Auroville means “City of Dawn”, where people live as one in harmony with no nationality, politics, caste, creed or color. The city was envisioned by Mirra Alfassa fondly called as Mother, who was a partner of Sri Aurobindo in the spiritual quest. The city was started in 1968 and it is 8 Kms North-West of Pondicherry / Puducherry.
The city was designed by French architect Roger Anger and around 2000 people live in this place. About two-thirds of the people living here are foreigners.
The charter to live in Auroville states that , “To live in Auroville one must be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness”, and describes it as “belonging to nobody in particular, but to humanity as a whole”; as a place “of constant progress”; and as “a bridge between the past and the future.”
The homes built in Auroville are designed extremely different from the ordinary houses we see outside the community. The residents of Auroville are engaged in a wide range of occupation like agriculture, administration, education, commerce and healthcare. An international award winning unit involved in solar photovoltaic and thermal system known as AuroRE systems was started here.
A huge globe is built at the center of Auroville known as Matrimandir, which is used for meditation. The Matrimandir is erected on four pillars and each pillar is named as Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Mahasaraswathi and Mahaparvathi. The total area covered under Matrimandir is 62 acres. When the Matrimandir was ingaugurated on 28th February 1968, soil from 124 countries was collected and put in a lotus shaped urn to symbolize universal oneness. The urn is placed at the center of the amphitheatre in an inner chamber, which has 12 sides and white marble Inner Chamber. This chamber contains the largest crystal in the world (70 cms diameter). Through an opening in the ceiling, sunlight falls directly ont he crystal bringing it to life with light. This light falling on the globe acts as a focal aid to concentration and meditation in silence. For Aurovillians this is the truth and nothing else.
A huge banyan tree is present at the geographical centre of Auroville, which is revered nearly as much as Matrimandir itself.
The other interesting things to look around Auroville are, the Auroville visitors center, museum on Auroville project, shops selling books, brochures, leaflets, clothes, candles, aromatics and souvenirs. A restaurant designed uniquely serves international cuisine.
Place Statistics:
Type of Place: Spiritual Settlement
Located: Pondicherry
Distance: 8 Kms from Pondicherry
Transport: Well connected by road
Facilities: Rest room available, restaurants, souvenir shops, book shops
For more information contact:
Autroville Visitors Center
Ph: 0413 – 2622239
Or
La Boutique d’ Auroville,
38 J.Nehru Street,
Puducherry
Phone: 0413 – 2337264
