Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is the spiritual center of the followers of Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa, the " Mother". The name is particularly well for the main building of the community in the northeastern part Puducherrys on the east coast of South India, where there are the former living quarters and the common tomb ( " Samadhi " ) of the two founders.

History

Aurobindo had first lived with a few students in different houses in the southern Indian city of Pondicherry since 1910. After the final arrival of his spiritual companion, the mother, in 1920, a growing number of students were added. The Ashram as such arose after November 1926, when Aurobindo largely retreated to the development of his integral Yoga path and the mother was responsible for the organization and support of the community. Most followers came because they were attracted by the personality and charisma Aurobindo or even admired his dedication as a freedom fighter. At a later stage the mother exerted a similar "suction".

Over the following decades, numerous buildings were purchased or leased in the town of Pondicherry, and many enterprises and institutions founded as a large kitchen with dining room, guest houses, factories, bakeries, farms, a print shop and sporting venues. Aurobindo and the Mother lived in the main building in the northeastern city of Pondicherry near the coast. In the courtyard of this building is now home to the " Samadhi ", the joint tomb of Aurobindo and the Mother, whose bodies were not cremated according to a tradition of Hinduism, as both are considered important spiritual figures and it is believed that their physical body even after the death blesses the earth.

The number of members of the Ashram was in 1926 still 24 in 1929, 85 lived in 17 houses, and died as Aurobindo in 1950, there were about 800 today live and work about 1,500 ashram members in over 400 buildings. There are also numerous devotees from around the world who are not members, but largely participate in the ashram life and live in guest houses or private homes. A branch of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram can be found in Delhi.

Goals and ideals

The Ashram offers residents the opportunity to collectively Aurobindo's Integral Yoga practice, which aims at the integral development of the people and because of its this-worldly, world-affirming orientation attaches great importance to the Yoga of works (karma - yoga). Numerous activities such as sports events, theater and musical performances, etc. allow the members of the Ashram to pursue their individual interests and shape their spiritual development in accordance with Aurobindo's ideals. Children and young people are trained in the ashram 's facilities. The " International Centre of Education", which is located opposite the main building of the Ashram, leads to university entrance.

Publications

Below is a selection of magazines, which are published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram or from facilities that work with him:

• Sri Aurobindo Mandir Annual, yearly, Kolkata since 1942
• Bartika ( in Bengali ), quarterly, Kolkata since 1942
• The Advent, quarterly, Pondicherry since 1944
• Sri Aurobindo Circle, annually, Pondicherry since 1945
• Bulletin of Physical Education (now the Bulletin of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education), quarterly, Pondicherry, since 1949, English - French
• Mother India, monthly, Pondicherry, since 1949
• Srinvantu, quarterly, since 1956