Balkrishna

Balkrishna is a companion of yoga guru Baba Ramdev and a practitioner of Ayurveda, often referred to as Acharya Balkrishna. He is also the managing director of Patanjali Ayurved and the General Secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth. He has undertaken a project of developing the Ayurvedic system of medicine.^[1][2]

Background

Balkrishna was born to Sumitra Devi and Jay Vallabh of Nepal. He met Ramdev at a gurukul in Haryana. They founded an ayurvedic pharmaceutical company named Divya Pharmacy in Haridwar in the 1990s. Balkrishna later helped Ramdev set up a number of other businesses serving as the managing director of 20–30 of them. Balkrishna along with Baba Ramdev established Acharyakulam in Haridwar. He is also associated with Narendra Modi’s mission of Swachh Bharat. ^{[3] [4]}

Ayurveda and Yoga

Through the medium of Ayurveda Center of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Balkrishna has done work of carrying forward traditional Ayurvedic methods of India.^[5] Along with promoting Ayurveda,^[6] Balkrishna is also working toward making people aware about yoga. He is significantly doing important contributions toward Ayurveda.^[7] People are getting great benefits by ayurvedic home remedies shared by him.^[8][9][10]

To advance India's Vedic tradition and culture, Balkrishna together with Ramdev established Acharyakulam in Haridwar.^[11]

Posts

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

• Chairman and Managing Director, Patanjali Ayurved
• Managing Director, Patanjali Bio Research Institute
• Managing Director, Vedic Broadcasting Ltd.
• Managing Director, Patanjali Food and Herbal Park
• General Secretary, Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust
• General Secretary, Patanjali Research Foundation
• General Secretary, Patanjali Gramodhyog Trust
• Chancellor, Patanjali University
• Managing director, Patanjali Food and Herbal Park

Controversies

There are a number of controversies associated with Balkrishna including those that question his Indian citizenship and academic qualifications.^[12][3]

The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) registered a case against Balkrishna in 2011 and arrested him on charges of forgery and cheating. The agency claimed that his passport was issued based on forged high school and graduation certificates and that he owned a pistol without a legal permit.^[3] Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate filed a case against him on charges of money laundering,^[13] but after a 2-year investigation the financial documents and information gathered by the Enforcement Directorate in this case do not show any wrongdoing on part of Balkrishna or illegal investments made by him and hence he was given a clean chit.^[14] The CBI's case against him and a Naresh Chandra Dwivedi, the principal of a Sanskrit college which allegedly issued the fake certificate, has been concluded and Balkrishna has given a clean chit in the case. Now all the cases against balkrishna has been cleared. ^{[15] [16]}

Writing

Balkrishna serves as chief editor of Yog Sandesh, a magazine that promotes yoga and ayurveda. He, along with his co-authors have written a total of 41 research papers. All research paper are related to yoga and ayurveda.^[17][18] He has also written a book on ayurvedic medicine.^[19]

• Yoga In Synergy with Medical Science^[20]
• Secrets of Astavarga Plants
• Secrets of Indian Herbs^[21]
• Ayurveda: its principles and philosophies^[22]
• A Practical Approach to the Science of Ayurveda^[23]
• Vitality Strengthening Astavarga Plants^[24]
• Vaidika Nityakarma Vidhi^[25]
• Bhojanakutuhalam ^[26]
• Bhakti Gitanjali
• Vichaar kranti(Nepali Granth) ^[27]

Awards and honours

Balkrishna has been honoured with various awards and appreciation letters for his contribution towards yoga and Ayurveda. Some notable honours are:

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

• The birthday of Balkrishna (4 August) is being celebrated as Jadi Booti Divas (Herb Day).^[28][29]

See also

• Baba Ramdev
• Bharat Swabhiman Andolan
• Bharat Swabhiman Trust
• Rajiv Dixit
• Patanjali Ayurved
• Ayurved

References