The golden spherical dome of Matrimandir jutting out 29.5 meter high into the sky glistens in the scorching summer sun, the 1415 gold-plated discs that cover its massive spherical exterior create a surreal illusion and blinds my gaze.
We quietly walk on the red sandstone ramp that leads to a circular meditation area around a lotus-shaped fountain.
We are a small batch of about 15 visitors, we sit around the fountain, grateful for the cool respite from the sun and bedazzled at same time by the sheer beauty of this structure that seems to be oozing calm from its every pore.
We sit for about 5 to 7 minutes in silence and are then led through another door leading to a corridor with sparkling white flooring.
There are ushers who signal us with a show of hands to walk along the corridor to a point where all visitors are expected to halt and put on white socks and tuck their lowers in them. We are led further into a corridor leading to a pristine white ramp. My worldly wayward mind instantly warns me that I'm going to slip and fall on this perfectly glazed marble floor owing to the socks. But I'm pleasantly surprised to discover that the ramp has a white carpet to avert such an eventuality. The ramp leads us into the Inner Chamber.
The Inner Chamber is the Sanctum Sanctorum of this temple of human consciousness, there is a placid calm in this place that is hard to describe and harder yet to find anywhere in the world these days.
There is a golden globe in the centre of this hall where a white beam of electronically directed sunlight hits at its core from an opening in the apex of this mammoth sphere. We go around the chamber in a circle as instructed to us by a volunteer earlier and take our places around the globe.
I close my eyes, basking in the ethereal silence of this hall. My trance is broken by the soft jingling of a bell that signals our time to get up and proceed out of the hall.
As we step out, we see another batch of visitors climbing up the circular ramp from the other side of the chamber, in complete silence, one behind another, heads bowed, with a look of anticipation on their faces.
There is something deeply symbolic about these circular white ramps that lead people in and out of the Inner Chamber.... no words, no symbols, no placards, only silence....and yet the message ringing loud and clear ...this is the circle of life, the truth about our world....we are just passer byes through the eternity of time.
I step out and look up at the sky, grateful for the opportunity to witness this spectacle at Auroville.
What is Auroville?
Auroville was established by Mirra Alfassa, a French-born yoga teacher and spiritual guru, also known as The Mother, in collaboration with Sri Aurobindo in 1968.
The 20-square-kilometre township is run by an appointed body of the Indian Government called the Auroville Foundation.
The idea behind Auroville was to establish a self-sustaining community not bound by nationalities, religion, language, caste or any other divisive parameters.
Instead, they live together in harmony with each other and the nature surrounding them, as human beings bound only by humanity and lead a spiritual holistic life.
People from all over the world are welcome to come and live in this haven of peace.
The soul of this township of humanity is the Matrimandir, the temple of the Mother if I translate it literally.
This massive golden dome of the Matrimandir is surrounded by 12 large petal-type structures symbolising the 12 powers or qualities that each human being should possess or aspire for....
Sincerity, Humility, Gratitude, Perseverance, Aspiration, Receptivity, Progress, Courage, Kindness, Generosity, Equality and Peace.
12 beautifully manicured gardens and a small water body envelope the dome. Right next to it is an old banyan tree which is believed to be the geographical centre of Auroville.
What to expect at Auroville
Auroville is free to visit for everyone and there are two options to visit it.
One, if you just want to see the township and the Matrimandir from the viewing platform and click pictures, you are not required to register yourself beforehand. You can reach the venue, go to the Visitor's Centre that is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days, get a free pass and then walk to the Matrimandir Viewing Point.
You will walk for about 10 minutes through a beautiful forest area with adequate signages that will lead you directly to the viewing point.
There are nice places to sit around and drinking water and washroom facilities are also available.
The picture of Matrimandir above was taken from this viewing point.
Two, if you wish to experience the vibe of Auroville or spend some time in the Meditation hall, then you need to register yourself at least 5 to 7 days before your visit on their website on the link given here.
You will be allocated a day and a time slot for your visit via email. Registration is important if you wish to see the Matrimandir from the inside.
Upon arrival at the Visitor's Centre, you will given a batch number and will be led into a small theatre room for a short video film about the ideology and history behind Auroville and the construction of Matrimandir.
After the film screening, a volunteer will quickly talk you through about how to proceed further. A free shuttle service will take you a point closer to the dome. You will be expected to deposit all your belongings, especially cell phones at the counter since photography is strictly prohibited around the area.
A two-minute walk will take you to the Matrimandir. There are ushers everywhere who will guide you with a show of hands about how to go inside the Meditation Hall.
To fully appreciate what Auroville is all about, it's important to know a few things before your visit...
Auroville lies at a distance of about 12 km from Puducherry, the city closest to the township. If you're not familiar with the region, then hiring a private cab is your best bet. You will go through a maze of narrow lanes and by-lanes gliding through small residential colonies before you reach the open ground where Auroville is located.
The highlight of your visit to Auroville will be a visit inside the Matrimandir. Minus that experience, it's like going to an enclosed park with eateries, walking trails and manicured forest area.
The township has excellent cafes, a small exhibition area, a library where you can easily spend a day.
A lot of people, especially foreign tourists come to stay in Auroville. For more details, you can refer to the official website of Auroville by clicking here https://auroville.org/
To sum up, I'd say Auroville needs to be experienced and not just seen. I'd read a lot of conflicting views from people who visited this township, from awe-struck visitors who were stirred by what they saw and experienced, to casual tourists who thought it was all hype over nothing.
After having visited the township myself, I can say with certainty that visiting the Matrimandir made all the difference. The peace and the tranquility of that area has the capacity to soothe frayed nerves and de-stress your mind. In times such as ours, is that a mean feat?
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