Padma Bhushan Ceremony at Paduka Darshan

On 14th May, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati was bestowed the Padma Bhushan Award by the District Magistrate of Munger. Among the 18,000 nominations for the Padma Bhushan Award seven persons were honoured and selected, Swamiji being one of them.

Many high ranking officials, citizens of Munger, the City of Yoga, well-wishers of Bihar School of Yoga and members of Bal and Yuva Yoga Mitra Mandal were present. Swami Satyasangananda, Peethadheshwari of Rikhiapeeth, graced the occasion with her presence.

The District Magistrate, Sri Uday Kumar Singh, praised Swamiji for his contribution in the field of yoga. He said that the identification of Munger is imprinted in the world due to the extraordinary efforts of Swamiji.

Swamiji offered his gratitude to the Central Government, State Government, the Citizens of Munger and all lovers of yoga who nominated him for the award. Swamiji said that the bridge of the Bihar Yoga Tradition had been built by Swami Sivananda and Swami Satyananda. “We are just the little squirrels of Sri Rama providing maintenance to the bridge already constructed. This is the award of our Gurus and their achievement. We are just humbly receiving this award on their behalf and preparing ourselves to take up the responsibility of spreading and moving forward in the direction of yoga.” Swamiji dedicated the Padma Bhushan Award to the citizens of Munger and Bihar.

Swami Satyasangananda said, “This award has been bestowed, not just by the votes of the people, but as the verdict of all the gurus in the world, even those who are not present any more, and all the cosmic powers, that Swami Niranjan be honoured with this award. This award is not only for yoga but for the hard work, sacrifice, surrender, devotion and faith of Swamiji, a living symbol of all these virtues.”

Senior-most devotees and members of Bihar School of Yoga, Swami Shankarananda and Sri K.K. Goenka congratulated Swamiji and wished him well. The children of Bal Yoga Mitra Mandal expressed their love for Swamiji through poems and stories. More than 1,000 people attended the program, to witness this extraordinary moment.