Padma Shri Awardee Yoga Guru Baba Shivanand Dies at 128 in Varanasi

Varanasi (The Uttam Hindu): Padma Shri awarded 128-year-old yoga guru Baba Shivanand died at 8:45 pm on Saturday night. He was admitted to Banaras Hindu University Hospital for the last three days due to breathing problems. Baba Shivanand lived a life full of simplicity, yoga and celibacy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also impressed by his yoga practice. On 21 March 2022, he was awarded the country's fourth highest civilian honor Padma Shri, and he became the oldest person to receive this honor.

 He was born on 8 August 1896 in Srihatti in present-day Bangladesh. Born in a begging Brahmin family, Shivanand was handed over to spiritual guru Baba Omkarananda Goswami by his parents at the age of 4. After the death of his family due to hunger at the age of 6, he embarked on the spiritual path and followed celibacy throughout his life.

Baba lived in Kabir Nagar Ashram located in Bhelupur, Durgakund. His last rites will be performed at Harishchandra Ghat in Varanasi. Baba Shivanand used to come to Varanasi to vote in every election and recently he also took a bath in Sangam in Prayagraj Kumbh.