A European, who lives in a small hut when he visits Kudle Beach near Gokarna in Uttar Kannada district, delivers free lectures on ayurveda, yoga, astrology and Hindu religion to foreign tourists.
Visitors from Germany, Russia, Israel, America, England, Australia, Spain and other countries willingly join these classes held by 40-year-old Walter Barofio.
A strong follower of Hindu religion, the man from Spain is a scholar of Vedas, ayurveda and astrology. He visits India for six months every year.
A staunch believer of Lord Ganesha, Shiva and Hanuman, Barofio chants mantras, recites Sanskrit stanzas (poems) and checks Indian horoscopes. He discusses the difficulties faced by an individual on the basis of horoscopes. He also suggests astrological mitigation measures . He also explains how he suffered for four years due to Shani Graha. In his discussion, Walter also stresses the “ill-effects” of allopathy and suggests the adoption of ayurveda medicines.
Barofio says that he has no intention of getting married and wants to work more to gain knowledge of the absolute.
A vegetarian, Barofio’s diet comprises fruits, salads, cashew and other dry fruits since 1998.
“India is the spiritual hubof the globe and the whole world is the beneficiary of religion and spirituality of India,” says Barofio.
According to him, he developed an interest for the Indian way of living during his visit to Rishikesh, Puri and Gokarna in 1998.
After his migration from Italy to Switzerland and later to Spain, Barofio used to run a garment shop in Spain and there he came to know about India. He came to know of Tamil Nadu’s Swami Jyotirmayananda Ashram in Italy and went there to stay for three years. There he studied ayurveda, panchakarma, yoga , dhyana (meditation) and more.
Later, during his regular visits to India, he used to stay in Rishikesh and studied Veda, astrology, ayurveda and Indian mythology.
“I am committed to spreading Indian culture throughout the world,” says Barofio.