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The background -

'Rubber Soul,' the sixth studio album by the Beatles, released in 1965, includes the song 'Norwegian Wood' among the tracks. The musical composition features a sitar part played by George Harrison, who'd become captivated with the instrument's exotic sound. 'Norwegian Wood' subsequently helped elevate sitar maestro Ravi Shankar and Indian classical music to mainstream popularity in the West.

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Nurturing an interest in Indian culture -

Harrison encouraged his bandmates to take more of an interest in Indian music and culture. John, Paul, and Ringo are pictured here in 1966 watching George receive instruction in playing the sitar from a Sikh teacher.

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Learning to play the sitar -

Besides Ravi Shankar, George Harrison became good friends with sitar player Bishan Dass, pictured left with Harrison and McCartney, who's seen getting to grips with the instrument in Dass' specialist music shop in Connaught Circus in London.

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The influence on 'Sgt. Pepper' -

By 1967, Harrison had extended his interest in classical Indian music to studying the teachings of the Hindu Vedas (religious texts). 'Within You Without You,' the song that opens side two of 1967's 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' features complex Indian instrumentation, such as sitar, tabla, dilrubas, and tamburas. None of the other Beatles played on the recording.

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Embracing Transcendental Meditation -

Later in 1967, Harrison introduced John, Paul, and Ringo to the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and to the study of Transcendental Meditation (TM). In August, the four Beatles attended a seminar hosted by the Maharishi in Bangor, North Wales.

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Bad karma -

While in Bangor, the Beatles received news that the band's manager, Brian Epstein, had died. They cut short their stay to return to London. Epstein had been due to meet the Maharishi after expressing his own interest in Transcendental Meditation. Pictured looking visibly shocked are George, John, and Ringo being interviewed by the press. Paul had gone on ahead to London.

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John and George leave for India -

In February 1968, the Beatles traveled to India at the invitation of the Maharishi to take part in a TM training course at an ashram in Rishikesh. John Lennon and his wife Cynthia are pictured with George Harrison and his wife, Patti Boyd, arriving at Heathrow Airport for a flight to Delhi.

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Paul and Ringo leave for India -

Following John and George a few days later was Paul McCartney with his girlfriend, the actress Jane Asher, and Maureen Starr and husband Ringo Starr.

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Arrival in Rishikesh -

Rishikesh is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Sitting on the right bank of the Ganges, it's an important pilgrimage center for Hindus, who call the entire region "Land of the Gods."

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A bridge to enlightenment -

By February 20, all four Beatles and their entourage were ensconced in Rishikesh. Paul and Ringo and their partners are pictured crossing the landmark Lakshman Jhula suspension bridge on their way to the Maharishi's ashram.

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Body and soul -

Also traveling to India with the party was Mal Evans, the Beatles' road manager and personal assistant. His duties included looking after the welfare of each band member, things like finding a doctor for Ringo, who'd suffered a bad reaction to his inoculation shots.

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A celebrity cause -

The Beatles' foray into TM at Rishikesh also attracted Mike Love of the Beach Boys (pictured with Harrison and Lennon), British singer-songwriter Donovan, American jazz flautist Paul Horn, and Hollywood actress Mia Farrow, among other entertainment and music industry personalities.

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Welcome to the ashram -

The ashram was set on a hill above Rishikesh. Facilities were clean and comfortable, but basic. The Beatles' bungalows, however, were equipped with electric heaters, running water, toilets, and English-style furniture.

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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi -

The host, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, was the creator of Transcendental Meditation. TM is a form of silent mantra meditation, which the Maharishi began teaching in India in the mid-1950s. Essentially it's a meditation technique where you mentally repeat a word or phrase until you reach a state of inner peace.

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The meditation begins -

The Maharishi led meditation sessions and conducted lectures from a flower-bedecked platform on the grounds or a covered auditorium, depending on the weather.

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Happy birthday, George! -

Between days devoted to meditating and attending lectures, the Beatles embraced the peace and tranquility the retreat afforded. On February 25, a party was thrown to celebrate George Harrison's 25th birthday.

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Fun and laughter -

George indulges in a hilarious "lap of honor" with wife Patti Boyd while Lennon, McCartney, and Mal Evans howl with laughter at the impromptu gesture.

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All together now -

The birthday party was memorable for bringing together all four Beatles and their other halves under one roof at the same time. The occasion was joyful and carefree.

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A media event -

The Beatles' presence in Rishikesh attracted worldwide media attention. For the most part, the Maharishi kept the media away from his famous students, although he himself gave interviews to the press. Selected photographers were invited to take occasional group and individual photographs of the band and their entourage for publicity purposes.

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Singing and songwriting -

The stay at the ashram turned out to be the group's most productive period for songwriting, with all four members composing songs individually or collaboratively. Photographer Paul Saltzman in particularly caught some wonderful moments of interaction between Lennon and McCartney.

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John Lennon at his best -

Lennon later remarked that he wrote some of the "most miserable" and some of his "best" songs while he was in Rishikesh.

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Celebrating Holi -

During their stay, the famous students celebrated the religious festival known as Holi, a celebration of color. Accordingly, each daubed the other with colored powder. Here, Mike Love dabs Paul's nose with a spot of paint while Donovan, a painted heart stenciled on his cheek, walks by.

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The magic evaporates -

By March, Ringo and Maureen had tired of the experience and left India for England. McCartney and Asher were next to leave. One of those who stayed was Alex Mardas (pictured). Known as Magic Alex, he was a Greek music engineer who was working with the Beatles. It was Mardas who insisted that the Maharishi was not all he claimed to be.

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Lurid allegations -

Mardas confided in Lennon and Harrison that the Maharishi had allegedly indulged in sexual relations with an American student while at the ashram. He also suggested that the spiritual leader made inappropriate advances towards Mia Farrow (which she has since confirmed). These allegations of sexual impropriety, coupled with rumors of financial irregularities, prompted Lennon to leave India immediately.

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George Harrison meets up with Ravi Shankar -

George Harrison also departed Rishikesh. But he stayed in India, traveling south to meet Ravi Shankar.

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Flying back into controversy -

Harrison finally arrived back in Britain at the end of April 1968. His embracing of Indian music and culture notwithstanding, he together with Lennon felt betrayed by the Maharishi, though the Beatles had succeeded in generating a wider interest in TM, which in turn encouraged the study of Eastern spirituality in Western popular culture.

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The Maharishi becomes 'Sexy Sadie' -

The Beatles wrote at least 30 songs while in Rishikesh. The majority of these ended up on the 'Beatles' double album, better known as the 'White Album.' Released in November 1968, the tracks included 'Sexy Sadie,' John Lennon's response to the Maharishi's alleged sexual advances on Mia Farrow (the song was originally titled 'Maharishi').

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Renouncing the Maharishi -

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died in 2008, the allegations leveled against him never proven. In 1968, the Beatles had formally renounced their association with the Maharishi, declaring it as a "public mistake." In time, however, McCartney and Harrison renewed their friendship with their former tutor. Meanwhile, the Rishikesh ashram continued to thrive until 2001, when it was abandoned.

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The ashram is abandoned -

Today, the Rishikesh ashram is a ghost of its former self. Nature has largely reclaimed the site, including the meditation domes in this photograph.

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Pilgrimage site -

The empty ashram stands as testimony to a remarkable period in the history of the Beatles. And over 60 years later, the crumbling ruins serve as a pilgrimage site for many music fans.

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The Beatles' Indian legacy -

A marker reminds visitors of the time the Fab Four descended on Rishikesh and the songs they wrote while studying Transcendental Meditation. 

Sources: (The New York Times) (The Beatles Bible) (NBC News) (The Beatles Anthology)

See also: Celebrities who practice Transcendental Meditation

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