Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , founded and developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and related programs and initiatives, including schools and universities with campuses in India, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and China.

In approximately 1939, Maharishi became a disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati who, from 1941 to 1953, was the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, located in the Indian Himalayas. Maharishi credits the Shankaracharya with inspiring his teachings.