120-year-old monk in India attributes longevity to no sex, no spice, plenty of yoga
Swami Sivananda can do yoga for hours.
An old Hindu monk from India, who claims to be 120 years old, said that the reasons for his long life are three things: no sex, no spice, and yoga practice, reported AFP.
Swami Sivananda from the city of Varanasi said that he was born on August 8, 1896. His passport also confirms his date of birth. Indian passport authorities have verified his date of birth from a temple register which is the only valid record for many Indians.
“I lead a simple and disciplined life. I eat very simply — only boiled food without oil or spices, rice and boiled daal (lentil stew) with a couple of green chillies,” he told AFP.
Despite being 120 years old, Swami Sivananda lives a healthy life and can perform difficult yoga techniques for hours.
The monk said that he was born in a poor family and grew up in extreme poverty. After the death of his parents, his relatives gave him away to a spiritual guru. He traveled with the guru all over India and finally settled in Varanasi.
“I avoid taking milk or fruits because I think these are fancy foods. In my childhood I slept many days on an empty stomach,” he said.
In July this year, he had undergone a medical check-up for the first time in his life after having headaches for the first time. The doctors did not find any serious health issues with the monk and assured that his heart was functioning very well.
“Earlier people were happy with fewer things. Nowadays people are unhappy, unhealthy and have become dishonest, which pains me a lot. I just want people to be happy, healthy and peaceful,” he said.
Swami Sivananda is applying to Guinness World Records to claim the title of the oldest man to have lived. The Guinness World Records currently lists Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, who died in 2013, as the oldest man to have ever lived.