|
Early
life
Ramdev was born as 'Ramkishan
Yadav' in Alipur, in the Mahendragarh district of Indian state of Haryana. He
attended school through the eight grade in Shahjadpur. Thereafter, he joined a
yogic monastery (gurukul) in Khanpur village to study Sanskrit and Yoga.
Eventually, he renounced worldly life and entered into Sanyas (monastic living)
- taking the name Swami Ramdev.
|
|
Then he went to Jind district
and joined the Kalva gurukul and offered free Yoga training to villagers
across Haryana. It is said that he travelled the Himalayas for several years
before he settled in Haridwar.[citation needed] He claims to have discovered
several medicinal plants in the Himalayas which he uses in treating his
patients. Ramdev started relentless efforts to popularise Yoga in 1995 with
the establishment of Divya Yoga Mandir Trust along with Acharya Karamveer.
Life
In 1995, Ramdev joined the order of swamis after being initiated into the
ascetic order by Swami Shankerdevji Maharaj. While training to be a Swami,
Ramdev spent many years undertaking an intense and thorough study of ancient
Indian scriptures. At the same time, he also practiced intense
self-discipline and meditation.
He teaches that God resides in every human being and that the body is God's
temple. He is a firm believer in the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the
whole World is one family) and decries practices that discriminate on the
basis of caste, creed or gender. His fundamental belief is that expressions
of love, affection and compassion towards all living things are the true
worship of the Creator.
Work, Teaching and Honours
Ramdev has taught several aspects of traditional Indian scriptures such as
Ashtadhyayee, Mahabhashya and Upanishads along with six systems of Indian
Philosophy in various Gurukuls (traditional Indian systems of
education).[citation needed] He has helped establish Gurukuls in Kishangarh,
Ghashera, and Mahendragarh in India. He has also founded the Patanjali
Yogpeeth Trust which has built several institutions.In addition to helping
people learn about Yoga and spirituality, these institutions also provide a
comprehensive facility that promotes the practice of Ayurveda -the
traditional system of holistic medicine developed in India.[citation
needed].
His educational show is broadcast on the religious TV channel Aastha, as
well as shows on Zee network,Sahara One and IndiaTV.
He has been conducting Yog Science camps regularly all over the country, and
sometimes abroad as well. In 2006, the Ramdev spent almost a month in London
teaching Pranayam and Yoga.
KIIT University, a well-respected teaching and research institute for
Science and Technology, awarded Swami Ramdev with an Honorary Doctorate
degree in recognition of his efforts at popularising the Vedic science of
Yoga. The degree was presented to him in January 2007 during a ceremony
presided over by the respected scientist and Nobel laureate Richard Ernst. |
Claims of
curing AIDS and cancer and confrontation with Health Ministry
Press reports in December 2006
created further controversy by stating that Ramdev had made claims that Yoga
could cure AIDS. Ramdev responded by saying that these reports were
misrepresenting him.His position was that Yoga and Ayurveda together can
alleviate the suffering from AIDS, not cure it. Other press reports state that
he has claimed that cancer of the breast, liver, prostate, uterus, pituitary
gland, brain tumours and leukaemia, could be cured by practicing the seven
breathing exercises and that he had documented proof of his successes. By
distancing himself from tall claims of his medicines, he has indirectly admitted
that 'his admirers' propoganda about his methods' miracle power is is bogus.
Ramdev has not denied the allegaton by critcs that setting up of several million
dollars worth export business and claims of miracle powers is done with the
support of 'selected admirers' from whose statements he himself has distanced
now in order to escape from legal actions.
A website promoting his products states that the CD-4 cell count in some AIDS
patients has improved after practising Yoga.This statement was translated by
certain journalists as stating that "Swami Ramdev claims cure for AIDS".As a
consequence of these press reports he was sent a notice by the Union Health
Ministry and threatened legal action from medical NGOs.
In response to the cease and desist order from the Health Ministry, he
categorically denied that he had made any such claims and said that yogic
education was more preferable than sex education in response to the AIDS crisis.
"Sex education in schools need to be replaced by yoga education. The government
should stop polluting the minds of innocent young children with sex education.
Society's morality cannot improve with teaching sex education in schools. And
AIDS cannot be prevented by talking free sex and by using condoms."
|
