Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati was a hath yogi who used to live in his ashram called 'Yoga Vedanta Kutir ' on the banks of the Ganges at Allahabad. He died about 30 years ago when he was about 94 years old.. I used to visit him often, and held long discussions with him.
He was a Bengali, and became a sadhu at a young age. He travelled over much of India, seeking to learn Raj yoga and Hatha yoga from some guru, until in 1930 he came to Prayag ( Allahabad ) in 1930 during the Kumbh Mela. There he met the sadhu Handiya Baba, who was an adept in Hatha Yaga, and became his disciple. When Handiya Baba died at the age of 104, Swami Vishnudevanda became in charge of his ashram.
Swamiji was always a very cheerful person, and used to laugh frequently.
When leading doctors in Allahabad fell ill themselves, and could not be cured by conventional medical treatment, they would go to Swamiji,who would often cure them by some yogic technique.
Once, Dr. Sur, a leading doctor of Allahabad came to Swamiji and said that he had not been able to sleep for several weeks despite taking sleeping pills. Swamiji used a yogic technique which put the doctor to sleep for two days, and when he woke up he was completely refreshed.
Swamiji used to travel to America often, where he had a lot of disciples.
Once, when Swamiji was addressing a huge gathering in an American city, during the course of his discourse he said " You people have your brains in yout pocket "
At this, a young man got up and asked angrily " How have I got my brain in my pocket ? "
Swamiji smiled and said " I will explain. Suppose the American President gave you a cheque of 40 million dollars, and you put that cheque in your pocket, where will your brains be ? "
People in the audience yelled " In his pocket. Bravo Swamiji. Bravo ! "
