Background and career
Ravi Shankar (born 13 May 1956) is an Indian guru and spiritual leader. He is also referred to by the honorifics Sri Sri and Gurudev. From the mid-1970s, he worked as an apprentice under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, before founding the Art of Living Foundation in 1981.
His work has included programmes related to meditation, yoga, and stress-management practices, and he is associated with the development of Sudarshan Kriya, a breathing technique taught as part of the Art of Living Foundation's activities.
Shankar has also been involved in international peace mediation, including the Colombian peace process and the Ayodhya dispute in India. In 2016, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour.
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