Indian Guru to the Beatles Dies

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi brought Transcendental Meditation to the West
By Laurel Jorgensen,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 6, 2008 3:22 AM CST
Indian Guru to the Beatles Dies
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is seen on a video screen during an AP interview in Vlodrop, Netherlands, in this Feb. 1, 2006 file photo. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Indian guru to the Beatles and millions of meditators, died late Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008 at his home in the Dutch town of Vlodrop, a spokesman said....   (Associated Press)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Indian guru who inspired the Beatles and founded the Transcendental Meditation movement, died yesterday at his Dutch home, the Guardian reports. He was believed to be 90. Maharishi—known as the “giggling guru” for his playful witticisms—hosted the Beatles for a highly publicized retreat at his Indian compound in 1968.

The guru was said to have convinced the musicians to give up drugs, but a falling out allegedly over a pass he made at a visiting actress led to John Lennon’s song “Sexy Sadie,” in which he claimed, “You made a fool of everyone.” Maharishi built a global empire based on the popular enthusiasm and medical support for meditation. Other notable followers of the guru include Deepak Chopra and Clint Eastwood. (More Beatles stories.)

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