Swami Ramdev, who has become a household name due to his media savvy image and also because of the recent controversy when CPI-M leader Brinda Karat alleged that human bones were used in the medicines prepared by his ashram, conducted a unique experiment in Lucknow recently when he put his yoga to test by experts from the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute for Medical Sciences.

For nine days, participants from all over the country joined the yoga camp conducted by the Patanjali Yogpeeth and underwent tests to show the remarkable changes in their body chemistry due to yogic exercises.

Hardnews caught up with the charismatic swamiji during his stay in Lucknow:

Who would you give credit for your success?
To my guru Baldeoji from whom I learnt the knowledge of yoga, and to crores of my followers who are practicing yoga all over the world. Earlier this shastra was not scientific but I made it simple and easy to follow. Now complex diseases like cancer and liver problems are being cured through Yoga.

What about role of TV channels? Is money involved in telecast of your programmes?
Media is my greatest support. I have been able to reach out to millions of people through the print media and television channels. Baba never gives or accepts money from any television channel.

Do you have plans to cross-geographical boundaries?
I have received offers from several countries that are willing to telecast my programmes. I plan to get my programmes dubbed in several languages so millions of people all over world would benefit from yoga.

What sort of experiments are you conducting at the training camp in Lucknow?
We registered over 300 persons from all over the country to undergo yoga for nine days. Blood tests were taken on the first day from all participants to find out the status of blood pressure, diabetes and hormone levels. Tests will measure hormonal levels before and after yoga. Tests will be done on serum cortisol ACTH and prolactin (bad hormone) and beta edrophina (good hormone). Majority of diseases happen due to increase in bad hormones.
In order to conduct the study, we divided participants into two groups. One comprising people of between ages of 20 and 50 with no health problems and other with those above 50 with known health problems and tests were done for all their ailments before and after yoga in the camp.
Each group was divided in two subgroups. One doing yoga and pranayam as well as satsang while the other only attending satsang. Each participant will go through more intricate tests in the next three months.

Can yoga cure serious ailments like cancer and liver cirrhosis?
Yes. I have cured people with blood cancer and liver problems. Yoga is better than allopathic treatment as it has no side effects and it helps in toning up the entire system to prevent attack from any disease. Yoga is cheaper and simple.

What is your message to people leading stressful lifestyles?
All individuals should do yoga for one hour a day, especially during brahmurat (early hours). People of any age can do yoga. It not only keeps the system fit but also prevents diseases and helps in character building and decision-making processes.

People want to know about your background:
On April 9, 1995 I became a sanyasi through Swami Shankardev of Hardwar. Since then I am above religious and caste barriers and that is why I never tell anybody about my past because it is irrelevant now.

What about the controversy about human bones being used in medicines prepared through ashram?
Truth always prevails. Anybody is free to take samples and conduct tests in a laboratory because there is no provision of human organs being used in any form of medicine.

But why did Brinda Karat level allegations against you and your ashram?
You better ask her. I have nothing to say on this matter.

What is your message to students who are under stress due to examinations?
Each student should face examinations without stress. If a student spares only ten minutes a day for anulom-vilom, bhramari and udgeet pranayams then he or she will be able to face examination with more confidence.

Is there a solution for childless couples?
Yes. Yoga has the solution for such couples. It can cure the problem of infertility in women through proper balance of hormones.

What are your future programmes?
At the Patanjali Yogapeeth hospital (which was inaugurated in Hardwar on April 6, 2006) arrangements have been made for food and lodging of patients coming from all over the world. There is even provision for free treatment for those who cannot afford it. We are committed to make a tension-free disease-free society for healthy development.

A hallowed tradition

Surprising pathological changes were reported by participants during the nine-day yoga camp in Lucknow.

The Blood (Serum) Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) tests were done before the camp began and then again on the last day by doctors of the Sanjay Gandhi Institute.

Glucose levels of one of the participants, PL Santoshi, went down from 448 to 150 while Ritika Mitra, another participant, reported a decrease of 102 from 336.

The cholestral levels of another participant, Hemchandra, went from 331 to 133. And they were not even told to do any pranayam or yogic exercises but only to change lifestyle and food habits.

Those who did pranayams and other asanas showed even better results. Narendra N Yadav's SGPT level came down from 156 to 22 while Vivek Singh's came down from 141 to 25. Weight loss also ranged from one kilo to 2.5 kilo.

Blood pressure also came down during those nine days. Anjani Kumar Srivastav, who reported 190 (syst) and 100 (diast) before the camp, reported 140 (syst) and 86 (diast) after it was over.

Meanwhile, Swami Ram Dev sought a public apology from CPI-M leader Brinda Karat for conspiring against and for defaming his Hardwar pharmacy, even after it got a clean chit from the Uttaranchal government.

Ram Dev described the allegations as an attempt to tarnish the rich traditions of ayurved. He referred to Brinda as saansad bahen and said that she should seek public apology for hurting the sentiments of millions who had been benefited from yoga and had faith in his Hardwar-based pharmacy. He further said that Brinda made allegations against ayurvedic traditions at the behest of multinationals.

Swami Ram Dev said that the Uttaranchal government has not found any trace of human skulls or animal parts in the medicines prepared in his pharmacy. The four medicines examined were madhunashini, medhavati, muktavati and kalpbhasm.
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