Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Gurudev was born in South India in 1956. At age four, he amazed those around him by
reciting from memory the Bhagavad Gita and would naturally enter into deep meditation.
At 17, he graduated with a degree in modern physics, bridging the worlds of science and
spirituality from a young age.
In 1981, after ten days of silence, he emerged with Sudarshan Kriya, a transformative
breathing practice that has helped hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The same
year, he founded the Art of Living, a movement to create a stress-free, violence-free
society. His teachings make ancient wisdom accessible through practices that people
can apply in daily life to directly experience inner peace.
Over 45 years, the Art of Living has grown into a global movement with self-development
workshops, service projects, and peace-building initiatives. 40,000 teachers and
many more volunteers are active across 182 countries, advocating human values like
compassion, love, and service.
In conflict zones, his peace work has reached both the victims and perpetrators of
violence. From Kashmir and Assam in India to Latin America and the Middle East, his
programs have inspired terrorists and gang members to give up violence and turn
towards peace. And through mediation, he has helped resolve entrenched conflicts
including the Colombian Civil War and the Ayodhya Temple dispute.
His work has been honored with the Padma Vibhushan from the President of India and
the highest civilian honors in Colombia, Mongolia, Suriname, Paraguay, and Fiji.
The World Culture Festivals organized by the Art of Living are a testament to Gurudev’s
vision of uniting people as a “One World Family”. To date, the events in Bangalore, Berlin,
New Delhi, and Washington, D.C. have brought together more than seven million people.
At its core, Gurudev’s mission is simple: to transform life’s struggles and make life a
celebration, building stronger individuals who can serve society with compassion
and purpose.