Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

·         On February 5, 2008 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 91, who introduced the Transcendental Meditation movement to the West in 1958 and is credited with setting the Beatles and other stars on the path to spiritual enlightenment, died in the Netherlands.

·         He introduced the Transcendental Meditation movement to the West in 1958, with the intention of creating individual peace and enlightenment.

·         Born in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the Maharishi trained as a physicist before devoting himself to spiritual enlightenment.

·         After studying in the Himalayas under Guru Dev during the 1940s and 1950s, he spread the teachings of transcendental meditation throughout the world.

·         He eventually built up a following of about six million people in more than 100 countries. His most famous followers were the Beatles, who travelled to India in 1968 to meditate with him.

·         By the time of his death, it had grown into a multi-million dollar empire.

·         By 1959, his "technique" - that of unfolding the potential of Natural Law to improve all areas of life - was complete, and he set off on his first international mission of peace.

·         The Maharishi's commercial mantras drew criticism from stricter Hindus, but his promises of better health, stress relief and spiritual enlightenment drew devotees from all over the world.

·         John Lennon admitted to "an error of judgement", writing the scathing "Sexy Sadie" about him.

·         George Harrison defected to the Hare Krishna movement, though he continued supporting the Maharishi's Natural Law party in Britain which stood in general elections between 1992 and 2001.

·         Despite these setbacks, by 1972, the glamorous guru had attracted 100,000 members to his Academy, set up Institutes of Meditation across the world and made the cover of Time magazine.

·         At his Universities of Management, advanced students were offered courses in levitation, but the majority of study was aimed at "improving managerial consciousness."

·         In 1997, he founded India's new Institute of Technology, a 500-acre educational kingdom, and two years later, courted controversy with plans for urban improvement in San Paulo, Brazil.

·         The Maharishi's principles of Natural Law allowed him to ally such profit-making schemes with his undaunted spirituality. He said himself, "Managers are the most creative people in the world."

·         His own managerial consciousness permitted him to inhabit a 200-room mansion, with a fleet of cars, helicopters and a hundred security guards, described as a cross between "Blackpool and Lourdes".

·         With his strong personality, beatific smile and high-pitched giggle, Mahesh Yogi was no holy hermit. He managed the contradictions of his lifestyle with the simple command to "Just be yourself".