In 1959, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced to the Western world the authentic meditation technique described in the Vedic texts of ancient India: Transcendental Meditation™. Since then, millions of people in over 50 countries have learned Transcendental Meditation. The importance of turning inward, relieving stress, and finding deep rest and an abiding happiness within one’s self is now scientifically validated and widely accepted around the world due to Maharishi’s efforts.
Later, in the early 1980s, Maharishi turned his attention to the revival of another important aspect of Vedic wisdom: Ayurveda. Because modern medicine had become a system of disease-care that had transgressed its own basic tenet, “above all else, do no harm,” Maharishi initiated a systematic effort to revive the full authenticity and scope of Ayurveda: the world’s oldest, continuously practiced, complete system of medicine — a natural, comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to healthcare, without harmful side effects.
Over the course of more than a century — during British rule of India — Ayurveda had fallen into relative decline. Modern medicine became the dominant system in India, and generations were educated to view traditional knowledge as outdated. As a result, much of the practical application of this vast science of Ayurveda became less accessible, and this living tradition risked being fragmented or completely lost.
Initiating a massive effort to restore Ayurveda to its full integrity and effectiveness, Maharishi gathered many of India’s most highly respected vaidyas (traditional Ayurvedic physicians), whose families had preserved this knowledge for countless generations, and brought them together with leading Sanskrit scholars.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi with eminent Vaidyas of India at a historic assembly at Maharishi Nagar, 1985. In the forefront are Dr. B.D. Triguna, Dr. V.M. Dwivedi, and Dr. Balraj Maharishi.
Because the classical Ayurvedic texts had been written down more than 6000 years ago, in the language of Sanskrit — a precise language with an unbroken scholarly tradition — it was possible to return to the original source texts and carefully re-establish the authentic curative herbal formulations; the full range of Panchakarma purification, healing, and balancing therapies; the comprehensive means to address the root cause of chronic disorders; and the prevention-oriented lifestyle principles that support long-term health and vitality.
Through years of collaborative review and restoration, a complete, holistic and systematic approach emerged. This revived and organized body of knowledge came to be known as Maharishi Ayurveda™.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, First International Training Course on AyurVeda for Medical Doctors, Maharishi Nagar, India, 7 March 1987.
In 1986, having completed the restoration process, Maharishi began the systematic and extensive training programs for western medical doctors so that the universal principles and modalities of Ayurveda could once again become available in a coherent, authentic, teachable, and clinically applicable form — not only for India, but for all people in all countries worldwide.
