University of Virginia Library

Father Was Wise

"Your Majesty, how old are
you?"

"As you look at me."

"What do your beads symbolize
...what did you do for the Beatles
....Was your father a wise man?"

"What did he do?"

"Work...as all men."

"Ahh, he's not gonna tell you."

The Maharishi does not enjoy
talking about himself. When a
personal question arises, his smile
dims to a perplexed frown. He
usually circumvents his own history,
but he is reported to be about
56 years old, the son of a government
revenue collector named
Mahesh (Maharishi means great
sage, and a yogi is a teacher).
He is a university graduate who
worked in a factory before he
became a holy man. In recent
days, his cave has been replaced by
a palatial ashram with soundproof
walls and indirect lighting.