Brahmananda Saraswati (20 December 1870 - 20 May 1953) was the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, a revered spiritual title in India, from 1941 to 1953. Brahmananda Saraswati was born into a Brahmin family in the village of Gana, near Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, India. He was called Rajaram in his younger days and was also known as Maha Yogiraj.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Hindi: महर्षि महेश योगी) born Mahesh Prasad Varma (January 12, 1914 - February 5, 2008) developed the Transcendental Meditation technique, and was the leader or "guru" of the Transcendental Meditation movement, that has been defined as a new religious movement. Varma's given name was Mahesh, while maharishi and yogi are honorifics. Varma was known as "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi" beginning around the year 1960. His devotees referred to him as "his holiness". He became known as the "giggling guru" for his high-pitched laughter during television interviews.

He became a disciple and assistant of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, who was the Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) of Jyotir Math, located in the Indian Himalayas from 1941 to 1953. The Maharishi credits Saraswati with inspiring his teachings. Beginning in 1955, the Maharishi began to introduce the Transcendental Meditation technique (also known as TM) and other related programs and initiatives to the world. His first global tour began in 1958.