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Swami Ramdev
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Swami Ramdev
Swami Ramdev
Born Ramkishan Yadav
Haryana, India
Residence Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Yogi
Known for proliferation of Pranayama, Yoga and Ayurveda. Leading the
Bharat Swabhiman Andolan (Mission) to eradicate corruption from India
and restore prosperity in the country.
Ramkishan Yadav (date of birth unknown) popularly known as Swami
Ramdev (Hindi: स्वामी रामदेव), is an Indian Hindu swami. He is
particularly known for his efforts in popularizing Yoga as it is
enunciated in Patanjali‘s Yoga Sutras. He is also one of the founders
of the Divya Yog Mandir Trust headquartered in Haridwar, that aims to
popularize Yoga and offer Ayurvedic treatments. The New York Times
calls him an “Indian who built Yoga Empire”, “a product and symbol of
the New India, a yogic fusion of Richard Simmons, Dr. Oz and Oprah
Winfrey, irrepressible and bursting with Vedic wisdom”.[1]
His camps are attended by a large number of people. Over 85 million
people[2] follow his yoga camps via TV channels and video. His yoga
teaching sessions are for the masses and free for all. His stated
principle in life is to be of help to everybody.
Early life
Shri Swami Ramdev ji was born in the [Mahendragarh] district of the
Indian state of the Haryana[citation needed] to a impoverished farmer,
Shri Ramniwas Yadav Ji and his wife, Srimati Gulab Devi Yadav. As a
child he suffered from paralysis. He stated on air[citation needed]
that it was through yoga that he was able to regain the full
functionality of his body again.
He attended school till the eighth standard(class) in Shahbajpur. He
then joined an aarsh gurukul in Khanpur village to study Sanskrit and
Yoga. He was taught there by acharya Shri Pradyuman ji. Eventually, he
assumed Sanyas (or monastic living), taking his present name. He then
moved to Jind district and joined the aarsh gurukul Kalva and started
offering free Yoga training to villagers across Haryana. At gurukul
kalva he was taught by acharya (grand master) Shri Baldev Ji maharaj.
Work
Swami Ramdev, started relentless efforts to popularise Yoga in 1995
with the establishment of Divya Yoga Mandir Trust, along with Acharya
Karamveer and Acharya Balkrishna. While Karamveer is well-versed in
Yoga and the Vedas, Balkrishna is a physician with a degree in
Ayurveda. Ramdev became the president of the trust, Karamveer the
deputy president and Balkrishna the general secretary. The objective
of the trust was to reach Yoga in every part of the country and cure
as many patients as possible. With this he began activities in health
and spiritual pursuits and has cured many incurable diseases since
then. ,(However now Acharya Karamveer has left the Divya Yog Mandir
Trust and is practicing his mission individually and separately at
Mumbai.)
Swami Ramdev’s TV program “Om Yog Sadhana” on Zee Jagran Tv( program
promoted by Mr. Mrituenjay Sharma (producer and director)) and Ashtha
Tv made him quite popular with the people. His TV programs and Yog
camps have proved to be immensely popular. Attendance at his Yog camps
has been quoted as being up to 20,000 people.[3] Among the many
locations, Swamiji was invited and has conducted a Yoga camp at the
Rashtrapati Bhavan – the residence of the President of India.[3]
His TV program is broadcast in several continents including Africa,
Australia, Asia, Europe and America. Executives at the TV channel
carrying Swami Ramdev’s program have reported immense demand for the
show.[3] Viewership is quoted as being 20 million regular viewers.[3]
Followers of these programs claim to have found relief from a variety
of ailments such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar,
spondylitis, hepatitis and obesity.[3]
One of the factors that differentiates Swami Ramdev is his emphasis on
teaching and making available the practice of Pranayama (yoga
breathing exercises) for the masses.[3] This is different from other
yoga teachers who place more emphasis on asanas (yoga postures).[3]
Comprehensive video demonstration of Pranayam The practice of
‘praanaayaama’ and ‘Yukt aahaara’ (specific diet) for providing
health, which Baba Ramdev demonstrates, is well-established in Indian
traditions.[4]
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.”[3]
Patanjali Yog Peeth
The Patanjali YogPeeth
Charak Monument on the campus
Swami Ramdev’s flagship project, the Patanjali Yogpeeth (PYP) Trust,
was inaugurated on August 6, 2006. Its aim is to build the world’s
largest center for Ayurveda and Yoga that includes facilities for
treatment, research and a teaching university[3][5]. The trust
primarily offers free treatment to those who cannot afford to pay. For
others, treatment is provided at a lower cost than at hospitals.
Through PYP, Swami Ramdev continues to work with various institutions
and medical organizations in an effort to study and improve the
effectiveness of yoga against diseases like diabetes, hypertension,
obesity, etc.
Swami Ramdev has acquired a Scottish isle for about £2 million to set
up a wellness retreat. The Little Cumbrae Island, off the fishing town
of Largs in Scotland, will also serve as the guru’s base overseas,
where his teachings of yoga as a means to cleanse the body and mind
are gaining popularity. The acquisition itself was carried out by a
Scottish couple of Indian origin, Sam and Sunita Poddar, who saw
recession and the resultant fall in property prices as an opportunity
to expand the base of Patanjali Yogpeeth — the institution founded by
Ramdev for scientific research and treatment in yog, spiritualism and
ayurveda. The island property has been inaugurated in September 2009
with a ‘Yagna or ‘Yagya’(a Vedic Sanatan Dharm prayer in the presence
of a purifying fire), will be administered by the Patanjali Yogpeeth
(UK) Trust[6].
National Issues Raised
Swami Ramdev has raised a number of national issues through his yoga
camps (yog shivirs). Most of the issues raised by him demand change in
the governance policies of India and the lifestyle of the common
people. Some of the most emphasized issues are:
Bharat Swabhiman Campaign and political party
Swami Ramdev has initiated a movement named Bharat Swabhiman with the
help of activist and social promoter intellectual Dr.Shri Rajiv Dixith
who gives speeches with the intention of eradicating corruption,
crime, poverty from India with an aim to transform it into a World
Power[7].
In an effort to cleanse the political system, Swami Ramdev has
launched an independent political party named Bharat Swabhiman. The
party will be contesting elections in all 545 Lok Sabha seats. There
are plans to enroll 7 to 10 lakh members for the new party in each
district. The Swami has clarified that he himself does not intend to
contest the polls or accept any political posts[8][9].
Malpractices in the agricultural sector
Swami Ramdev says that the use of fertilizers and pesticides has led
to undue load on and poverty of farmers and increased profits for
large business houses involved in this trade. These pose a big threat
to farmers and to the health of the common man since the farm land is
increasingly becoming barren and contaminated with harmful chemicals.
The farm produce like grains, fruits and vegetables are contaminated
with inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.
Consumption of fast food and soft drinks
At most of his yog shivirs (yoga camps) Swami Ramdev has raised the
issue of increased consumption of fast foods, packed foods and soft
drinks by common people. He says that these products are disease
causing junk and must not be eaten. Swami Ji says that soft drinks
like Coke and Pepsi are harmful for children as well as adults, and
recommends to use these as toilet cleaners, to emphasize children and
innocent adults understand the gravity of ill effects.
Exploitation of farmers
Swami Ramdev blames the corrupt governance practices for the miserable
conditions of the farmers and other backward parts of the society. He
says that agriculture is the biggest contributor to India’s economy
and yet the farmers are the most poverty stricken class of people. He
says that for the economic prosperity of the country it is an issue of
utmost importance to bring welfare to the farmers.
Poor condition of indigenous industries
Indian black money in Swiss banks
Swami Ramdev has publicly raised the issue of Indian money stashed
away illegally in Swiss bank which is estimated to be between 1-1.5
trillion USD. He says that the government must take concrete action
and bring back the money as it belongs to the people of India and has
been taken out of the country illegally [1]
84 Crore (840 Million) People living on Rs. 20 a day
Official surveys indicate that at least 84 Crore (840 Million) people
(nearly 75% of the population) are living with a capacity to spend Rs.
20 or less in a day. Swami Ramdev has started the Bharat Swabhiman
Andolan the first aim of which is to bring prosperity to these 840
million people.
Bharat Swabhiman Andolan
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Bharat Swabhiman Andolan is National Movement Started by Swami Ramdev
Throughout India.
Main Goal of Movement is 1. 100% voting
2. 100% nationalist thought
3. 100% boycott of foreign companies, adoption of ‘swadeshi’
4. 100% unification of the people of the nation
5. 100% yoga-oriented nation
5 Vows of Bharat Swabhiman Andolan:
1. We will only vote for patriotic, honest, valiant, farsighted, and
skillful people. We ourselves will vote 100% and also make others
vote.
2. We will unite all patriotic, sincere, aware, sensitive, intelligent
and honest people together 100% and uniting the powers of the nation
will bring about a new freedom, new system and new change. We will
make India the biggest superpower in the world.
3. We will 100% boycott foreign goods made with zero technology and
adopt indigenous goods.
4. We will adopt nationalist thought 100%, and while in our personal
lives we observe Hindu, Islam, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, etc.
religious traditions, in our public lives we will live like a true
Indian – a true Hindustani.
5. We will make the entire country 100% yoga-oriented and make the
citizens inward-focused by making them healthy and arouse the feeling
of self-pride in each one by removing the cheating, corruption,
hopelessness, disbelief and self-languor arising because of self-
confusion, and awaken India’s sleeping self-respect by building
national character
Bharat Swabhiman Andolan is a mass movement campaign launched by Swami
Ramdev to eradicate corruption from India. The Andolan promotes
protest against corruption in every government sector, and claims that
the nature of this corruption is that Indian officials illegally
broker deals to allow foreign companies to enter every Indian social
sector and hamper the indigenous system in every sphere. Government
estimations show that nearly 84 crore (840 million) people in India,
which is nearly 75% of the total population, are living with a
capacity to spend only Rs. 20 (1 dollar ~ Rs. 45) in a day, and the
Bharat Swavhiman Andolan claims that fighting government corruption is
the first step to changing this state of poverty.
The organization aims to accomplish its goal by reviving forgotten
parts of Indian culture among all Indians, and Swami Ramdev says this
would be the first step towards making India a superpower. Swadeshi
Shiksha (education system based on Indian principles) and Swadeshi
Chikitsa (medical system based on Indian principles) are two of the
most important aims of this mission. Establishment of Hindi and all
regional (Bhartiya-Indian) languages as the primary language in
government-sponsored activities like education and the judiciary is
part of the agenda of this movement. Swami Ramdev draws attention to
the fact that in terms of population Hindi is the second most spoken
native language after the Chinese language and yet in its own country
it gets secondary status to English. He also sees a problem in the
fact that no modernized country in the world uses a foreign language
for official purposes except India
Controversies and criticisms
Over the years Swami Ramdev’s name has been a part of several
controversies.
Minimum wage
In March 2005, about 113 employees of the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust
started an agitation for minimum wages, coverage under the Provident
Fund and Employees’ State Insurance schemes. At a tripartite meeting,
an agreement was reached between the workers, management and the
district administration. However, some agitating workers were
dismissed by the Trust after being charged for alleged sabotage. Their
case was taken up by a trade union controlled by the Communist Party
of India (Marxist). They are still to be reinstated.[10][11]
Allegations of unlawful manufacturing practices
In January 2006, senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader
Brinda Karat accused the Divya Yog Mandir Trust Pharmacy, owned by
Ramdev, of using human and animal bones in their medicines. Samples of
the medicines Kuliya Bhasm and Yauvanamrit Bati purchased from
Brahmakalp Chikitsalay, the Trust’s hospital at Haridwar, were
allegedly tested at government labs which later confirmed the presence
of animal materials in the sample. She exhibited the prescription and
cash receipt obtained from the medicine counter in support of her
claim.[11][12].
Later, four samples were sent to the government-recognized Shriram
Institute of Industrial Research in Delhi. The report from this
institution declared that the samples did not contain objectionable
ingredients and were purely herbal. Swami Ramdev was subsequently
cleared of the charges[13]. Notably people’s response was so huge that
subsequent to these allegations, sales of the Trust’s ayurvedic
medicines have soared[3].
Opposition to Homosexuality
In July 2009, in the wake of the Delhi High Court decriminalizing
homosexuality in Delhi, Ramdev told the press “The verdict will
encourage criminality and sick mentality. This kind of thing is
shameful and insulting. We are blindly following the West in
everything. This is breaking the family system in India. Homosexuals
are sick people, they should be sent to hospitals for treatment. If
the government brings this law, I will take to the streets of Delhi in
protest.”[14]
Claims of curing AIDS
In December 2006, press reports claimed that Swami Ramdevji had made
claims of being able to use Yoga to cure AIDS. A website promoting his
products states that the CD4 cell count in some AIDS patients has
improved after practising Yoga[15]. This statement was translated by
certain journalists as claiming a cure for AIDS[16]. As a consequence
of these press reports he was sent a cease and desist order by the
Indian Union Health Ministry and threatened legal action from medical
NGOs[17]. Ramdev responded by saying that notice was not applicable to
him since he never made claim to cure it [18]. , and that he has been
misrepresented by media.[19].
Claims of curing cancer
Other press reports quoted him as claiming to have a cure for cancer
of the breast, liver, prostate, uterus, pituitary gland, brain tumors
and leukemia by practicing the seven breathing exercises.
In a residential camp held in Yog Gram, Haridwar during 19–25 June
2008, several cancer patients stepped forward to recount first-hand
stories of their successful bouts with blood, prostate and breast
cancer using Pranayam or breathing exercises[20].
Swami Ramdev has claimed having documented proof of his successes.
Awards and recognitions
•January 2007 – Honorary Doctorate, KIIT University (Kalinga Institute
of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Orissa) in recognition of his
efforts at popularizing the Vedic science of Yoga.[21]
•March 2010 – Honored with Degree of Doctorate of Sciences by Amity
University
•April 2010 – Honored with honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Dr
D Y Patil Deemed University.
References
1.^ “Indian Who Built Yoga Empire Works on Politics”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/world/asia/19swami.html?ref=yoga.
2.^ “Ramdev’s yog brand launched in America”. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1107155.
3.^ a b c d e f g h i j “Life Positive”.
http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/Swami_Ram_Dev/The_Messiah_of_Yoga72006.asp.
4.^ Shankaracharya’s “Bhajagovindam Stotra”.
5.^ “Patanjali Yog Peeth – Introduction”. http://www.divyayoga.com/introduction.htm.
6.^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Baba-Ramdev-buys-Scottish-island/Article1-458920.aspx
7.^ “About Bharat Swabhiman Andolan”. Bharat Swabhiman Andolan.
http://bharat-swabhiman.com/en/about/.
8.^ “Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev launches ‘Bharat Swabhiman’ Party”.
Breaking News Online.
http://www.breakingnewsonline.net/politics/1259-yoga-guru-baba-ramdev-launches-bharat-swabhiman-party.html.
9.^ “Ramdev’s new chant: Will float party soon”. Times of India.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdevs-new-chant-Will-float-party-soon/articleshow/5691756.cms.
10.^ Frontline “In the name of Ayurveda”. The Hindu.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20060210002604200.htm&date=fl2302/&prd=fline&
Frontline.
11.^ a b “How Karat-Ramdev War began”. ExpressIndia.com.
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=61019.
12.^ “Guru accused of ‘human bone’ drug”. bbc.co.uk. 4 January 2006.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4580846.stm. Retrieved 6
January 2010.
13.^ “Yogi cleared of animal parts row”. BBC News. 8 March 2006.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4786114.stm. Retrieved 6
January 2010.
14.^ “Gay is bad, chorus maulanas, saffron brigade & Church”. DNA.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gay-is-bad-chorus-maulanas-saffron-brigade-and-church_1270429.
15.^ “Ayurvedic Herbs for control of HIV, AIDS & any Sexually
Transmitted Diseases”. yogapranayama.com. http://www.yogapranayama.com/hiv_medicine.htm.
Retrieved 21 March 2007.
16.^ “Swami Ramdev’s website claims AIDS is curable”. dnaindia.com.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1071418. Retrieved 21 March
2007.
17.^ “Yoga effect on AIDS? Swami Ramdev has ‘proof’”.
moneycontrol.com. http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/newsarticle/stocksnews.php?cid=1&autono=30049&source=ibnlive.com.
Retrieved 21 March 2007.
18.^ “I made no claims of curing AIDS: Ramdev”. expressindia.com.
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=78569. Retrieved 21
March 2007.
19.^ “I never claimed I can cure AIDS: Ramdev”. dnaindia.com.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1071141. Retrieved 21 March
2007.
20.^ “I’ll stay away from politics: Ramdev”. ibnlive.com.
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/ill-stay-away-from-politics-ramdev/top/30024-3.html.
Retrieved 21 March 2007.
21.^ “Doctorate degree for Yoga Guru Ramdev”. punjabnewsline.com.
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/2664/39/. Retrieved 21
March 2007.
External links
•Divya Yoga Mandir Trust
•Bharat Swabhiman Andolan
•Bharat Swabhiman Forum
•Patanjali Yog Peeth UK Trust
•Patanjali Yogpeeth USA Trust
•Swami Ramdev Biography
•Baba Ramdev Facebook fan page
•Baba Ramdev Ji Yoga Videos on www.totalbhakti.com
•Swami Ramdev Yoga Camp in Houston, Texas
•BBC Audio Interview with Swami Ramdev in Hindi
•The republic and the wayward rationalist – Essay by P. Sainath
•Swami Ramdev on the role of Women in Society – Audio Speech by Swami
Ramdev,
•Swami Ramdev Yoga
•BBC Interview with Swami Ramdev
•BBC News – Yogi cleared of animal parts row – March 8, 2006
Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Ramdev“
Categories: 1965 births | Living people | Indian Hindus | Hindu gurus
| People from Mahendragarh | Yogis
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