Fact-Check: Viral Video Claims ‘188-Year-Old’ Man Rescued In Bengaluru

Social media is abuzz with a viral video claiming to be of a “188-year-old man” rescued from a cave near Bengaluru. The clip, posted on X by a handle called ‘Concerned Citizen,’ has gone viral with nearly 29 million views. “This Indian man has just been found in a cave. It’s alleged he’s 188 years old. Insane,” read the post carrying the video.

In the 24-second video, two men aid the old man and support him in walking. The old man has a hunchback and white beard and also uses a walking stick.

The video became viral but only after the claim began to attract skepticism after hours.

Several reports stated that the aged man in the video is 110 years old and a Hindu saint from Madhya Pradesh.

X also issued a disclaimer from its post saying the age that had been mentioned there may not be accurate. “Misinformation! The elderly man is a Hindu Saint named ‘Siyaram Baba’ who lives in Madhya Pradesh, India. According to reports he is about 110 years old,” reads the X note.

The portal has also quoted an article of Navbharat Times published on July 2, 2024. That said a man in the video is not somebody that he claimed himself to be. It has reported that the elderly man is 109 years old and Siyaram Baba. Siyaram Baba is known figure in this area, and he resides in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh.

Even D-Intent Data, the group tasked with verifying the data, has called the viral video misleading. On X, D-Intent Data posted, “ANALYSIS: Misleading. FACT: A video of some people helping an elderly individual has been shared claiming that a 188-year-old Indian Man has just been found in a cave. The fact is that these claims are not true. The elderly man is a Saint named ‘Siyaram Baba,’ who lives in Madhya Pradesh, India.”

The X post further quoted that “Influencers are circulating videos with self-invented claims to get the spotlight on social media.”

A video that claimed to present the miraculous rescue of a “188-year-old man rescued from a cave near Bengaluru” was soon debunked and found to be an entire false claim. The Siyaram Baba is believed to be 110 years old as a revered Hindu saint. Before fact-checkers could inform the world about the real age and the identity, the video had gained millions of views. Siyaram Baba is from Madhya Pradesh and is famous for the ascetic life in which he continues reading all the scriptures and performing various forms of penance activities.

## How did Siyaram Baba become famous.

Siyaram Baba was said to become famous because of his heavy spiritual practices and age, which was supposedly around 110 years. It is said that he reads the Ramayana for 21 hours in a day and was rumored to stand on one leg for ten years as a form of penance. His ascetic lifestyle, dwelling at Bhatyan Ashram in Madhya Pradesh, and his unique practice of taking just 10 rupees as donation have attracted many devotees. His latest viral popularity was based on a false claim that he is 188-year-old man, which social media people corrected

## Siyaram Baba manages his daily activities at the age of 109

At the age of 109 years, Siyaram Baba has his daily scheduling based on a disciplined routine which mainly has a core orientation towards spirituality. This man reportedly keeps reading the Ramayana without glasses for 21 hours every day and is into meditation and prayer. Though he has such an age now, he still takes care of all his chores on his own and leads a pretty simple life at Bhatyan Ashram, Madhya Pradesh. His austerities include not speaking any word for 12 years and standing on one leg for 10 years as penitence, hence indicating his love for spiritual discipline and physical endurance

##What is the importance of Siyaram Baba reading the Ramayana without glasses

Siyaram Baba’s reading of the Ramayana without glasses at the age of 109 holds a lot of importance for the following reasons:

Spiritual Devotion: Reading the Ramayana daily for 21 hours reflects a high degree of devotion to Lord Rama, this indicating commitment and discipline to a spiritual life12.

Physical Endurance: Reading without glasses at such an advanced age shows an indication of great health and mental clarity, supposedly from his ascetic life and time-consuming penance practices45.

Inspiration for the Devotees: Baba’s ability inspires many followers and cements faith and commitment in the minds of the faithful as the ways to attain long life and spiritual experience.

## Historical Background regarding Siyaram Baba’s Devotion to Ramayana

The devotion of Siyaram Baba toward the Ramayana has a historical background. It is based on his ascetic way of life, spiritual experiences, and practices. Apparently, after he settled in 1955 in Khar Gon village, he began reciting the Ramayana daily. For his immense devotion towards Lord Rama and spiritual discipline, the man soon gained attention. This practice of reading the text for 21 hours a day, without glasses, symbolizes devotion toward the reverent deity, Lord Rama. Baba’s austere panchasamvara which includes standing on one leg for 10 years authenticates his genuineness, and devotees from all the main parts of the state come ahead to listen to him and receive his blessings and proper counsel.

## Does the place have major events or festivals that centre around reciting Ramayana by Siyaram Baba

Major events center around Siyaram Baba reciting the Ramayana include:

Annual Congregations: Devotees from other states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat visit Bhatyan Ashram to see him as a devotee and participate in collective recitations.

Rama Navami Celebrations: This festival, marking the birthday of Lord Rama, is celebrated with collective merriment, in which devotees sing bhajans and read the Ramayana- indicating how Baba has influenced the celebrations12

Rituals and Auspices: Events often involve rituals and offerings, thus reflecting the preaching of Baba, as well as the religious energy of the Ramayana in his devotees

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## What cultural event is Siyaram Baba’s recitation of the Ramayana for in his local community?

Siyaram Baba’s recitation of Ramayana is an integral part of the local cultural events of his region, especially Madhya Pradesh. His daily practice accumulates a large number of followers, who develop a feeling of belonging to each other and cultivating devotion to their Lord.

Cultural Gatherings: His recitation gathers followers from different states also, hence the cultural gathering happens with great pomp and show as there is a celebration of devotion to the Lord Rama.

Festivals: Events like Rama Navami witness peak participation, where communal chanting and celebrations are ushered in by the teaching of Baba.

Spiritual Impact: Baba’s commitment intensifies the cultural fabric by infusing values regarding worship, servitude, and sacrifice into the minds of his devotees that contribute towards local traditions getting galvanized through the Ramayana.

## How do local artists and musicians engage with Siyaram Baba in cultural events

Local artists and musicians engage with Siyaram Baba in cultural events primarily in the following ways

Musical Events: Artists often attend fetes and functions at Bhatyan Ashram and sing bhajans and devotional songs that match up to Baba’s preachings and the story of the Ramayana.

Kirtans and Bhajans: It is not uncommon to find a number of local musicians engaging themselves in Sitaram kirtan and group singing that uplifts the spiritual ambiance during a festive occasion.

Community Engagement: These collective ceremonies aim at developing a sense of community since artists and devotees alike partake in the rituals that mark their shared devotion and give meaning to the cultural context within which recitation practice revolves around Siyaram Baba.

## How does a local artist get into the pool of Siyaram Baba’s art?

There is no specific information on the selection process of local artists by the performance, but generally, an artist may be invited based on the reputation associated with the respective artist as well as their skill in devotional music, and most importantly the connection to the community. Generally, it involves the following:

Showing Talented Skills: Artists usually are supposed to perform with their skills set in the traditional devotional music, particularly those concerning the Ramayana.

Community Engagement: Artists engaged in the activities of local culture and faithfuls are more liable to be called since they will have become popular to the public

Networking: Building on people associated with the local spiritual master, Siyaram Baba can provide opportunities to co-opt each other as performers at an event.

## What qualifications or experience must artists have performed before they are considered being invited to perform with Siyaram Baba?

From the information rendered on the search results, one can infer the following:

Musical Competency: It is most likely artists will have a good background in all types of devotional music, particularly related to the Ramayana.

Experience in Performances: Any prior experience related to performance before cultural or religious groups would be helpful, as it would reflect their potential ability to connect with their audience.

Connection to the Community: A strong connection to the local spiritual community and a familiar presence to Baba’s teaching might widen the chances of an artist being selected for performances.