Who is The Maharishi from Karma Cola: Marketing the Mystic East and what is their importance?

The Maharishi is a guru, one of only a few named in the narrative, who is possibly one of the most famous gurus of recent years, if only because (as the author points out) he was the teacher who instructed and guided the Beatles. In Section Seven, the author portrays him as being both skilled and clever in how he manipulates his teachings to enlighten seekers in the way they seem most able, and willing, to hear them.