Matrimandir

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Matrimandir and the banyan tree, the center of Auroville

The Matrimandir (Sanskrit for Temple of The Mother) is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of Integral yoga, situated at the center of Auroville initiated by The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. It is called soul of the city and is situated in a large open space called Peace. Matrimandir, does not belong to any particular religion or sect.

1 Description
2 Symbolism
3 History
4 Dimensions and Geography
5 Controversies
6 External links
7 References
8 See also

[edit] Description

The Mother and Sri Aurobindo

Books:

Life Divine, Synthesis of Yoga, Savitri,

The Mother, Letters, Agenda

Teachings:

Important Places:

Matrimandir

Communities:

Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville,

Important Disciples:

Champaklal, N.K.Gupta, Amal Kiran,

Nirodbaran, Pavitra, M.P.Pandit,

Pranab, A.B.Purani, D.K.Roy,

Satprem, Indra Sen, Kapali Shastri

Journals and Forums:

Arya, Mother India, Collaboration, Auroconf,

The Matrimandir is in the form of a huge spherical structure surrounded by twelve padestals. The central dome is covered by golden discs and reflects sunlight, which give Matrimandir its characteristic radiance. Inside the central dome is the central meditation hall known as the inner chamber.

Matrimandir is still under construction.

[edit] Symbolism

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The four main pillars that support the structure of Matrimandir, and carry the Inner Chamber, have been set at the four main directions of the compass.

These four pillars are symbolic of the four aspects of the mother as enumerated by Sri Aurobindo, and are named after these four aspects.

“

Four great Aspects of the Mother, four of her leading Powers and Personalities have stood in front in her guidance of this Universe and in her dealings with the terrestrial play ^[1]

”

Name	Symbolism
Maheshwari (south pillar)	One is her personality of calm wideness and comprehending wisdom and tranquil benignity and inexhaustible compassion and sovereign and surpassing majesty and all-ruling greatness.
Mahakali (north pillar)	Another embodies her power of splendid strength and irresistible passion, her warrior mood, her overwhelming will, her impetuous swiftness and world-shaking force.
Mahalakshmi (east pillar)	A third is vivid and sweet and wonderful with her deep secret of beauty and harmony and fine rhythm, her intricate and subtle opulence, her compelling attraction and captivating grace..
Mahasaraswati (west pillar)	The fourth is equipped with her close and profound capacity of intimate knowledge and careful flawless work and quiet and exact perfection in all things...

[edit] History

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The foundation stone of Matrimandir was laid at sunrise on 21st February 1971 - the Mother’s 93rd birthday.

[edit] Dimensions and Geography

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The Matrimandir is spherical in shape and has the largest optically perfect glass globe in the world inside its Inner Chamber in the upper hemisphere of the building. The Matrimandir and its surrounding gardens in the central Peace Area can be visited by visitors after collecting a free pass. The actual Matrimandir is currently (Jan 2007) under construction and can not be visited. It is supposed to open up sometime after March, 2007.

[edit] Controversies

Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet, founder of Aeon Center for Cosmology [1], contends that the Matrimandir was not built according to the specifications of the Mother's original blueprints. [2]