A MAN stunned airport staff when he showed them a passport saying he was born in 1896, which, if true, makes him the oldest person in the world at 123 years old.

Swami Sivananda, from Behala, India, was raised by a spiritual guru and has attributed his long life to yoga, food with no spices and celibacy.

Sivananda was traveling from Kolkata to London, with a stopover at Abu Dhabi Airport, where staff noticed his passport said he was born Aug. 8, 1896.

It is unknown whether the date is correct as he was given up by his relatives when his parents died — and the only record of his birth comes from temple archives.

If his passport is right, Sivananda, who lives in Varanasi, is the oldest person to have ever lived, the Mail Online reports.

He previously said, “Discipline is the most important thing in life.

“One can conquer anything with discipline in food habits, exercise and sexual desires.

“Because I was born in poverty, I have never had great demands from life.

“Nowadays, people are unhappy, unhealthy and have become dishonest, which pains me a lot.

“I just want people to be happy, healthy and peaceful.”

Sivananda travels to give interviews and lectures on life, and people from all over India flock to him in search of peace and the secret to his longevity.

Jeanne Calment holds the official title for the world’s oldest person, reaching 122 years old before her death in 1997.

(SD-Agencies)