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{{Infobox person
|name = Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
|birth_name = Mahesh Prasad Varma
|image = Maharishi Huntsville Jan 1978A.JPG
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1978
|birth_date = 12 January 1918
|birth_place = [[Jabalpur]], [[British Raj]] (now in [[Madhya Pradesh]], India)
|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|2|5|1918|1|12|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Vlodrop]], [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], Netherlands
|death_cause = Natural causes
|years_active = 1955–2008
|occupation =
|spouse =
|parents = Sri Ram Prasad <small>(father)</small>
|children =
}}
'''Maharishi Mahesh Yogi''' (12 January 1918 {{ndash}} 5 February 2008) was an [[India]]n [[guru]] (a teacher of [[spirituality]]). He was most famous for his development of [[Transcendental Meditation]]. He also was well known for his association with the [[rock and roll|rock band]]s, [[The Beatles]] and [[The Beach Boys]].

==Early life==
His birth name was either '''Mahesh Verma Shrivastava''' or '''Mahesh Prasad Varma'''. His parents were [[Hinduism|Hindus]] from the{{Kayastha caste}}.
He was born in Raipur, India. He graduated from Allahabad University in Uttar Pradesh, and began his career as a [[physicist]]. His [[physics]] work made him interested in the sound [[vibration]]s made by spoken syllables, and how those vibrations could change a person's body or [[consciousness]]. In time, he became a [[disciple]] of '''Swami Brahmananda Saraswati''', who was called "Guru Dev". He later became the swami's [[secretary]]. He could not become the swami's {{broken wikt link|successor|successor}}, because of India's [[caste]] system, but he could become a guru on his own. Guru Dev gave him the name "Bal Brahmachari Mahesh". Later he adopted the name Maharishi ("great teacher"), while "yogi" was a name given to teachers of [[yoga]].

==Transcendental Meditation==
Transcendental Meditation (sometimes shortened to "TM") grew out of Guru Dev's teachings, and the Maharishi's own physics studies. A person practices Transcendental Meditation by sitting quietly, and mentally repeating a "{{broken wikt link|mantra|mantra}}", of syllables or names considered {{broken wikt link|sacred|sacred}} or [[:wikt:holy|holy]] in [[Hinduism]]. In Transcendental Meditation, the sounds are used purely as sounds independent of any associated meanings in any language.<ref>Jonathan Shear, "Transcendental Meditation," in ''The Experience of Meditation: Experts Introduce the Major Traditions'', Paragon House: 2006, pp. 27-28</ref> Meditating helps a person to [[:wikt:relax|relax]], and to [[:wikt:concentrate|concentrate]] on important things. During this meditation a person transcends conscious thought to a quieter state of mind, and this gives the [[:wikt:technique|technique]] its name.

The Maharishi began what he called the "Spiritual {{broken wikt link|Regeneration|Regeneration}} Movement" in 1958. He traveled around the world, teaching Transcendental Meditation to ordinary people. Unlike many gurus, he did not require followers to give up their everyday lives, or move to an {{broken wikt link|ashram|ashram}} to live and study. He believed that helping people to relieve [[Stress (medicine)|stress]] and learn how to [[focus]] would improve their lives, and in time make a better world. He taught for nearly ten years, with little public notice. He also published a book, ''The Science of Being and the Art of Living'', and recorded a spoken-word [[album (music)|album]], that explained his beliefs.

==The Beatles==
During 1967, during the last months of his ten-year "world tour", he visited [[England]], and people there began to join his Spiritual Regeneration Movement. One person who joined was [[Pattie Boyd]], the wife of [[George Harrison]], who was a member of [[The Beatles]]. Harrison had learned to play the [[sitar]], an Indian musical instrument, and was interested in Hinduism. He had not found a guru whose teachings interested him. When Pattie told him about the Maharishi, he became interested, and all four Beatles went to a [[lecture]] given by the Maharishi. They sent a message to him, asking to meet in person. All of the Beatles were interested in TM, because it was simple and they could continue on as musicians, instead of having to change their lifestyle. They each joined the movement, and began to [[promotion|promote]] the Maharishi and his teachings. They even announced that they gave up the use of [[drug]]s, which had earlier caused {{broken wikt link|scandal|scandal}} for the band, because of what they learned.

[[Brian Epstein]], manager of the Beatles, was also interested in TM, but had many problems in his personal life. He decided not to join the Beatles when they traveled to [[Wales]] to attend a weekend class given by the Maharishi, and stayed home. Later that weekend, Epstein [[overdose]]d on sleeping pills, and died in his sleep. The Beatles were very hurt by the news, and worried about what would happen to their careers. Maharishi tried to comfort them, telling them to think happy thoughts about Epstein, and let his [[spirit]] find peace.

The Beatles wanted to study with the Maharishi in India.<ref>The Beatles Anthology, Chronicle Books, 2000, pp. 281, 284-86</ref> They had just started their own company, [[Apple Corps]], and with Epstein gone they had to work out many details for themselves. They could have found another manager, but decided they did not want one, and looked after Apple personally, until their helpers could take over running the company. Finally in early 1968, they made the trip to India.

The Beatles enjoyed the [[:wikt:atmosphere|atmosphere]] in India, and the free time they had between classes, and began to write songs for a new album, which was later called the "[[The Beatles (album)|White Album]]". One by one the Beatles lost interest. [[Ringo Starr]], who had a sensitive stomach, became sick from the spicy food served at the ashram, and headed home after just a few days. [[Paul McCartney]] in time became bored, and also headed home. George Harrison and [[John Lennon]] stayed longer, but were upset when "Magic Alex", a friend who came to India with them, began to tell them stories about the Maharishi trying to have [[sexual intercourse]] with some of the women who came to the ashram. This {{broken wikt link|disillusion|disillusioned}} Harrison and Lennon, and they went home the next day.

The Beatles were earlier interested in making a [[movie]] about the Maharishi and his work. When they began to talk with him about it, he surprised them by knowing more about business matters than they ever expected, and by asking questions about his share of the movie's [[profit]]s. They did not think a "holy man" would be interested in such things. Between this and Magic Alex's stories, the band decided the Maharishi was a {{broken wikt link|phony|phony}}. They publicly {{broken wikt link|denounce|denounced}} him, telling the [[media]] they thought he was something other than what he proved to be. Lennon wrote a song about him, whose words went "Maharishi, what have you done? You made a fool of everyone." He later changed the name "Maharishi" to "Sexy Sadie", to keep the Maharishi from seeking [[:wikt:revenge|revenge]] of some kind, or a [[lawsuit]], against him.

Years later, the Beatles realized Magic Alex's {{broken wikt link|accusation|accusations}} were false.<ref>Peter Brown and Steven Gaines, ''The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles'', New American Library: 2002, p.264, Miles, Barry, ''Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now'' (Holt: 1998), p. 429; Spitz, Bob, ''The Beatles: The Biography'', Little, Borwn: 2005, pp. 755-757; Cynthia Lennon, ''A Twist of Lennon'', Avon: 1978, pp. 174-176), ''The Beatles Anthology'', Chronicle Books, 2000, pp. 285-86</ref> McCartney and Harrison began again to say good things about the Maharishi, and to promote his work. Starr called him "one of the {{broken wikt link|wise man|wise men}} I met in my life." Lennon never forgave Maharishi for letting him down personally, but still used TM from time to time. Lennon realized that he had been looking for a {{broken wikt link|father figure|father figure}}, and that any father figure he found was going to let him down in the end, so he was better off to work out his own problems.

==Later life and career==
The Beatles were not the only [[celebrity|celebrities]] to get involved with the Maharishi and his work. Actress [[Mia Farrow]], [[folk music|folk]]-rocker [[Donovan]] and [[Mike Love]] of the [[The Beach Boys|Beach Boys]] also studied with the Maharishi in India, and the Beach Boys later promoted TM, much more than the Beatles ever had. They toured together with the Maharishi, and Mike Love insisted people who worked for them meditate daily. The association did not work well for the Beach Boys, and an album they recorded at a school started by the Maharishi sold poorly. In time most of the Beach Boys lost interest, but Love continued to promote the Maharishi and his works.

[[Magician]] [[Doug Henning]] also became a follower of Transcendental Meditation. He campaigned to open a [[theme park]] called "Vedaland", based on Hinduism and the Maharishi's teachings. after his death, Doug Henning's [[widow]] continued the campaign.

Scientists studied people who meditated, and learned that TM really did help them to relax, and to think more clearly. A few {{broken wikt link|evangelical|evangelical}} [[Christianity|Christian]] [[clergy|minister]]s and writers denounced TM, calling it "a {{broken wikt link|backdoor|backdoor}} into Eastern religions", and said that mantras were really a way of [[:wikt:invoke|invoking]] the [[Devil]] or [[demon]]s. Other Christians saw no harm in it, or encouraged people who wanted to meditate to instead chant the name of [[Jesus Christ]], or a name for [[God]], or a line from a [[psalm]] or Christian [[prayer]]. In any case, TM went on to help many people around the world, and it is still taught as a form of meditation.

===Retirement===
The Maharishi continued his teachings and work, later promoting the "Maharishi Technology of the {{broken wikt link|Unified Field|Unified Field}}" and other ideas. In time, he gave up his ashram in India, moving to [[The Netherlands]] in [[Europe]]. He announced his [[retirement]] in January 2008, only weeks before he died from natural causes.

==References==
{{reflist}}
* ''The Science of Being and the Art of Living'', by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Signet Books)
* ''The Love You Make: an insider's story of the Beatles'', by Peter Brown (McGraw-Hill)
* ''The Beach Boys'', by Byron Preiss

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yogi, Maharishi Mahesh}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from natural causes]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:Spiritual teachers]]

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - Revision history

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