Sivananda (yoga teacher)

Indian yoga teacher (died 2025)

Not to be confused with Sivananda Saraswati.

Swami

Sivananda

Personal life
Born| 8 August 1896 (unverified)

Sylhet District, North-East Frontier, British India
(present day Sylhet Division, Bangladesh)[1]

Died| 3 May 2025

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Nationality| Indian
Occupation| Yoga teacher
Honours| Padma Shri
Religious life
Religion| Hinduism

Sivananda (died 3 May 2025), also known as Swami Sivananda, was an Indian yoga teacher, who claimed to have been born on 8 August 1896 in Sylhet District of Bengal Presidency of British India. On 21 March 2022, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India.[2]

## Biography

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Sivananda was alleged to have been born on 8 August 1896, although this has not been independently verified.[3] He was born in Sylhet District of Bengal Presidency of British India (present-day Sylhet Division of Bangladesh).

His parents lived in extreme poverty and had to beg for their living. His sister, mother, and father all died within a month of each other when he was just six years old. Then he travelled to Kashi from Bengal and began serving there. Swami Sivananda mastered yoga and meditation after receiving his education from Guru Omkarananda.[4]

For over three decades, he taught yoga on the banks of the river Ganga in Varanasi. Over fifty years he served 400–600 beggars affected by leprosy. He arranged food, fruits, clothes, winter garments, blankets, mosquito nets, and cooking utensils for their needs. He also promoted Yoga.[5]

Sivananda was a vegetarian.[6] He called fruit and milk fancy food and avoided eating them, instead preferring lentils and rice.[3]

Sivananda died on 3 May 2025.[7]

## Awards

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Sivananda was the recipient of several awards including the Yoga Ratna Award, the Basundhara Ratan Award (2019). On 21 March 2022, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India.[5]

## See also

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* List of Padma Shri award recipients (2020–2029)

## References

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1. ^ "Who is Swami Sivananda, the 127-year old Padma Shri awardee whom every Indian must know". Asianet Newsable. 22 March 2022.
2. ^ "Watch: Swami Sivananda receives Padma Shri for his contribution in Yoga". The Economic Times. 21 March 2022.
3. ^ a b "India's 'oldest man ever' says yoga, celibacy key to long life". The Hindu. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
4. ^ "The 125-year-old yogi winning hearts: Who is Swami Sivananda, the oldest man ever to receive a Padma Shri?". Firstpost. 22 March 2022.
5. ^ a b "Watch: Yoga Guru, 125, Bows To PM, President Before Receiving Padma Shri". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
6. ^ Jain, Aishvarya (22 March 2022). "'Be brave, be vegetarian', says Padma Shri awardee Swami Sivananda"". Times Now. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022.
7. ^ "Yoga guru, Padma Shri awardee Swami Sivananda dies at 128 in Varanasi". Hindustan Times.