It was in Shimoga in 1981 that the Sudarshan Kriya- the powerful, rhythmic breathing technique was revealed to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after 10 days of silence on the banks of the Bhadra river. The Art of Living was, thus, born.
As the organization turns 30 in 2011, to commemorate the occasion, The Art of Living founder will embark on a four-day tour of Karnataka, beginning at Tumkur on 16 Sept 2011. Here, Gurudev will lead a satsang at the Ganesha Pendal, Vinayaka Nagar. Gurudev, will reach Shimoga on 17 Sept 2011, where he will conduct a Maha Satsang at the NES College grounds that will be attended by thousands from across the state where he will address a cross-section of people. Here, he will also interact with more than 5000 youth from across the colleges of Shimoga and share some pearls of wisdom on the ways to overcome the challenges faced by the youth.
From Shimoga, Gurudev, will leave for Sirsi on 18 Sept 2011 where he will meet and address the members of the ongoing VISTA India (Value Integrated Services For All) project that was pioneered by his father, Acharya Shri Ratnananda. The VISTA India project is engaged in uplifting the rural women in Karnataka.
His tour of Karnataka will culminate with his visit to Karwar on 20 Sept 2011 where he will lead a satsang and address thousands at the Mayura Varma Vedike, Tagore beach.
Ever since its inception, the organization has been working to bring peace and development at the level of the individual, society, nation and the world as a whole. To create an empowered Karnataka through resurgence of human values in all aspects of life, the organization has reached out to more than 2000 villages with various developmental projects. Self Help Groups have been formed, toilets have been built. The Art of Living has been working particularly with women and children in urban slums and rural areas in Karnataka. Under the Vidya Shilpa program, government schools have been selected for providing holistic education and 1, 20,000 children have benefited from the various stress-elimination programs.
