Expert: Pattie - 11/8/2008

Question
I would like to understand what part does Indian music, and also philosophy,
play in the songs of the Beatles?  

Answer
Hi Shawn! Wow, that's a great question. I'll see if I can make it as concise as possible as it's a broad subject.

It all started in 1965...When the Beatles filmed their movie "Help!" in 1965, they were introduced to Indian music by a group of musicians hired to play an Indian band in the background of a scene. During the filming of that movie, while they were on location in the Bahamas, a Hindu devotee gave each of the Beatles a book on reincarnation. That was the first time that any of the Beatles had been exposed to Indian music or spirituality. Later in 1965, George was introduced to classical Indian music, most especially the music of Ravi Shankar via his friend David Crosby of the Byrds. Very soon after, George bought a sitar and began his life-long love affair with the instrument. The first time the sitar is heard on a Beatles record (or ANY pop music record) is on the song "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" on the 1965 LP "Rubber Soul".  The inclusion of the sitar on that record forever changed pop music as we knew it. Through Ravi, who became his musical and spiritual mentor, George developed a deep interest in Eastern spirituality. Although Ravi did give him his first few lessons on the sitar, George mainly studied under Shambhu Das, a master of the instrument in his own right. Along with the music, George began the study of Hinduism, meeting and speaking with many Gurus and visiting India as well as other "holy" sites.

Skip ahead to August, 1967. George and his (then) wife Pattie convinced the other Beatles to attend a lecture at the Park Lane Hilton in London being given by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who is credited with bringing the practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) to the masses. They were all so taken with him, that they all decided to participate in a ten day series of lectures in Bangor, Wales. It was at that time that they heard of the unfortunate death of Brian Epstein. They have all credited the Maharishi with getting them through that time by instilling the belief that his soul had simply left his body and he is happy and they should be happy FOR him. In 1968, The Beatles and their wives (Paul brought his girlfriend Jane Asher) made the trip to Rishikesh, India to study TM for three months at the Maharishi's retreat for teachers. Ringo and his wife Maureen only stayed ten days. Paul and Jane lasted ten weeks, but John and George stuck it out the longest. John especially got a great deal out of his time in Rishikesh, writing many songs, including "Sexy Sadie" which was actually about the Maharishi himself. He also managed to get sober while he was there, cleansing his body of all drugs and alcohol. The rumors however, of not only an obvious obsession with material wealth by the Guru, but also of sexual improprieties, made John and George decide to leave the ashram. When they were leaving, the Guru asked them why they were going and John said to him "well if you're so holy, you should know why". The things they learned as a result of TM stuck with all of them though and inspired John to add the phrase "Jai Guru Deva Om" to his song "Across The Universe" much later. The phrase, which means "I give thanks to Guru Dev (heavenly teacher) om" was one that had been taught to them by the Maharishi. It was a great time for them musically, as they wrote a total of 48 songs while in Rishikesh, quite a lot of them ending up on "The Beatles" LP aka the "White Album".

Back to the sitar. After 1965, George continued using the instrument on many of his Beatles compositions, most notably "Within You, Without You" from "Sgt. Pepper" and "The Inner Light" which was used as the B-side to "Lady Madonna".

While the other three Beatles dabbled in various forms of spirituality, George eventually became a devotee of Hinduism and Lord Krsna. In the summer of 1969, the Beatles produced the single "Hare Krishna Mantra", performed by Harrison and members of the Radha-Krishna Temple in London that topped the 10 best-selling record charts throughout UK, Europe, and Asia. The same year, he and John met Swami Prabhupada, who founded the global Hare Krishna Movement, at John's home, Tittenhurst Park. This introduction was to Harrison "like a door opened somewhere in my subconscious, maybe from a previous life."

George kept to his new spiritual path for the remainder of his life here on Earth, writing songs to his deities like "My Sweet Lord", "Awaiting on You All" and "Living In The Material World" to name a few. A little known fact...one of Georges greatest songwriting contributions to the Beatles was the song "Something" which appeared on "Abbey Road". While many believe that song was written for his wife Pattie, in fact, it was written for Lord Krsna and the lyrics were "something in the way HE moves...". He changed it for fear of being accused of homosexuality.

He took no shame in his choice of religion. After a concert in California, George remarked to a reporter "Whether they like me or not, this is who I am." He then quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "We should create and preserve the image of our choice." "The image of my choice is not Beatle George, my life belongs to God. That's how I feel."

One of my favorite quotes of George was in the forward he wrote for his friend Swami Prabhupada's book..."If there's a God, I want to see Him. It's pointless to believe in something without proof, and Krishna consciousness and meditation are methods where you can actually obtain God perception. In that way you can see, hear & play with God. Perhaps this may sound weird, but God is really there next to you."

George's soul left this earth on November 30, 2001. His final words were "love one another". Great words from a great man.

Shawn, I hope this has shed some (inner) light on how this music and spirituality so greatly influenced the Beatles. It really is a long and very interesting history and I've left SO much out. I suggest two books, "The Beatles in Rishikesh" by Paul Saltzman and "The Gospel According To The Beatles" by Steve Turner. Both books will give you a lot more detail and insight. Thanks for the question!!

Peace,
Pattie
8^)