Auroville, often referred to as “The City of Dawn,” is a unique experimental township in South India. At the heart of Auroville stands the Matrimandir, also called the “soul of the city.” This golden, spherical meditation center is a place dedicated to individual silent concentration. It is situated in the Peace Area, which is enclosed by an oval-shaped lake, intended to symbolize serenity and reflection.
The idea of Auroville was first proposed by Mirra Alfassa, known as “The Mother,” the spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo.
In June 1965, the Mother started speaking of her intention to build, north of Puducherry, a “universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity.”
One of the most iconic landmarks of Auroville, the Matrimandir, was envisioned by The Mother as a symbol of the Divine’s presence in the township. Initially, she referred to it as the “Pavilion of Truth” or “Pavilion of Divine Love” before settling on the name “Matrimandir,” meaning “The Mother’s Shrine.”
Towards the end of 1965, the Mother decided that a lone Banyan tree would be the geographical centre of the future town. At the time the site was almost totally barren. In early 1968, the Mother gave names to Matrimandir’s twelve Gardens:
Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, Light, Life, Power, Wealth, Utility, Progress, Youth, Harmony, Perfection.
On 28th February 1968, Auroville’s inauguration ceremony took place around a white Urn, shaped like a lotus bud, which now stands at the focus of a large amphitheatre. Youth representing each state of India and each country of the world placed a handful of the soil of their respective state/country in this Urn while a welcoming message and Auroville’s Charter were read in various Indian and foreign languages.
On 21st February 1972, the first concreting (of the foundation) took place. In one of her messages, the Mother wrote:
“The Matrimandir wants to be the symbol of the Universal Mother according to Sri Aurobindo’s teaching.”
Matrimandir is dedicated to the Universal Mother, a Presence or Being that has been experienced and worshiped, under different names, in most cultures of the world since time immemorial. The ancient Egyptians named her ‘Isis’, the Incas ‘Pachamama’, the Japanese ‘Kwannon’, the Hindus ‘Aditi’, the Catholics identified her with ‘Virgin Mary’, etc.
In early 1972, she named Matrimandir’s North, South, East and West pillars after the four ‘Aspects’ or ‘Personalities’ of the Supreme Mother, that is respectively: Mahakali, Maheshwari, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati; and the twelve meditation rooms, which are located inside Matrimandir’s twelve large ‘petals’, after her twelve ‘Virtues’ or ‘Qualities’:
Sincerity, Humility, Gratitude, Perseverance, Aspiration, Receptivity, Progress, Courage, Goodness, Generosity, Equality, and Peace.
On 17th November 1973, at 7:25pm, the concreting of the four concrete pillars which support Matrimandir ended. Exactly at the same time, the Mother left her body.
Auroville is more than just a township; it is a living experiment in sustainable development, alternative education, and collective progress. It functions outside conventional governance structures, with residents actively participating in decision-making processes and self-sustaining economic models. The community thrives on principles of collaboration, research, and holistic well-being.
As Auroville continues to grow, it serves as a beacon of hope for those seeking a new way of life—one that prioritizes inner growth, environmental responsibility, and universal brotherhood.
Auroville stands as a testament to the possibility of a harmonious and inclusive future. Whether through its architectural wonders, sustainable initiatives, or spiritual philosophy, the City of Dawn remains an inspiring symbol of humanity’s collective aspiration for peace and progress.
