Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an Indian yoga guru

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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (12 January 1918 – 5 February 2008), was an Indian yoga guru, and most eminent spiritual leader of India. Who developed and popularized Transcendental Meditation, and he led a worldwide movement that’s been described both as a new religion and non-religious movement.

Early Life

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born on 12 January 1918, Chhattisgarh, India. In 1942 he graduated from Allahabad University with a degree in Physics. After graduating, he got into spiritualism. Swami Brahmanada Saraswati was his idol.

He meditated in Uttarkashi, Himalayan Ranges, after his guru Swami Brahmanada Saraswati passed away. For almost two years, he meditated and prayed. He left Uttarkashi in 1955 and spread meditation techniques. In his spiritual teachings, he preached Transcendental Meditation, a form of traditional meditation, which he learnt from his Guru. Since then, he has been referred to as Maharshi. In 1957, he started an organisation in Chennai called the Spiritual Regeneration Movement.

Between 1955 and 1957, he visited many parts of India. Maharishi spoke in English when he visited South India so that his teachings would reach the masses.

World Tour

He started touring internationally in 1959. He went on his first trip to Rangoon, Myanmar. Transcendental Meditation was also taught by him in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hawaii, Hong Kong, etc. He also gave talks in Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and London in the same year. In addition to people’s interest in Maharishi, many celebrities also liked him. The International Meditation Society was founded in 1959 to spread his teachings and meditation techniques. There are also centers in San Francisco and London. Between 1960 and 1968, he traveled almost everywhere to spread his Meditation Technique.

In his 1986 book Thirty Years Around the World, the Maharishi elaborates on his world tour.

The Beatles have been influenced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as much as any other international celebrity or group. Maharishi met The Beatles in 1967, and since then they’ve been following him. Maharishi and the Beatles are still remembered for their association, and it’s been said that the Beatles’ popularity soared after these sessions with him.

In 1977, Maharishi founded the first international university. He combined Vedic knowledge with modern science to deliver holistic knowledge. University initially held classes in Santa Barbara, California, but later moved to Fairfield, California. Maharshi also wrote a lot of books on Transcendental Meditation. He also translated lots of books and gave religious talks.

He wrote the books The Science of Being and Art of Living (1963) and Meditations of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1968), Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation and Commentary (1967).

Death

He died on 5 February 2008, Limburg, Netherlands.

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