Sri Aurobindo Ashram Totally Explained

Everything about The Sri Aurobindo Ashram totally explained

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded by Sri Aurobindo on the 24 November 1926 (Siddhi Day). At the time there were no more than 24 disciples in the Ashram (Das 1976 pp.233-4). In December of that year, Sri Aurobindo decided to withdraw from public view, and appointed his co-worker Mirra Alfassa, thenceforth known as The Mother in charge of the ashram.

The early ashram

In the early history of the ashram there was a regular routine. At 6:15 every morning The Mother appeared on the ashram balcony to initiate the day with her blessings. Sadhaks (spiritual aspirants), who got up at 3AM, finished their own meditations and a good portion of the day’s work, and then assembled under the balcony to receive her blessings (Karmayogi no date).
As the ashram grew, many departments sprang up: the office, library, dining room, press, workshops, playground, art gallery, dispensary, farms, dairies, flower gardens, guest houses, legal department, audit department, and many others, too. The heads of the departments met The Mother in the morning and took her blessings and orders. Again at 10 a.m. she used to meet all the sadhaks individually. Once again, in the evening at 5:30 PM, she conducted meditation and met each sadhak once more.
In addition, four times a year she used to give public Darshans (a spiritual gathering where the guru bestows blessings) at which a few thousand devotees gathered and received her Grace.

The ashram today

Today, the ashram is a large institution with locations in cities all over the world in addition to dominating the downtown area of Puducherry. It provides many charitable benefits to the area, including free medical facilities and a publishing house.
The ashram's effects spring up across the town: local businesses include the "Sri Aurobindo Autocare Services," "Auro Moon Garments Showroom," and "AuroXerox." Most famously, the alternative community Auroville (pop. 1800) sits outside the town.

Aims & ideals

A complete method of Yoga that would transform human nature to divine life. In Sri Aurobindo's system, the highest aim is the being of one, without the renunciation of life in the world. Such a fulfillment of the consciousness, the urge for perfection, must not be confined to few individuals but must extend to the masses, leading to a new type of being that's "eternal, self-existing, and inalienable".
   Sri Aurobindo lays the foundation of his inquiry by focusing on the contradiction between the mundane human existence and the human desire to acquire a divine perfection in life. By introducing the category of evolution, he wants to resolve the paradox of the human being's delimited consciousness and his desire to be identical with a divine form.
   Apart from study of Sri Aurobindo's and The Mother's books, there are no specific disciplines recommended, but rather the practice of Integral Yoga means that every sadhak should follow whatever spiritual techniques they feel guided to.
   Anyone can join at any time. There's no method, no period and no training as such. It's the only self-practice to reach the higher mind, eternal state and the continuous help will be sourced only from Divine and no one else.
   Sri Aurobindo's teachings have influenced not just Indian thought, but also is established throughout the West, thanks to books and regional centers. It is also a contributing element in Integral philosophy.

Some publications

The following is a partial list of journals published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram or groups connected with. Many of Sri Aurobindo's unpublished letters, articles, poems and so on first appeared in them.

Sri Aurobindo Mandir Annual, Calcutta since 1942
Bartika (Bengali), Quarterly, Calcutta, since 1942
The Advent Quarterly, Pondicherry (originally Madras), since 1944
Sri Aurobindo Circle, Annual, Pondicherry (originally Bombay), since 1945
Bulletin of Physical Education (presently the Bulletin of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education), Quarterly, Pondicherry, since 1949, English-French
Mother India, Monthly, Pondicherry (originally a Bombay fortnightly), since 1949
Srinvantu, Quarterly, Calcutta, since 1956

Further Information

Get more info on 'Sri Aurobindo Ashram'.

External Link Exchanges

Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:

<a href="http://sri_aurobindo_ashram.totallyexplained.com">Sri Aurobindo Ashram Totally Explained</a>

Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned.