Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an internationally-recognized humanitarian, spiritual leader, and ambassador of peace. His transformation of age-old wisdom into simple messages for everyday citizens and his vision of a society free of stress and violence have inspired millions of people around the world through the Art of Living's courses and service projects.
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The highest recognition granted to a civilian in Colombia, Mongolia, Paraguay and Suriname
The highest annual recognition for a civilian in the Republic of India
Government recognitions in Sri Lanka, Iraq, Colombia, Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and India
From 26 International Institutions
From 43 other institutions
in multiple countries
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a globally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader. He has spearheaded an unprecedented worldwide movement for a stress-free, violence-free society. Through a myriad of programs and teachings, a network of organizations including the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values, and a rapidly growing presence across 180 countries, Gurudev has reached an estimated 500+ million people. Gurudev has developed unique, impactful programs that empower, equip and transform individuals to tackle challenges at global, national, community and individual levels.
Born in 1956 in Southern India, Gurudev was a gifted child. By the age of four, he was able to recite the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit scripture, and was often found in meditation. He holds degrees in, both, Vedic literature and physics.
In 1982, Gurudev entered a ten-day period of silence in Shimoga located in the Indian state of Karnataka. The Sudarshan Kriya™, a powerful breathing technique, was born. With time, the Sudarshan Kriya™ became the center-piece of the Art of Living courses.
At the individual level, Gurudev’s self-development programs have helped hundreds of millions around the globe experience stress relief and a state of calm and well being. These programs are rooted in the ancient techniques of Yoga, customized for modern needs, along with Gurudev’s unique offering of Sudarshan Kriya™, a powerful breathing technique that facilitates physical, mental and emotional well-being. Independent medical research from reputed medical institutions has documented the impact of these techniques on the alleviation of depression, reduced cortisol (stress hormone) and strengthened the immune system.
The power of his message has generated a surge of service through a huge corps of volunteers around the world.
As a revered global leader, Gurudev has played vital roles in peace negotiations globally. From Kashmir, Assam, and Bihar in India, to Colombia, Kosovo, Iraq and Syria, and Cote d’Ivoire, Gurudev’s programs have had documented impact on people involved in armed conflict to pursue the path of peace. In a world beset with escalating violence and conflict, Gurudev is offering another path where individuals find peace within which becomes the wellspring for peace and harmony in society.
