Taking a look at this man, one would probably think he is 80 something years old, but this Hindu monk claims he is 120 years old.
Swami Sivananda was born on August 8, 1896, according to his passport and his secret to a long life is no sex or spices and daily yoga. He now plans to apply to the Guinness World Records to verify his claim.
The current record for the “oldest man to have ever lived” is held by Jiroemon Kimura from Japan. He died at the age of 116 years in June 2013.
India’s passport authorities confirmed Sivananda’s age after going through temple register, the only evidence to support his claim.
Sivananda, who hails from holy city of Varanasi grew up extreme poverty and chose to become a monk, leading a life of celibacy and strict discipline.
“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, after a two-hour yoga session in Kolkata, where he had made a short visit.
Sivananda never uses a bed and instead sleeps on a mat on the floor and uses a wooden slab as a pillow.
“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.
Sivananda had not come forward to reveal his age as he did not want any publicity, but has now changed his mind after being persuaded by his students.
He lost his parents at the age of 6 and was given away by his relatives to a spiritual guru, with whom he traveled around the country before settling in Varanasi.
