Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Life, Teachings & Legacy
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar biography — life, Sudarshan Kriya, Art of Living foundation, peace missions, books & global impact on yoga and meditation.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar biography — life, Sudarshan Kriya, Art of Living foundation, peace missions, books & global impact on yoga and meditation.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar biography is the story of a child prodigy who could recite the Bhagavad Gita at the age of four, walked his own path through Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's circle in his twenties, emerged from a 10-day silence in 1981 with the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique, and went on to build the Art of Living Foundation — one of the largest volunteer-based humanitarian and peace networks in the world, present in 180 countries. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, recognised by parliaments and presidents from Bogotá to Brussels, his Sri Sri Ravi Shankar life and teachings have brought the breath, the silence and the smile of Sanatan Dharma to over 800 million people across continents and faiths.
Early Life and Family Background
Sri Sri was born on 13 May 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, into a traditional Tamil Brahmin family. His father Venkat Ratnam was a businessman; his mother Vishalakshi a deeply pious householder. From birth he was given the name Ravi Shankar — meaning "the rising sun and the moon" — and the prefix "Sri Sri" was added later by devotees as a mark of reverence.
A child prodigy
At age four he was already reciting passages from the Bhagavad Gita; at eight he was learning the Vedas under Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi (a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi). He took degrees in Vedic literature and physics, the latter from St. Joseph's College in Bangalore — an unusual blending of shruti and modern science that would shape his teaching.
Years with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
In his early twenties he travelled with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the founder of Transcendental Meditation), conducting yajnas and serving as a teacher. The years with Maharishi gave him deep exposure to organising international spirituality — a foundation he would soon use for his own work.
The 10-Day Silence and Birth of Sudarshan Kriya (1981)
In September 1981, while staying on the banks of the Bhadra river near Shimoga in Karnataka, Sri Sri entered a self-imposed maun-vrat (vow of silence) for ten days. From that silence emerged a rhythmic breathing practice that he would call Sudarshan Kriya — Su (good), Darshan (vision), Kriya (action). It is now the central practice of the Art of Living Happiness Programme.
The Art of Living Foundation (founded 1981)
Sri Sri founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1981 in Bangalore. Today it operates in 180 countries through over 30,000 trainers and one million volunteers, running yoga, meditation, breath, leadership and trauma-relief programmes.
Flagship programmes
The Happiness Programme — Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama, knowledge talks; the entry course taken by tens of millions.
Sahaj Samadhi Meditation — a mantra-based meditation building on Vedic tradition.
AdvertisementYES! and YES!+ — programmes for school children and college students.
Sri Sri Ayurveda — hospitals, training, herbal product line.
Project Bhumi — rural development, watershed restoration in India.
International Association for Human Values (1997)
In 1997 Sri Sri founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) in Geneva — a sister organisation focused on conflict resolution, prison rehabilitation and trauma-relief. IAHV has worked in war zones from Iraq and Sri Lanka to Côte d'Ivoire and Colombia, and has consultative status with the UN ECOSOC.
Peace Missions and Diplomacy
FARC peace process, Colombia (2014–16) — Sri Sri was personally invited by President Juan Manuel Santos to mediate; he met FARC leaders in Havana and helped lay the groundwork for the historic peace deal.
Iraq (2007–08) — travelled to Baghdad and Kurdistan, ran trauma-relief for Yazidi refugees and civilians.
AdvertisementPakistan and Kashmir — led inter-faith and youth dialogue programmes on both sides of the LoC.
Sri Lanka post-civil-war — large-scale trauma-relief in the Tamil and Sinhalese areas.
Maoists / Naxalites in Chhattisgarh — mediated surrenders and rehabilitation.
World Culture Festival (Yamuna Banks, Delhi, 2016)
On 11–13 March 2016 Sri Sri convened the World Culture Festival on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi, drawing 3.75 million attendees from 155 countries — among the largest gatherings of its kind in modern history. The 35-acre stage hosted 8,500 dancers in unison, 36,000 musicians, and addresses from heads of state.
Famous Quotes by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
"Truth is not what you say. Truth is what you live." — Knowledge Sheet.
"You are the master of your breath, and breath is the link between body and mind." — Happiness Programme talk.
"In the absence of any opinion, there is unconditional love." — Sri Sri's Knowledge Sheets.
"Service springs out of joy, and leads to greater joy." — Art of Living motto.
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Lesser-Known Stories
He has been recognised by parliaments of seven countries (Argentina, Canada, Colombia, US, Peru, Mongolia, Brazil) with citations or special honours.
In 2009 he was awarded the Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum at Davos.
In 2016 he received the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour.
He is a trained mridangam artist and a published poet.
He never married; remained an unconditional brahmachari teacher.
His "Knowledge Sheets" — small one-page Q&A booklets — are read in over 50 languages.
Legacy and Impact on Sanatan Dharma and the World
Through Sudarshan Kriya he made an ancient yogic science accessible to office workers, soldiers, prisoners and children alike — and he did it without asking anyone to change their religion. The Art of Living and IAHV networks have logged peace, education, women's empowerment and environmental work in some of the hardest places on Earth: rural Karnataka, Kashmir, Iraq, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Côte d'Ivoire, post-Katrina New Orleans, post-tsunami Aceh.
For Sanatan Dharma he showed that yoga, pranayama and seva are not abstract ideas but practical tools that bring measurable wellbeing — and in doing so he made it natural for non-Hindus to draw on the wisdom of the Vedas without anxiety. He has trained over 30,000 teachers who carry the work forward.
Conclusion: The Breath That Travelled the World
The full Sri Sri Ravi Shankar life and teachings arc — from the four-year-old reciting the Gita to the global teacher gathering 3.75 million on the Yamuna in 2016 — proves that an ancient breath, in the right teacher's hands, can soften prison walls, mediate civil wars, and brighten a billion ordinary days. If you have not yet learnt the Sudarshan Kriya, give it a Sunday morning. The smile he speaks of will arrive on its own.
Share this article and explore the rest of the series: Sadhguru, Acharya Prashant, Gaur Gopal Das, and Amma.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Sri Sri Ravi Shankar born?
On 13 May 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India.
What is Sudarshan Kriya?
A rhythmic breathing technique that emerged from Sri Sri's ten-day silence in September 1981. It is the central practice of the Art of Living Happiness Programme and has been the subject of over 100 independent peer-reviewed scientific studies.
When was the Art of Living Foundation established?
In 1981 in Bangalore. It now operates in 180 countries through over 30,000 trainers and a million volunteers.
What is the difference between Art of Living and IAHV?
The Art of Living focuses on personal transformation through yoga, breath and meditation. The International Association for Human Values (IAHV, 1997) focuses on conflict resolution, prison rehabilitation and trauma relief in war zones and disaster areas.
Has Sri Sri received the Padma Vibhushan?
Yes — in 2016, India's second-highest civilian award.
Did Sri Sri play a role in the FARC peace deal?
Yes. President Juan Manuel Santos personally invited him as an envoy for talks. Sri Sri travelled to Havana, met FARC leaders, and helped lay the groundwork for the historic 2016 Colombia peace agreement.
What was the World Culture Festival 2016?
A three-day cultural and spiritual gathering on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi (11–13 March 2016) organised by the Art of Living Foundation. It drew 3.75 million attendees from 155 countries — one of the largest gatherings in modern history.
How can I learn Sudarshan Kriya?
Through the Art of Living Happiness Programme — offered both in-person at Art of Living centres in 180 countries and as Online Happiness Programme. Look up artofliving.org for an upcoming course in your city.
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