The Maharishi was one among the foremost of the Indian Gurus who spread Indian spirituality in the West. He was the founder of 'Transcendental Meditation'. He was born in a Hindu family in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. He was named Mahesh Prasad Varma and some others claim that His name was Mahesh Srivatsava. He was born on January 12.
However the exact year of His birth is not clear. He is said to be born in 1911, 1917 or 1918. He was born of a Hindu family that worshipped Lord Shiva. In 1939 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi came into the fold of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati who was the Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) of the Jyotir Math in the Himalayas.
In 1941 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi earned the privilege of becoming the secretary of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. His Guru conferred Him with the title of Bal Brahmacharya Mahesh. The privilege of being the secretary of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati did not get Him to the seat of Sahankaracharya after His Master shed His body in 1951 on account of being a non brahmin.
Maharshi is said to have moved to Uttarkashi, in the Himilayas in 1953 where His Master had lived with His Guru Swami Krishananda Saraswati previously.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi exposed His teachings to the world what he claimed it to be a traditional meditation technique from the Vedas. He named it as 'Transcendental Meditation'. He started a movement called the 'Spiritual Regeneration Movement' in Madras in 1957 on the concluding day of a celebration to commemorate the service of His teacher Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. His technique was widely appreciated by those who learnt it as a benefit for the world at large.
Maharishi then began His world tour in Rangoon, Burma and proceeded to teach Transcendental Meditation in Hawaii and California. In California the Olson's private home sheltered Maharishi from where He continued to teach. He moved across the world and spread His teachings.
The Maharishi also contributed His knowledge in the form of books. He translated and rendered commentary of the first six chapters of the Bhagavad-Gita, as well as audio-taped the 'The Science of Being and Art of Living' which was transcribed and published in 1963.
Programs
The 'Transcendental Meditation Sidhi Program' was then introduced for advance knowledge following the 'Transcendental Meditation Technique'. The Maharishi further introduced a lot of other programs like the 'Maharishi Ayurveda', Maharishi Jyotish' (Vedic Astrology), Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (Vedic architecture) and Maharishi Ghandarva Ved. He also formulated a program to alleviate poverty with the introduction of a new currency called the 'Raam Mudra'.
Followers
Apart from the huge ocean of followers, the practitioners of TM comprised a lot of celebrities as well. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, singer Mike Love who became a TM teacher, singer and song writer Donovan, comedian Andy Kaufman, magician Doug Henning, directors Clint Eastwood, David Lynch are some of them who practiced TM.
Having said to have begun a spiritual renaissance, let’s hail this Supreme Being that resolved most naturally in the self.
