Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, was born on January 12, 1918 in the small village of Jabalpur, located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. He was born to a devout Hindu family and his birth name was Mahesh Prasad Varma.

Growing up, Maharishi showed a keen interest in spiritual practices and studied under various spiritual teachers, including Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) of Jyotir Math monastery. It was under Swami Brahmananda Saraswati's guidance that Maharishi began to delve deeper into the practice of meditation.

In 1941, Maharishi graduated from Allahabad University with a degree in physics and began working as a clerk in the Indian Government's Department of Revenue. However, his true calling was to spread the knowledge and benefits of meditation to the world.

In 1955, Maharishi left his job and began traveling throughout India, giving lectures on meditation and its benefits. It was during this time that he met his spiritual mentor, Guru Dev, who inspired him to spread the practice of meditation on a global scale.

In 1958, Maharishi founded the Spiritual Regeneration Movement with the goal of bringing meditation to the masses. He also began to refer to himself as Maharishi, which means "great seer" in Sanskrit.

In 1959, Maharishi embarked on his first world tour, spreading the practice of meditation to countries like the United States, Canada, and Europe. He gained popularity and followers, including celebrities like The Beatles, who helped to bring Transcendental Meditation to mainstream attention.

In 1975, Maharishi founded the International Meditation Society and established the first Maharishi International University in Iowa, USA. He continued to travel and teach, and by the time of his passing in 2008, Maharishi had established over 7,000 Transcendental Meditation centers and trained over 40,000 teachers worldwide.

Maharishi's teachings and practices continue to be shared and practiced by millions of people around the world, making him one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the 20th century. His legacy lives on through the Transcendental Meditation technique, which has helped countless individuals find inner peace, happiness, and fulfillment in their lives.