More than a year after his death, Swami Sivananda continues to inspire millions across India and beyond. The Padma Shri awardee, yoga guru and spiritual teacher, who died on 3 May 2025 at a claimed age of 128, remains one of the most talked-about figures in India’s Yoga and wellness space even in 2026.From his unbelievably disciplined lifestyle to his message of simplicity, service and Yoga, Baba Sivananda’s story still resonates strongly in a world obsessed with fast living, luxury and constant stress.Even today, videos of the elderly monk gracefully bowing before Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Padma Awards ceremony continue to circulate online, with many calling him the true face of humility and spiritual strength.The monk who inspired modern India with ancient disciplineSwami Sivananda became a national sensation in 2022 after receiving the Padma Shri from the Government of India. Dressed in a simple white dhoti and kurta, the Yoga saint stunned the country with his fitness, flexibility and calm presence despite reportedly being over 125 years old.The moment became iconic when he bowed before then-President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi, who immediately stood up and returned the gesture with folded hands.That image, a frail-looking but energetic spiritual teacher moving with surprising agility, quickly became symbolic of India’s ancient wellness traditions.When PM Narendra Modi had hailed Swami Sivananda’s fitness and Yoga disciplineBack in 2022, when Swami Sivananda received the Padma Shri award, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly praised the yoga saint’s agility, discipline and dedication to healthy living.Speaking during an episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said the life of Baba Sivananda was “an inspiration for all of us” and highlighted his passion for Yoga and healthy lifestyle practices.The Prime Minister had also recalled the memorable moment during the Padma Awards ceremony when the elderly monk bowed down respectfully before then-President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi himself. The gesture quickly went viral across India, with many social media users amazed by the flexibility and fitness of a man claimed to be over 125 years old.PM Modi had remarked that many people online believed Baba Sivananda appeared fitter than individuals “four times younger” than him.Swami Sivananda’s early life marked by poverty and hardshipAccording to publicly available accounts, Swami Sivananda was born into extreme poverty. His parents reportedly survived through begging, and tragedy struck early in his life when his mother, father and sister all died within a month of each other when he was only six years old.Afterward, he travelled from Bengal to Kashi, now known as Varanasi, where he eventually began his spiritual journey under Guru Omkarananda Goswami.He later stayed at an ashram in Nabadwip in West Bengal, where he received practical and spiritual education, including Yoga training. Reports state he never received formal school education.Yoga teacher served leprosy patients and poor people for decadesFor more than three decades, Swami Sivananda reportedly taught Yoga on the banks of the River Ganga in Varanasi.Apart from promoting Yoga and meditation, he also devoted decades to helping poor and marginalised people, especially beggars affected by leprosy. Reports suggest he supported between 400 and 600 people over more than 50 years by arranging food, clothing, blankets, mosquito nets and cooking utensils.His followers often described him as deeply committed to humanitarian service alongside spiritual practice.Swami Sivananda’s simple lifestyle fascinated IndiaOne of the biggest reasons Swami Sivananda attracted national attention was his extremely disciplined and minimalist way of living.According to Rashtrapati Bhavan’s note released during the Padma Awards, the monk woke up daily at around 3 am, slept on a mat placed on the floor and used a wooden slab as a pillow.Standing around 1.58 metres tall, he reportedly performed Yoga every day without assistance and had no major medical complications despite his claimed age.Swami Sivananda also followed a strict vegetarian diet. He reportedly avoided fruit and milk because he considered them “fancy food” and instead preferred basic meals consisting of boiled rice and lentils.Swami Sivananda and the Padma Shri honourIn March 2022, Swami Sivananda received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, from the Government of India.The Padma Shri ceremony became widely discussed after videos showed the elderly yoga guru kneeling before the President and Prime Minister in a display of humility and grace.He was widely described as one of the oldest recipients ever to receive the Padma Shri award.Swami Sivananda leaves behind a legacy built around Yoga, simplicity, discipline, spirituality and social service.Inputs from agencies