What 'The Beatles' came seeking in a small Rishikesh ashram
16 Apr, 2021
Who does not know about the legacy of this bunch of 4 individuals collectively called ‘The Beatles’! There has never been a more influential set of people in the history of rock music on the planet. But do you know that they shared a connection, rather an important one, with India. Yup, that’s true!
It all started in 1967. In August that year, the Beatles had an opportunity to attend a seminar by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Wales (United Kingdom). Maharishi was a teacher and promoter of “Transcendental Meditation” (TM) who in his lifetime had ensured to directly (or indirectly) grow the Transcendental Meditation movement to (close to) 5 million people globally. He had been touring major countries taking sessions on the topic and preaching it as a medium to achieve higher consciousness. Unfortunately, as the Wales Seminar progressed, Brian Epstein, the then manager of the Beatles passed away. This and the band’s further commitment to realise the film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ led to the cut short of the attendance of the Beatles at the seminar.
But by then, the most popular rock band on the planet had developed a strong taste for Transcendental Meditation. Most convinced of the merits of TM were John Lennon and George Harrison who were eventually joined by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well. And thus, in February of the following year in 1968, began the pursuit of a retreat that would play a pivotal role in the foundation of the “Human Potential Movement” of the 1970s (rebranded “New Age” in the 1980s). As the author of ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, Jonathan Gould would describe it in 2007, “[The Beatles'] trip to Rishikesh occupies a place in their story analogous to that of their first overseas adventure, their inaugural visit to Hamburg in the fall of 1960. Separated by eight years of once-unimaginable success, these two journeys represented the Beatles' real-life magical mystery tours … Though the symbolism and symmetry seem almost too perfect, the mysterious bond that had first been sealed on the stage of a seedy Hamburg nightclub called the ‘Indra’ would begin to unravel eight years later in the hills of India itself.”
The Beatles’ Rishikesh retreat
The band arrived in India making it on the frontlines of almost all the major prints in the world in mid February 1968. They progressed to join Maharishi in his ashram in Rishikesh, a town which would go on to become the ‘Yoga capital of the world’. They were accompanied with their better halves, managers, assistants amongst others. Other big names (celebrities) that accompanied the Beatles were actress Mia Farrow, musicians Donovan, Mike Love and Paul Horn. While at the ashram, it is believed that they meditated and practiced Transcendental Meditation with 50 other disciples of Maharishi. They pursued a simple routine and lifestyle in Rishikesh. What the Beatles adored the most was the tranquil environment and protection from the media. This helped the band relax. While in India, the Beatles ate vegetarian meals (mostly) in the ashram’s communal dining area, wore native dresses and party shopped in local towns including Dehradun and Mussoorie. The Beatles also ended up writing quite a few songs during their stint in Rishikesh. These songs featured in "the White Album" and “the Abbey Road album” later. Lennon and Harrison stayed in the ashram till 12th April 1968 while Paul and Starr had left earlier.
The legacy
This trip to India was the last time when all four Beatles travelled together after they had given up touring in 1966. The retreat had gained widespread media attention across the world. Maharishi’s movement had garnered popular attention worldwide. The Beatles' adoption of traditional Indian clothing affected Western fashion when they wore them after going home. Their self-exploration through meditation and yoga led to each of the Beatles adopting a more conscious and individual focus. The Beatles’ interest in Transcendental Meditation encouraged the study of Eastern spirituality in Western popular culture.
Philip Goldberg, in his book American Veda, describes the Beatles' trip to Rishikesh as the one that "may have been the most momentous spiritual retreat since Jesus spent those forty days in the wilderness". Spiritual biographer Gary Tillery also recognises the Beatles as having "abruptly brought Indian spirituality to everyday awareness" through their association with India, Rishikesh and the Maharishi. Tillery goes on to write that, “while the influence of Indian gurus such as Vivekananda, Yogananda, the Maharishi and Prabhupada was well established by the late 1960s, it was the Beatles' endorsement of their respective philosophies that most contributed to yoga and meditation centres becoming ubiquitous in Western cities and towns over subsequent decades.”
The Beatles ashram, Rishikesh
The ashram in Rishikesh in which Maharishi Mahesh Yogi gave lessons on TM to the Beatles is called ‘Chaurasi Kutia”. It is located on the eastern bank of the Ganges river, opposite the Muni Ki Reti area of Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. The ashram proved to be the setting for the band's most productive period as songwriters, where they composed most of the songs for their self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album". It is believed that the Maharishi stopped using the ashram during the 1970s. The land was reclaimed by the Indian government in the mid 1990s and the site was reverted to the local forestry department in 2003, after which it became a popular visiting place for fans of the Beatles from across the world. Such is the legacy of this 1968 Rishikesh retreat that the ashram eventually got the name of “The Beatles Ashram”.
So, if you wish to experience the legacy of the Beatles Ashram upclose, you must plan a day trip to Rishikesh. And when you do, choose CloakBuddy
