Vethathiri Maharishi
Overview
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
leader and founder-trustee of the World Community Service Center in 1958 in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. He had founded over 300 yoga centres around the world and wrote about 80 books, many of which became academic textbooks. He was declared the 19th Siddha
Siddha
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara , have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies into a different kind of body dominated by...
by the Dravidian University
Dravidian University
The Dravidian University, Kuppam, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India was founded on October 20, 1997 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, with the initial support extended by the governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala for an integrated development of Dravidian...
.
Shri Vethathiri Maharishi was born in 1911 in the village of Guduvancheri
Guduvancheri
Guduvancheri is a suburb of Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. It is situated from Chennai, between Tambaram and Chengalpattu. The pincode for Guduvancheri is 603202.-Geography:...
, 30 km south of Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India, into an indigent weaver’s family.
After spending several years in various minor employments, he established a textile concern that grew to employ over 2000 workers on a profit-sharing basis that would be thought progressive even today.
