Shivabalayogi in 1952, after about three years of tapas.

He is sitting on a tiger skin and a low wooden platform.  Behind and over him is a twelve-headed brass cobra, a symbol of protection.

The tiger skin, wooden platform and brass cobra are still preserved at the Adivarapupeta ashram.

This photo, like most others taken during Shivabalayogi's tapas, probably was taken the day following Mahashivaratri, the only day in the year when Shivabalayogi gave public darshan during his twelve-year tapas.