It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Baba Ramdev’s succeeded in making yoga much more popular among the masses than it ever was. They way he has been contorting his body has fascinated people across the country – even the world, and helped him become the brand that he has now. From TV shows and political platforms (the latter with little success) to aiming to give competition to some of India’s top FMCG companies, the yoga guru is a name to be reckoned with.
So, should a leading English language magazine decide to feature him on the cover, it’s not suprising at all.
But, this time it was.
Baba Ramdev has been featured – in a version of the Prasarita Padottanasana, or wide-legged forward bend – with the strap line: “How Baba Ramdev discovered commerce and turned spirituality on its head to emerge as a political, economic and cultural superbrand.” After making headlines for performing yoga to the music of Kailash kher, when this cover was released, Twitterati couldn’t help but react to it in the funniest way possible.
Check these out.
Yog Guru Baba Ramdev advertising for his newly launched Patanjali Langot to Compete with Jockey inner-wear.(2016) pic.twitter.com/SzUPNdH8r1
— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) July 14, 2016
I fixed the Baba Ramdev @IndiaToday cover. pic.twitter.com/iObeoPQqjD
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) July 14, 2016
After the flag waving on moon, Ramdev’s anti-gravity beard is the next big conspiracy theory in science fiction. pic.twitter.com/yRxqhj7oRe
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) July 14, 2016
Baba Ramdev Leading Indian Airforce… Now Indian Fighter Plane are More Reliable. pic.twitter.com/K4fokfjhCx
— Aamir Khan (@wise9211) July 14, 2016
Baba Ramdev practicing for Rio Olympics diving competition #Olympics2016 pic.twitter.com/ezIj3XjDVp
— Gautam Trivedi (@Gotham3) July 14, 2016
Baba Ramdev was at Olympics in 2012. Sickular media won’t show. No Gymnastic medal because of racism :( pic.twitter.com/lZYRcQu4nF
— Being Watched (@DuckSpeech) July 14, 2016
Well. #BabaRamdev pic.twitter.com/5JtZFL5z9U
— H. ✈ (@Miister_H) July 14, 2016
Baba Ramdev showing how Pokemonasan helps us to find out the most popular pokemons around us. pic.twitter.com/e2cLpzSarX
— Ojas. (@Ojasism) July 14, 2016
Fixed it. pic.twitter.com/25AHKm9pg8
— Be’Havin! (@WrongDoc) July 14, 2016
Baba Ramdev watching a horror movie – pic.twitter.com/7Lc1S0dDx6
— Mihir Fadnavis (@mihirfadnavis) July 14, 2016
What Baba Ramdev actually saw.. pic.twitter.com/zzebz54yKA
— Amit A (@Amit_smiling) July 14, 2016
Anil kapoor’s chest and baba ramdev’s ballsack resemble each other.
— H. ✈ (@Miister_H) July 14, 2016
who did it better 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4CGtIGVkTI
— k (@krazyfrog) July 14, 2016
When you’re punished by the teacher but a cute girl passes by… #Ramdev pic.twitter.com/bWY5UBVXbw
— Royden Gomes (@EkOldMonk) July 14, 2016
Ramdev: Modi ji..
Modi: Haan boliye Ramdev ji..
Ramdev: ye dekho..
Modi:FML 😞😞 #indiatoday pic.twitter.com/AiOW7pN29D— AK (@MacInsultopedia) July 14, 2016
David Guetta feat. Ramdev Baba – We found love under our legs pic.twitter.com/MywnwZ6DcX
— Rahul Lalchandani (@LALUMMLAL) July 14, 2016
Uma – mere liye kya kar skte ho?
Ramdev – ye kar skta hu,
Ye bhi kar skta hu 😆
Uma – hahah bhkk bc 😂 pic.twitter.com/6X8HpM4QgY
— 200-(69+11+8+12)RAB (@Sourabhsharma68) July 14, 2016
Well, after turning everything else on their head, it looks like the Internet decided to decide the same with this cover image. But what we really want to know is – how did that beard defy gravity?
Forget the cover, how is Baba Ramdev’s beard defying gravity?
Video: Baba Ramdev doing yoga to Kailash Kher’s ‘Bum Lehri’ is hilarious