GUIDE TO SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM

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Title: GUIDE TO SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM
extracted text: GUIDE

SRI
AUROBINDO
ASHRAM

Mediation hall

The Mother was born Mirra Alfassa in Paris on

Sri Aurobindo was born in Calcutta on 15 August 1872.

At the age of seven he was taken to England for education
and in 1890 went up to King's College. Cambridge. Here
he stood in the first class in the Classical Tripos and also
passed the final examination for the Indian Civil Service.
Not wishing to serve in the I.C.S.. he disqualified himself
by not attending the riding test. He obtained employment
in the service of the Maharaja of Baroda and returned to
India in 1893.
Sri Aurobindo served thirteen years in the admini
strative and educational departments of the Baroda
State. These were years of preparation for his future
work. In 1906 he went to Bengal and took up openly
the leadership of the revolutionary movement which for
several years he had been organising in secret. He was
the first to put forth, in the pages of his journal Bande
Mataram, the ideal of complete political independence
for India. Three times prosecuted for his activities, he
was each time acquitted for lack of evidence.
Sri Aurobindo had begun the practice of yoga in 1905.
After gathering up in himself the essential elements of
past spiritual experience, he moved on in search of a
more complete realisation, one which would unite the
two poles of Spirit and Matter. In 1910 he retired from
politics and went to Pondicherry in order to devote himself
entirely to the spiritual discipline of yoga.

21 February 1878. An accomplished painter and musi
cian, she began to have psychic and spiritual experiences
at a very early age. In 1914 she came to Pondicherry
and at once recognised Sri Aurobindo as the teacher who
occultly had been guiding her spiritual development.
She helped him start his review Arya, in which most of
his major writings. The Life Divine, The Synthesis of
Yoga, The Human Cycle, etc. appeared between 1914 and
1921 .The Mother spent the years of the First World War
in France and Japan. She returned to Pondicherry on
24 April 1920 and resumed her collaboration with
Sri Aurobindo. When, after a special spiritual experience
which took place on 24 November 1926, Sri Aurobindo
retired into the exclusive practice of yoga, the guidance
of the disciples who had gathered around him was en
trusted to the Mother. This was the beginning of the
Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which has since developed into
a many-faceted centre of spiritual research. Sri Aurobindo
left his body on 5 December 1950. His work continued
under the Mother's direct guidance until her passing on
17 November 1973. Their work in the Ashram, its Centre
of Education and other organisations and groups, still
goes on.

THE TEACHING

There is an ascending evolution in nature which goes
from the stone to the plant, from the plant to the animal,
from animal to man. Because man is, for the moment,
the last rung at the summit of the ascending evolution,
he considers himself as the final stage in this ascension
and believes there can be nothing on earth superior to
him. In that he is mistaken. In his physical nature he is
yet almost wholly an animal, a thinking and speaking
animal, but still an animal in his material habits and in
stincts. Undoubtedly, nature cannot be satisfied with such
an imperfect result; she endeavours to bring out a being
who will be to man what man is to the animal, a being
who will remain a man in its external form, and yet whose
consciousness will rise far above the mind and its slavery
to ignorance.
Sri Aurobindo came upon earth to teach this truth to
men. He told them that man is only a transitional being
living in a mental consciousness but with the possibility
of acquiring a new consciousness, the Truth-conscious
ness, and capable of living a life perfectly harmonious,
good and beautiful, happy and fully conscious. During
the whole of his life upon earth. Sri Aurobindo gave all
his time to establish in himself this consciousness, which
he called supramental, and to help those gathered around
him to realise it.
From a talk of the Mother to the children of the Ashram

SRI AUROBINDO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
OF EDUCATION

1 he Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education
is an integral part of the Ashram. Students from the
kindergarten to the Higher Course level learn arts and
sciences according to the "free progress system", which
encourages initiative and spontaneity. The Centre of
Education has libraries, laboratories and sections for
dance, drama, music, painting, etc. Its physical education
department gives training in athletics, aquatics, gymna
stics, games, combative sports, judo and asanas. The
facilities of this department include a fully equipped
sports ground, swimming pool, gymnasium, playground,
tennis courts and judo hall.

Ashram main building

THE ASHRAM

“The Ashram has been created with another object than
that ordinarily common to such institutions," Sri
Aurobindo wrote, "not for the renunciation of the world
but as a centre and a field of practice for the evolution
of another kind and form of life which would in the final
end be moved by a higher spiritual consciousness and
embody a greater life of the spirit."
When Sri Aurobindo came to Pondicherry in 1910.
he lived at first with a few associates from the political
field. Afterwards a few more joined him and there slowly
developed spiritual relations between these young men
and Sri Aurobindo. When the Mother returned to
Pondicherry on 24 April 1920. the number of disciples
began to increase rapidly, and as the Ashram thus began
to take shape, it fell to the Mother to organise it. When
in 1926 Sri Aurobindo retired into seclusion to pursue
his yogic sadhana undisturbed, the whole material and
spiritual charge of the Ashram devolved on the Mother.
Under her guidance the Ashram developed into what it
is today.
At present the Ashram community is made up of some
2000 persons, who live and work in more than 400 builddings spread over the town of Pondicherry. There is no
fixed routine, either of spiritual practice or of material

duties. Sri Aurobindo has written: "What is being done
here is a preparation for a work—a work which will be
founded on yogic consciousness and Yoga-Shakti [the
force of yoga]. . .. Meanwhile, every member here is
expected to do some work in the Ashram as part of this
spiritual preparation."
The work of the Ashram is organised into a number
of different departments. There are essential services
concerned with construction, house maintenance, furni
ture, electricity, water, sanitation, etc: farms, a granary.
rice, oil and Hour mills, a bakery, and a dining hall;
sections for tailoring, shoemaking, laundry, etc. There
are industries and technological operations such as a
handmade paper factory, a foundry, a sheet-metal works,
automotive and electrical workshops, etc. Such crafts as
weaving, embroidery, batik, marbling, pottery and
incense-making are represented. The Ashram has its own
dispensaries staffed by doctors and nurses of different
medical systems. Books and magazines in many different
languages are published, and are printed at the Ashram’s
own printing presses. The Ashram has an archives, a
large library, and an educational system which deserves
special jnentKML . ..

1

/.

S

Dining hall

THE MAIN BUILDING AND THE SAMADHI

DINING

The Sri Aurobindo Ashrain’s main building, spoken of
in Pondicherry simply as “the Ashram”, is a complex of
four houses, two of which, at different times, were the
abodes of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. In the inner
courtyard of this premises is the Samadhi of Sri Auro
bindo and the Mother. Here, in two chambers, one above
the other, their bodies are laid. The Samadhi is open to
all visitors between S A.M. and 6 P.M. daily.

The Ashram Dining Room (see no. 7 on map) serves
breakfast, lunch and dinner to Ashramites. Visitors who
wish to take food in the Dining Room must obtain meal
coupons from the Reception Service, the Visitor’s Service
or their guest house.

School courtyard

Children in the playground

VISITING THE ASHRAM

General information and guidance for visitors is pro
vided by the Reception Service (in the main building.
map number I) from 8 A.M to 12 P.M and from 2 P.M
to 5.30 P.M, and by the Visitors' Service (at Matrishara
nam. map number 6) from 6.30 to 11.30 A.M and from
4.00 to 6.00 P.M. If there is an adequate number of in
terested visitors, the Reception Service will arrange a
conducted tour of the Ashram any day except Sundays,
“darshan days" and other special days (see panel 11),
and government holidays. The tour, guided by a member
of the reception staff, leaves the gate of the main building
at 8.45 A.M. Within three hours a number of representa
tive departments are shown.

STAYING AT THE ASHRAM

Visitors who wish to spend time at the Ashram in order to
experience its life and atmosphere may stay at one of its
guest houses. (A listing of guest houses is given in the
legend at the left side of the map.) Dormitory space on
mats is available for Rs 2/- a night. Charges for rooms
vary according to the type of accomodation. A wide
range of accomodation is available throughout the year.
The times around the “Darshan days" (see panel 11) are
the most crowded. Visitors must arrange their own
accomodation; they may inquire at the Reception Service.

the Visitors Service or Matrisharanam for advice and
assistance.
A lodging card (pass) will be issued to the visitor at his
guest house. He will be required to show this pass to be
admitted to many places in the Ashram (all such places
are marked (P) in the legend to the map). THE VISITOR
IS REQUESTED TO KEEP THE PASS ON HIS
PERSON AND TO SHOW IT WHEREVER AND
WHENEVER ASKED.
The gates of the main building are open to pass holders
who wish to meditate near the Samadhi or in the Medita
tion Hall between 4.30 A.M. and 11 P.M. daily. A list
of other activities open to pass holders is given on panel 10.
Foreign visitors staying at Park Guest House must have
their passes endorsed by the guest house in order to
attend programmes in the Playground.

The Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
Ashram bakery

ADMISSION TO MANY ASHRAM DEPARTMENTS
IS RESTRICTED. VISITORS SHOULD BE PRE
PARED TO SHOW THEIR PASSES AT ALL
PLACES MARKED (P)

t
ASHRAM

BUILDING

Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and
the Mother
Ashram Reception Service
Photo Section (Sales)
Reading Room (P)

3

-S
tn’

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7B
7B
7B
7B

1
1
1
1

6C

7
3

Phone

4836
4836

DINING
Ashram Dining Room (P)
Cottage Restaurant

EDUCATION, SPORTS,
PROGRAMMES

4414

8-12

BOOKS AND PERIODICALS
Ashram Reading Room (P)
Publication Department (Sales)
SABDA — Main Office (Sales)
SABDA—Kripa Branch (Sales)
Sri Aurobindo’s Action (Reading
Room)
Sri Aurobindo Library (P)

7B
7B
4B
7C

1
1
13 4980
14 4072

6C
6A

15
16

2B

7B
8B
8B
2A
8B
8B

17 4498
18
19 4499
20 7156
20 7156
21 4411
20 7156
22 6671

7B
I0D
7C
7B
6C
7B
9C
2B

23
24
25 4976
26
27 3324
28
29 4763
30 4820

7B
8B
7A
6B
7B

31
32 4130
33
34
35 4870

7C
2G
5B
6A
8C

36
37 6088
38 6236
39 6396
40 4834

6C
7C
3B

3
2
4

4648

MEDICAL

Ayurvedic Section
Dental Clinic
Dispensary (P)
Homeopathy Clinic
La Clinique
Nursing Home (P)
School for Perfect Eyesight
Tresor Nursing Home

8B

ARTS AND CRAFTS
Art Gallery
Ashram Weaving Department
Auroshikha Agarbathies
Batik Section (Nanteuil)
Cottage Industries
Embroidery Department
Handmade Paper Factory
Handweaving Section (Hablik)
Handwork and Batik Section
(Art House)
Harpagon (Sales and Showroom)
Marbling Group (Harmonie)
New Bindery
Perfumery (Senleur)

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

Bakery and Laundry (P)
Botanical Gardens and Aquarium
Pondicherry Museum
Society Beach Office
World Union

GUEST HOUSES
Cottage Guest House
Matrisharanam (day rest house)
New Guest House

5024

NORTH

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WEAVING
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For Athram
visitor* only

SALA1

BAY OF BENGAL

jjfE RECEPTION SERVICE,

BAY OF

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM,

beng*l

PONDICHERRY—605002 INDIA

' "SS'ON TO MANY ASHRAM DEPARTMENTS
■^RESTRICTED. VISITORS SHOULD BE PRE
PARED TO SHOW THEIR PASSES AT ALL
PLACES MARKED (P)

Name

New Sweet Home
Park Guest House

O g P’W’C

8C

5

1A

6 4412

PUBLIC SERVICES IN PONDICHERRY

BANKS

Central Bank of India
State Bank of India

41
42

6640
5528

1C
3C
10A

43
44
45

3590
7175
3495

4C

46

6971

6B

47 6203

7E
6E

48

7C

50 6087

7B
6C
6C

51 7107
52 7086
53 7030

4A
6A

54 5512
55 4398

4A

6C
3H
3G
ID

56
57
58
59
60
61

3637
3713
5128
6513

4A

62

7114

7C
3B

GUEST HOUSES AND HOSTELS

Government Tourist Home
(Uppalam)
Municipal Guest House
Youth Hostel
HOSPITAL

General Hospital
LIBRARY

Romain Rolland Public Library
PHARMACIES

Ananda Emporium
National Medicals

49

7124
4510

POLICE STATION

Grand Bazaar Police Station
POST AND TELEGRAPHS

Ashram Post Office
General Post Office (GPO)
Telegraph Office
TOURIST INFORMATION

Government Information Office
Tourist Information Bureau
TRAVEL

Air India
Amsham Travels
Auro Travels (air bookings)
Bus Stand (Express)
Bus Stand (Mofussil)
Railway Station

6684

VISA OFFICE
Foreigners' Registration Office

KS...11.

10 J

ASHRAM ACTIVITIES

The gate of the Ashram main building is open between
4.30 A.M. and 11.00 P.M. Pass holders are permitted
in during these hours. Visitors without passes are permit
ted to go to the Samadhi between 8 A.M. and 6 P.M. only.
THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE OPEN ONLY TO

ASHRAMITES AND PASS HOLDERS

Collective meditation in the playground. Thursdays and
Sundays, 7.40-8.15 P.M. Meditation starts punctually at
7.40; the gate is closed at this time and is not opened
until the meditation is over. Visitors are advised to come
at least five minutes before the starting time. Meditation
is preceded by the regular physical education activities
of the older men. These activities, held 7.15 to 7.40 P.M.
daily, may be observed by pass holders.

DARSHAN DAYS (D) AND OTHER SPECIAL DAYS

21 February
24 April
15 August
17 November
20 November
24 November
1 & 2 December
5 December
9 December

— The Mother's birthday (D)
— The Mother's final arrival in
Pondicherry (D)
— Sri Aurobindo's birthday (D)
— The Mother's withdrawal
— The Mother’s Samadhi day
— The Day of Realisation (D)
— Anniversary of the Ashram
School
— Sri Aurobindo’s withdrawal
— Sri Aurobindo’s Samadhi day

Collective meditation in the main building compound
(around the Samadhi). Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, 7.30-7.50 P.M.
For other programmes please see the notice board in
the main building. Please note that children below four
years are not permit ted inside the playground or the Ashram
main building.

Embroidery

Gymnasium interior

Competition at the sports ground

THE RECEPTION SERVICE,
SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM,
PONDICHERRY-605002 INDIA.
Collective meditation in the playground

Printed at All India Press, Pondicherry.
View of Pondicherry

This Ashram has been created with

another object than that ordinarily com
mon to such institutions, not for the
renunciation of the world but as a centre
and a field of practice for the evolution

of another kind and form of life which

would in the final end be moved by a
higher spiritual consciousness and em

body a greater life of the spirit.
Sri Aurobindo

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