Who is Baba
Ramdev?
| Swami Ramdevji |
|
| Born |
Ramkishan Yadav
December 25,1965
Haryana, India |
| Nationality |
Indian |
| Occupation |
Yogi |
| Known for |
Efforts in proliferation of Yoga and Ayurveda.
|
Any kid on the street in India can answer
this one - Swami Ramdev or Baba Ramdev as he is popularly referred
to - is the guy seen on televisions across India every morning and
evening - He is biggest interruption for kids watching cartoons and
refers to cola drinks as - 'toilet water'.
Swami Ramdev's TV programs and Yoga camps have proved to be
immensely popular. Attendance at his yoga camps has been quoted as
being up to 20,000 people and viewership is quoted as being 20
million regular viewers.His TV programs are broadcast in several
continents including Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe and America.
Followers of these programs have claimed relief from a variety of
ailments such as blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, spondylitis,
hepatitis and obesity.
His
yoga teaching sessions are for the masses and open to all.
His
stated principle in life is to be of help to all.
One
of the factors that differentiates Swami Ramdev is his emphasis on
teaching and making available the practice of Pranayam
(breathing exercises) for the masses. This is different from other
yoga teachers who place more emphasis on asanas (yoga
postures).
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a world-renowned spiritual leader is
quoted as saying "If an individual can be credited with reviving
yoga in this country (India), it is solely Swami Ramdev. Yoga can
cure even fatal diseases and Swami Ramdev has definitely proved it
time and again. Swami Ramdev has spread yoga to such an extent that
sooner or later, one has to embrace it."
Swami Ramdev's flagship
project, the Patanjali Yog
Peeth (PYP) Trust, was inaugurated on August 6,
2006. It's aim is to build the
world's largest center for Ayurveda and Yoga that includes
facilities for treatment, research and a teaching university. The
trust, most notably, offers free treatment to those who cannot
afford. For all other, the treatment is at lesser costs than
hospitals elsewhere.
Through PYP, Swami Ramdev continues to work with various
institutions and medical organizations in an effort to study and
improve yoga's effectiveness in working against diseases like
diabetes, hypertension, obesity etc.
