He’s somebody who has simply showed the nation how to breathe for good health! So when an interview was scheduled with Swami Ramdev Maharaj at his host Mahavir Ranka’s house, I didn’t know what to expect of the meeting.

My first impression of Ramdevji (or swamiji as he is called) him was that he was a simple human being. Dressed in saffron robes and sporting wooden padukas, he welcomed us and answered all questions patiently. Excerpts:

Why have you taken it upon yourself to educate masses about yoga?

I have been studying and practising yoga for the last 30 years myself. I want to see a disease-free India. Yoga has not only provided many answers, but has also increased energy, wellness, productivity and creativity in individuals. A country full of such people can only progress further.

India has everything, but we still lag behind, we probably lack some pride. I want to enlighten people through yoga and re-ignite that sense of pride.

How would you describe yoga?

Yoga means to unite with the soul, the conscience, the self. The self is the universe. One who realises this is a yogi and he becomes a complete person, from his karma kshetra to his dharma kshetra. Yoga is also a complete life science.

Why do you focus only on pranayama in all your camps?

I combine all components of yoga in my camps, but pranayama is the kriya I adopt. One who practises pranayama is able to control the mind and energies are channelled towards positive things. Pranayama regularises the endocrine system, targets energy and blood flow and oxygen, making body cells more active.

Your knowledge of medicine surprises many...

I am a student of the traditional Gurukul system. I am well-versed in texts written by Charakha and Shushrutha, besides Vedic principles. Since we started our camps, I have started learning about various ailments/ diseases from my doctor friends.

You have gained a large number of followers...

It has not happened overnight. I don’t provide instant solutions. I show them compassion, respect, love and the way to good health and they return the respect for me. I see God in people and I perform my aradhana through my words. Everything I do is spontaneous. I don’t manage or plan anything.

People are losing faith in sadhus and babas...

I want to change that, and make people spiritually aware so that within the next decade India will become the spiritual superpower. I speak the truth. People seeking truth get attracted to people who speak the truth. I have never instigated people in the name of religion, or instilled any fears in their minds. I strongly oppose bali (sacrifice) and religious superstitions.

Allegations have been made against you too...

All of them were rumours. A person getting talked about is proof that he is doing some work. Everytime people tried to spoil my image, I emerged stronger.

When do you see your ambition of setting up the Pathanjali Yogpeeth being fulfilled?

Phase-I of the project will be dedicated to the nation in April 2006. I will also complete 10 years of sanyasa then. We will be able to give OPD treatment to 5,000 people everyday, using principles of Ayurveda and yoga. By the end of 2008, we hope to complete the entire project.

What do you expect as guru dakshina from people?

Daily yogabhyaas and abstinence from meat, alcohol and tobacco. Nothing more.

Your message to Bangaloreans?

Bangalore is an IT City where heavy workload causes higher levels of stress. There’s so much pollution; so many allergies. Practise pranayama to become stronger and resistant to allergies.

Now you can listen to the ancient sanskrit chants of Bhagavad Gita, sung in classical melodies by noted devotional singer Sri Vidyabhushana. Listen to all 700 verses of the Gita with a beautiful accompaniment of flute, veena, sitar, mridanga, tabla and tala. (Scroll down to listen to it online.)

Set includes 10 audio CDs (7 CDs of sanskrit chants, 2 CDs containing english translations for the entire Bhagavad Gita, and 1 CD providing an introductory lecture on the Bhagavad Gita by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada).