Balkrishna

'Balkrishna' is the Acharya of Ayurveda and companion of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev. The birthday of Balkrishna(4 August), having knowledge of Ayurvedic medicines and herbs, is being celebrated as ‘Jadi Booti Divas’. The Patanjali Yogpeeth website calls him a vaidyaraaja (the leader of ayurvedic doctors) and ayurveda-manishi (ayurvedic thinker and philosopher). Acharya Balkrishna is the General Secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth. His parents live in syangja district of Nepal. ^[1]^[2]^[3] ^[4] ^[5] ^[6]^[7] He has written a book on Ayurvedic medicines.^[8] Acharya Balkrishna along with Baba Ramdev established Acharyakulam in Haridwar. He is also associated with Narendra Modi’s mission of Swachh Bharat.

Major Works

1) Through the medium of Ayurveda Center of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Balkrishna has done work of carrying forward traditional Ayurveda methods of India. Some people believe that it is not right to commercialize traditional knowledge but to promote our Vedic knowledge, its necessary to do such experiments.^[9]

2) Along with the development of Ayurvedic Medicines, Balkrishna is also doing the work of social service by spreading the knowledge of sages through the medium of books, threaded in simple words. He initiated scientific research on traditional medicine system of India.^[10]

3) To give importance to Vedic education along with modern education, Acharya Balkrishna together with Baba Ramdev established Acharyakulam in Haridwar, which is helpful in advancing India's Vedic tradition and culture. ^[11]

Written Texts

Acharya Balkrishna serves as chief editor of Yog Sandesh, a magazine that promotes yoga and ayurveda. He has also written and co-written:

Yog In Synergy with Medical Science ^[12]
Secrets of Astavarga Plants
Secrets of Indian Herbs ^[13]
Ayurveda: its principles and philosophies ^[14]
Vitality Strengthening Astavarga Plants ^[15]
Vaidika Nityakarma Vidhi ^[16]
Bhakti Gitanjali

Balkrishna and yog

Along with promoting Ayurveda,^[17] Balkrishna is also working toward making people aware about yoga. He is significantly doing important contributions toward Ayurveda.^[18] People are getting great benefits by ayurvedic home remedies shared by him. ^[19] ^[20]

Paper publication

Acharya Balkrishna, along with his co-authors have written a total of 41 research papers. All research paper are related to yoga, ayurveda and medicines.^[21]^[22] Acharyaji has undertaken the project of developing the Ayurvedic system of medicines and research work.^[23] ^[24]

Awards and Honors

Acharya Balkrishna has been honored with various awards and appreciation letter for his contribution towards yoga and Ayurveda. Some remarkable honors are as follow :-

October 23, 2004 during a yoga camp, he was honored by former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In October, 2007 in the presence of Prime Minister, President and cabinet ministers, he was honored for his contribution in Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian culture and his research in the field of Himalayan herbs.

In 2012 he was honored by “Sujaan Shri” award by Shri Viranjnya Foundation for his contribution in the field of yoga and medicinal plants.

Post

Chancellor, Patanjali University
General Secretary, Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust
General Secretary, Patanjali Research Foundation
General Secretary, Patanjali Gramodhyog Trust
Chairman and Managing Director, Patanjali Ayurved, Haridwar
Chief Editor, Yoga Sandesh
Managing Director, Patanjali Bio Research Institute
Managing Director, Vedic Broadcasting Ltd.
Managing Director, Patanjali Food and Herbal Park

Critics

While Acharya Balkrishna was appreciated, there is also some controversies associated with him, which had raised questions on his Indian citizenship and academic certificates.^[25]^[26]