's ashram. On Monday morning, the search for a suitable place to give him Bhusamadhi began. When no suitable place was found within the city area, options on the city outskirts were explored, especially in Ramna. However, the disciples and followers did not find any land that met their expectations, after which they returned and held another meeting, where it was unanimously decided to cremate the mortal remains at Harischandra Ghat, added Das. Born on August 8, 1896, in the erstwhile district of Srihatta (now in Bangladesh), Swami spent his life in Varanasi's Kabirnagar since 1979 and had followers in different countries. From 1925 to 1959, he spent his days in France, Greece, Malta, Japan, and other foreign countries. Swami used to start his day at 3 am, and after practising yoga, he indulged in worshipping, reading books, and chanting hymns. Dependent on only boiled rice, boiled water, and boiled vegetables, Swami also loved to walk up to the ghats to take a dip in the Ganga. Before coming to the limelight in 2022, when he was honoured with a Padma Shri, he surprised even vaccinators by reaching the primary health centre to get the Covid-19 vaccine in June 2021. However, following pneumonia and other complications, Swami Sivananda was admitted to BHU Hospital on April 30. Apart from PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath, Union home minister Amit Shah also condoled his demise, terming it an irreparable loss.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PM, CM condole demise of yoga guru Swami Sivananda
1 2 Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday condoled the demise of 129-year-old yoga guru and Padma Shri recipient Swami Sivananda , who died of pneumonia and subsequent cardiac arrest at SSL Hospital of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Saturday night. "I am deeply saddened by the demise of yoga practitioner and Kashi resident, Sivanand Baba Ji. His life, dedicated to yoga and meditation, will continue to inspire every generation in the country. His departure to the divine abode is an irreparable loss for all of us in Kashi and the millions who drew inspiration from him. He was honoured with Padma Shri for his service to society through yoga. I pay my respects to him in this moment of grief," PM Modi said in a post on X. "The demise of the renowned yoga guru from Kashi, who made an unparalleled contribution to the field of yoga, is deeply saddening. His dedication and life immersed in yoga serve as a great inspiration to society," CM Yogi Adityanath posted on X. His cremation will take place at Manikarnika Ghat on Monday morning, said Debashish Das of Bangiya Samaj, who is also associated with the ashram.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Swami Sivananda will continue to inspire every generation in country: PM Modi
Varanasi: Yoga guru , Swami Sivananda , the 129-year-old recipient, died of pneumonia and subsequent cardiac arrest at SSL Hospital of BHU Saturday night. His cremation will take place at Manikarnika Ghat on Monday morning, said Debashish Das of Bangiya Samaj, who is also associated with the ashram. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He mentioned, "Some of his followers have started from as far as London to take part in his funeral, while several are arriving from Assam and other northeast states, so it was decided to cremate him on Monday." As news of his demise spread, his followers started reaching the hospital late Saturday night. In their messages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled his demise, while a large number of people, public representatives and officials kept reaching his 'Sivanand Baba Ashram' in Kabirnagar to offer tributes. On Sunday morning, the PM mourned his passing away on his X post, stating, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of yoga practitioner and resident, Sivanand Baba Ji. His life, dedicated to yoga and meditation, will continue to inspire every generation in the country. His departure to the divine abode is an irreparable loss for all of us in Kashi and the millions who drew inspiration from him. He was honoured with the Padma Shri for his service to society through yoga. I pay my respects to him in this moment of grief." Paying humble tributes to him through his X post, the CM said, "The passing of the renowned yoga guru from Kashi, who made an unparalleled contribution to the field of yoga, is deeply saddening. His dedication and life immersed in yoga serve as a great inspiration to the entire society." Many public representatives, including BJP MLAs Neelkanth Tiwari and Saurabh Srivastava and district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, reached the ashram too. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Born on Aug 8, 1896, in the erstwhile district of Srihatta (now in Bangladesh), Swami Sivananda lived in Varanasi's Kabirnagar Bhelupur area since 1979. A spiritual guru who loved to lead a life of simplicity, Swami Sivananda had followers in different countries. From 1925 to 1959, he spent his days in France, Greece, Malta, Japan and other foreign countries. Regarding his daily routine, Swami Sivananda used to say that he started his day at 3 am and practised yoga, especially 'ardhchandra aasan', 'pranayam' and several free-hand exercises, for an hour or two daily, before worshipping and reading books. A major part of his day was spent chanting hymns. Dependent on only boiled rice, boiled water and boiled vegetables, Swami Sivananda also loved to walk up to the ghats to take a dip in the Ganga. Over five decades, Swami Sivananda dedicated himself to caring for 400-600 leprosy-affected individuals who lived as beggars. He consistently participated in all Kumbh Melas across Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain and Haridwar for the past 100 years. He attended the Jan-Feb Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Swami Sivananda's followers emphasised his humble nature and spiritual dedication. He never accepted any monetary offerings. In 2022, Sivananda was honoured with Padma Shri by then President Ram Nath Kovind, prompting the audience to rise and applaud. The yoga practitioner's gesture of prostrating in front of the President and PM drew further appreciation, with attendees applauding once again during the ceremony. Before this, he surprised even vaccinators by reaching the primary health centre to get the Covid-19 vaccine in Jun 2021. Following pneumonia and other complications, Swami Sivananda was admitted to BHU Hospital on Apr 30.
