 In the mid @-@ 1960s , the Beatles became interested in Indian culture , after using drugs in an effort to expand their consciousness and in 1966 Harrison visited India for six weeks and took sitar lessons from Ravi Shankar . Alexis " Magic Alex " Mardas , a friend of the Beatles and head of Apple Electronics , had heard a lecture by the Maharishi in Athens , Greece and Harrison 's wife , Pattie Boyd , attended a lecture by the Maharishi in London and they encouraged the Beatles to hear the Maharishi speak . 
