Who Is Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar? The Meditation Master Coming to Limassol This November

Poster: The Art of Living and Help2Live

Update (30 October 2026): Gurudev will now be in Cyprus from 3 to 5 November, and his visit begins a day earlier with a second gathering in Limassol. A Satsang, an evening of bhajans, chants, meditation and wisdom, is planned for Tuesday 3 November, 7:30–9 PM, at the Parklane Resort. Registration is now open on The Art of Living's website, with tickets at €80 (Gold) and €180 (Premium). The organisers also say the 4 November masterclass is sold out. (Source: Cyprus Mail)

For many Indian families, the name Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a familiar one: a smiling face on a TV channel back home, a breathing course a cousin swears by, a quote shared on the family WhatsApp group. On 4 November, he comes to Limassol in person.

Ahead of his masterclass at the Pattihio Municipal Theatre, here's a closer look at who he is, what he has built, and why an evening of meditation might be exactly what life in Cyprus needs.

From a gifted child to a global teacher

Born in southern India in 1956, Sri Sri was drawn to meditation from an early age. According to The Art of Living, he could recite verses of the Bhagavad Gita by the age of four, and by 17 he held degrees in both Vedic literature and physics, a mix of ancient tradition and modern science that still shapes his teaching.

In 1981 he founded The Art of Living, a volunteer-led movement for education and humanitarian work, centred on stress relief and service. Its signature practice, the Sudarshan Kriya, is a rhythmic breathing technique that he says came to him during a ten-day period of silence in Shimoga, Karnataka. It is now at the centre of the organisation's courses around the world. In 1997 he also set up the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) to run development and conflict-resolution projects.

A voice for peace

• Colombia: in 2015 he held talks with leaders of the FARC rebel group in Havana, who afterwards committed to Gandhian non-violence. Colombia later gave him its highest civilian honour, and he was a guest at the signing of the 2016 peace agreement in Cartagena.
• India: in 2016 he received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.
• The United Nations: after the UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 December as World Meditation Day in 2024, a resolution India co-sponsored, he gave the keynote address at the first observance at UN headquarters and led a live global meditation.

Why meditation matters

Meditation is no longer seen as just a spiritual practice. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that research suggests it may help reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression, improve sleep and even lower blood pressure, and that it is generally safe for healthy people. The benefits are often modest and build with regular practice, and it is not a replacement for medical care.

In other words, it is a simple, free habit that can make everyday life a little lighter.

What this means for Indians in Cyprus

• Life abroad is demanding: long shifts, visa paperwork, missing family and late-night calls home can quietly build up stress. A few minutes of stillness each day can help you reset.
• It's our own heritage: meditation and breathwork grew from Indian traditions. This is a chance to reconnect with them, and to share them with Cypriot friends and colleagues.
• A rare opportunity: most of us would need to fly to Bengaluru to hear Gurudev in person. This November, he's a short drive away.
• Keep it going: if the evening inspires you, look out for Art of Living courses and the High Commission's wellness events here on the island.

Event at a glance

• What: Unlock Happiness Within, a masterclass of meditation and wisdom with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
• When: Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• Where: Pattihio Municipal Theatre, Limassol
• Tickets: ticketmaster.cy · Enquiries: 99 149872
• Full details: see the event listing
• Also: Satsang with Gurudev, Tuesday 3 November 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Parklane Resort, Limassol (tickets from €80; register at events-artofliving.eu/satsang-cyprus). See the event listing

Read also: Pause, Breathe, Reset: Swami Jyotirmayah Brings Inner Peace to Cyprus and Running on Two Time Zones: Burnout and Stress When You're an Indian Abroad

Sources: ArtofLiving, GurudevSriSri, IAHV, GlobeNewswire, UN, ArtofLiving2, NCCIH, GurudevSriSri