Kumbh Mela 2025: Very little time is left for the formal start of Maha Kumbh. Maha Kumbh 2025 is starting tomorrow i.e. from 13 February. Even before its start, many saints, sadhus, devotees are reaching Prayagraj. Meanwhile, at the age of 128, Swami Shivanand Saraswati is mesmerizing the devotees in Maha Kumbh and inspiring many with his remarkable life story and simple but profound philosophy. Let us tell you that Swami Shivanand has been coming to Kumbh Mela for the last 100 years and takes a holy bath on every occasion. He has been coming to this grand event for darshan and bath.

Sharmila Sinha, one of Swami Sivananda's disciples, said that Swami Sivananda had been visiting the Kumbh Mela for the past 100 years and taking the holy dip on each occasion. She said, "I have known Baba since childhood. His lifestyle is very simple. He would bow to everyone. People do not care about any worldly thing with Baba. He does not take donations and he accepts donations from anyone. Baba did not touch money till 1977."

Was honored with Padma Shri in 2022

It is worth noting that Swami Sivananda Saraswati is a yoga guru who has been practicing and teaching yoga on the ghats of Kashi. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India on 21 March 2022. To date, he is the oldest person to receive this award. He said, "When people coming to Maha Kumbh will see Baba at the age of 128, they will get inspiration. Baba has been coming to the Kumbh Mela for the last 100 years and has been taking a bath in every Kumbh."

Swami Sivananda attributes his extraordinary longevity to a life free of desires, devoted entirely to the service of others. His daily routine includes meditation, yoga, and a simple diet of boiled food without oil, salt, or sugar.

 'My only wish is to serve the poor'

Swami Sivananda Saraswati said, "My birth name is Swami Sivananda and my date of birth is August 8, 1896. I come to every Kumbh Mela because holy people gather there, so I come and take benefit from their blessings. There is no desire for long life, my only desire is to serve the poor." Swami Sivananda's daily routine is a testimony to his discipline and his commitment to the spiritual path. He wakes up at 3:00 a.m., meditates for an hour, then takes a bath and practices yoga for an hour.

He said, "I wake up at three, then go to the bathroom, take a bath and then do yoga for an hour. Everyone should do yoga for at least half an hour." When asked what he eats he said, "Only boiled food, no oil, no salt, no sugar."