Maharishi Mahesh Varma

Mahesh Prasad Varma was bond on the 12th day of January in the year of 1918. Although it’s not clear if this date is real; some documents mentions his year of birth 1911 or 1912. He was born in Kayastha Family in the Madhya Pradesh region. Little is known about his early life. His family hereditary profession was writing.

Later on, he was famed as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Transcendental Movement is founded and introduced to the West by him. He was a spiritual leader of the Worldwide Organisation. His fame rose when he became associated with “The Beatles” a British Rock Band. This led to a significant following of his principles worldwide. He claimed many things, including the ability to levitate and create World Peace. He later on in the year of 1992moved to the Netherlands, where he stayed until his last breath. He was also the founder of “Global Country for World Peace”; a not for profit organization which was focused on creating harmony and peace among different countries and people.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi claimed that he taught the technique of Transcendental Meditation to more than forty thousand people that have indirectly influenced more than five million. He also founded countless training centers, universities, colleges, and schools all around the world with very wide presence in India, The United States, The United Kingdom and Switzerland. Several of his organizations helped in creating various Charitable and “For Profit” businesses in the field of organic farming, health, etc.; mostly owned by his family. According to various sources, his organization’ assets are worth billions and millions of dollars.

Childhood and Early Life:

•Maharshi Mahesh Yogi was born on 12th January 1918 in the Central Province of British India. He was born in Kayastha family. The writing was the traditional profession of his family.

•Information about his children’s early days isn't available or known.

•Later on, he studied at Allahabad University and attained a degree in Physics in the year of 1942.

•There are few sources that state that he also worked at Gun Carriage Factory in the city of Jabalpur. But that’s not confirmed.

•The solid information that is available is that he worked as an administrative secretary to the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati and took a new name “Bal Brahmachari Mahesh”.

•Hewas given this name because he was acknowledged as a fully dedicated student and he had spiritual knowledge. He was Swami Brahmananda Saraswati’s “favorite pupil” and he took care of many things in the Ashram. He also appeared in public to give speeches on Vedas.

•Maharshi Mahesh Yogi (then Bal Brahmachari Mahesh) continued to stay with Swami Brahmananda Saraswati until his death in 1953.

•Later in the year 1955, he left Uttarkashi to spread his knowledge about what he called Transcendental Meditation which he learned from his Guru Dev“Brahmananda Saraswati”. He spent two years teaching Indian people (mostly belonging to Hinduism) the technique of Transcendental Meditation. It was during these years he was given the title “Maharishi Mahesh Yogi” which he retained until his death.

Later years:

•Maharshi Mahesh Yogi began his world tours in 1958. It was in Madras when he was giving a speech to Guru Dev’s followers; that he spontaneously announced that he would be spreading his knowledge of Transcendental Meditation to the world. And in1959, he began his first world tour by having one thought in mind: I know one thing that is useful for every human being.

•He earlier referred to Transcendental Meditation as Spiritual Regeneration Movement. His first tour was in Rangoon, Myanmar. And later on, it extended on countries like Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Hawaii. Many newspapers published articles about him, stating that he doesn’t work for money and will only work for the welfare of the society by removing the unhappiness.

•He also met the popular boys Rock Band “The Beatles” and inspired their music. But it was also criticised as they called the meeting and a staying with Maharishi as “public mistake”. The song “Sexy Sadie” was the result of their encounter. Later on, Beatles renewed their friendship when McCartney took his daughter, Stella, to visit the Maharishi in the Netherlands in 2007.

•In 1968, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed a new headquarters at Seelisberg, Switzerland. He began teaching his technique of Transcendental Meditation at this new place and stopped other public activities.

•He also gave his Vedanta philosophy called the science of Creative Intelligence to many students from USA and Canada.

•In the October of 1975, Times Magazine’s cover was Maharishi

•Hewas concerned about his health, so he secluded himself in silence and rarely met anyone in public. His last declarations say "It has been my pleasure at the feet of Guru Dev (Brahmananda Saraswati), to take the light of Guru Dev and pass it on in my environment. Now today, I am closing my designed duty to Guru Dev. And I can only say, 'Live long the world in peace, happiness, prosperity, and freedom from suffering.'"

Major Works:

•The Maharishi wrote more than twenty books on the Transcendental Meditation technique and Maharishi Vedic Science.

•The Beacon Light of the Himalayas

•The science of Being and of Living

•Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation and Commentary: 1967

Personal Life and Legacy:

•Maharishi’s legacy is protected by his brother and number of nephews.

•His disciple includes Sri Ravi Shankar, who later on, founded “The Art of Living Foundation.”

•Maharishi left the ancient tradition of deep meditation;he made this ancient practice popular in the West. His unique and enduring contribution to humankind was his deep understanding of – and mechanics of experiencing – pure consciousness.

• A memorial building, the MaharishiSmarak, was inaugurated at Allahabad in February 2013.