Claims about a 188-year-old man being rescued from a cave near Bengaluru have been debunked by X community notes under a viral video. Users identified the supercentenarian as Siyaram Baba, whose estimated age is around 110 years.
🇮🇳 This Indian Man has just been found in a cave.
It’s alleged he’s 188 years old. Insane. pic.twitter.com/a7DgyFWeY6
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) October 3, 2024
Siyaram Baba gained attention in July after it was reported that he is a devoted follower of Lord Rama, the central figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Allegedly, he spends 21 hours a day reading the scripture.
The ascetic resides at Bhatyan Ashram in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh, and is renowned for supposedly performing intense penance by standing on one leg for ten years. Interestingly, he accepts a donation of just 10 Indian Rupees.
His dedication to Lord Rama and the Ramayana is extraordinary, as he reportedly reads daily without needing glasses. In addition to his extensive reading, the monk also engages in other daily practices like meditation and prayer, living a simple life in a modest ashram while wearing only a loincloth.
While Siyaram Baba’s exact age remains uncertain, he is believed to be over 100 years old, with some estimates suggesting he is 110, classifying him as a supercentenarian. Some of his followers even claim he is 130 years old.
The record for the oldest verified person is held by Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122 years old (1875 – 1997), being the only person confirmed to have surpassed the age of 120. Whether Siyaram Baba approaches that age will likely remain unknown; however, it is improbable that the ascetic is actually 188 years old.
A concerned user on X, who shared a video of the monk being escorted near a shrine, later admitted the age claim was a significant overestimate. “I’m embarrassed I even wrote 188. Anything over 120 would have been ridiculous,” the user confessed.
