THE ART OF HEALING

As Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar turns 70, his message of inner calm and peace finds renewed relevance in a fractured world

- ANIRUDHA KARINDALAM/Bengaluru

Around 25 kilometres south of bustling Bengaluru, the traffic thins and the road opens into an expanse of green.

Spread across 350 acres on Kanakapura Road is the Art of Living (AOL) international headquarters.

For more than 45 years, the AOL has drawn millions from across the world with the promise of a world free of violence and stress.

Nestled in the Panchagiri Hills, the spiritual world reveals itself almost at once. A quiet stillness welcomes you to the campus. Even the canines who seem to acknowledge your presence are not aggressive. Deep inside the campus live two pachyderms gifted to the Gurudev-Indrani and Maheshwara. "Gurudev loves animals," says a volunteer. "They have as much right to be here as we do." Just a few metres from the entrance is a meditation hall shaped like an amphitheatre. A few devotees sit on its steps, their eyes closed. Nearby, construction work is in progress; a building is coming up to accommodate the multitude of followers.

At the heart of this movement stands the soft-spoken Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is at once accessible and enigmatic. From a young age, he was drawn to silence and meditation. In 1981, at the age of 25, the Gurudev entered a period of silence on the banks of the Bhadra in Karnataka. He spent 10 days in meditation, and emerged with the Sudarshan Kriya-a rhythmic breathing technique designed to reduce stress, hone mental clarity and improve overall wellbeing.

There are several open-air amphitheatres on the campus, including the lotus-shaped Sumeru Mantap at the highest point. The Vishalakshi Mantap serves as a central place for satsang and discourse. Named after the Gurudev's mother, it reflects an inclusive spirit. "People are free to sing any devotional song they wish," says a volunteer.