The Beatles in India: their spiritual journey and the impact on their music.

The Beatles have a very deep connection to India and to the city of Rishikesh in particular.

February 1968, The Beatles embarked on a trip to India that was to mark the a before and after in his musical and personal history. His destination was Rishikesh, a city on the banks of the Ganges River, just a few hours from the source of the sacred river.

They stayed at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram. (Chaurasi Kutiapara ashram) with the aim of moving away from the media spotlight and delving deeper into the transcendental meditation. This experience in Indian lands not only immersed them in spirituality, but also influenced them in the creation of some of its most emblematic songs and successful.

The trip to Rishikesh - The Beatles in India

The Beatles' interest in spirituality began a year earlier, when in 1967 attended a lecture in London by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Impressed by his teachings on transcendental meditation, they decided to travel to his ashram in Rishikesh for a retreat of several months. The Liverpool quartet, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Star They were accompanied by their wives and a host of celebrities, including actress Mia Farrow and musician Donovan.

The ashram, located in a natural environment on the outskirts of the city, provided them with a refuge and a haven of peace away from the frenetic life they led in the West. George Harrison, always the most immersed in spirituality, had already had contact with Indian music and culture thanks to his friendship with Ravi Shankar. For the other Beatles, this was their first experience in India.

The influence on his music

During their stay in Rishikesh, the Beatles composed a large number of songs, many of which were to be part of the album The White Album (1968). It is estimated that wrote about 48 songs during this period of retreat in Rishikesh, where their level of creativity and inspiration multiplied with the practice of transcendental meditation. There they lived their moment of glory composing music. Some of the most outstanding include:

• "Dear Prudence" - Inspired by Prudence Farrow, sister of Mia Farrow, who immersed herself deeply in meditation to the point of isolating herself from the group.
• "Back in the U.S.S.R." - Interestingly, although written in India, the song has a classic rock & roll style.
• "Blackbird" - Influenced by the acoustic guitar and the search for a purer sound.
• "Sexy Sadie" - Supposedly written in reference to John Lennon's disillusionment with the Maharishi after rumors about his behavior.

In addition to The White Albumsome of the songs that were born in India ended up in Abbey Road and in solo albums of the band members.

The break with the Maharishi - The Beatles in India and their exit

Despite the positive impact meditation had on their creativity, the journey did not end in the best way or as they had hoped. Rumors arose about the Maharishi's behavior with some of his female disciples, which led John Lennon and others to doubt his authenticity and truthfulness in his teachings. Once they left India, George Harrison, the most integrated with the teachings, continued to practice transcendental meditation and maintained a deep connection with Indian spirituality until the end of his life.

The Beatles left Rishikesh earlier than plannedand although the relationship with the Maharishi deteriorated, India's imprint on his music was undeniable.

The Beatles Ashram Today

The Chaurasi Kutia Ashram in Rishikesh, known today as the "Beatles Ashram" and abandoned for many years, has been reopened to the public and is a very popular attraction in "the Capital of Yoga". The complex is on the outskirts of the city and is an enclave of lush vegetation in which the buildings of yesteryear are still maintained. It is a very quiet place and very conducive to find peace of mind.

Walking through the ashram you can see murals with images of the Beatles in India, ruins of the bungalows where they stayed during their stay and feel an atmosphere of peace. A place that continues to attract Beatles fans, spiritual travelers and the curious from all over the world.

The stay of The Beatles in India not only left a legacy in his discographybut also influenced the way Eastern culture was perceived in the West. His retreat in Rishikesh opened the door to the fusion of sounds and a deeper exploration of spirituality in pop music. To this day, his journey remains a symbol of the crossover between music, spirituality and the search for meaning in a frenetic world.

If you plan to visit, remember to bring mosquito repellentis a natural area and there are usually quite a few 🦟.

The Hippie movement in India

The Beatles didn't start a hippie movement in India, but they were one of the main keys in popularizing the connection between India and the hippie counterculture in the West.. Before their arrival in Rishikesh in 1968, there was already a stream of young people traveling to India in search of spirituality, freedom and an alternative lifestyle, following the famous Hippie Trail. However, the Beatles' stay in India and the global influence of the Liverpool quartet amplified this trend, turning transcendental meditation into a mass phenomenon and reinforcing the idea of India as a spiritual destination.

His time at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram sparked an unprecedented interest in meditation and Eastern philosophy, influencing not only music, but fashion, art and pop culture at the time. George Harrison had already explored Indian music before, but his apprenticeship with Ravi Shankar and the inclusion of the sitar in several songs caused many Western musicians and young people to begin experimenting with sounds and ideas from India. Songs such as Within You Without You , Across the Universe reflect this spiritual and philosophical quest, helping to spread concepts such as karma, reincarnation and meditation in the Western world.

In addition to music, the Beatles influenced the aesthetics and lifestyle of the time. The hippie fashion adopted long tunics, beaded necklaces, Hindu symbols and vibrant colors inspired by India. The mandalas, images of Hindu gods and other visual elements of Indian iconography began to be seen in the West. As a result, hippie tourism to India increased drastically after his visitwith places like Rishikesh, Goa and Varanasi becoming iconic destinations for spiritual travelers and seekers of alternative experiences Although the Beatles did not create the hippie movement in India, they did give it an impetus. and gave it a global visibility that continues to this day.

The Beatles and India (the documentary)

"The Beatles and India" is a documentary that explores the impact of the Beatles' stay in India in 1968 and how the country's culture and spirituality influenced their music. It is based on the book Across the Universe: The Beatles in India and the documentary tells the story from different perspectives.

Beyond his stay at the ashram of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, the film shows how India became a key destination for young Westerners and how the Beatles helped popularize transcendental meditation and Indian classical music. It also includes interviews with Indian musicians and explores the influence of figures like Ravi Shankar in George Harrison.

Alongside the Beatles in India documentary, an album of covers of Indian-inspired songs performed by contemporary Indian artists was released. Bottom line, "The Beatles and India" is an in-depth look at the cultural connection between the band and the country, showing how the Beatles' trip to India transformed their music and left a lasting impact on rock history.

I hope you enjoyed this article about the Beatles in India and that it motivates you to visit the Beatles ashram in Rishikesh 😊.