VARANASI, May 5 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath have expressed grief over the death of Yoga guru and Padma Shri awardee Swami Sivananda who breathed his last following a brief illness at Sir Sunderlal Hospital, BHU, in Varanasi late on Saturday (May 3) night. Swami Sivananda, a centenarian, was admitted to BHU hospital with some health issues on April 30. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of Shivanand Baba Ji, a yoga practitioner and resident of Kashi. His life dedicated to yoga and sadhana will continue to inspire every generation of the country. He was also awarded Padma Shri for serving the society through yoga." "The departure of Shivanand Baba to Shivalok is an irreparable loss for all of us Kashi residents and millions of people who took inspiration from him. I pay my tribute to him in this hour of grief," the PM added. Paying his tribute to yoga guru, CM Yogi Adityanath posted on X, "The demise of Kashi's renowned yoga guru 'Padma Shri' Swami Shivanand ji, who made an unparalleled contribution in the field of 'Yoga', is extremely sad. Humble tribute to him!" "Your sadhana and yoga-filled life is a great inspiration for the entire society. You dedicated your entire life to the expansion of yoga. I pray to Baba Vishwanath to grant salvation to the departed soul and give strength to his bereaved followers to bear this immense sorrow," the CM added. Baba Shivananda's body was brought to his single room ashram at his residence in Kabir Nagar locality in Durga Kund area so that people could pay their last respects to the departed soul. People were paying their tribute to yoga guru till the time of going to the press. He was born in a Goswami Brahmin family in a village of Sylhet district (now in Bangladesh) and lost his mother and father at age 6, claimed people associated with his ashram. After his parents' demise, he was taken under the care Baba Omkarananda Goswami of Nabadwip (West Bengal). Without formal school education, he was imparted with all practical and spiritual wisdom, including yoga, here, they added. Since then, he followed a life of austerity and discipline, they said. In 2022, the then President Ram Nath Kovind awarded him the Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of yoga....