In Pondicherry’s old French quarter, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a haven of meditation. Set on Marine Street in a fine colonial house, it is one of the most peaceful places in the town.
Sri Aurobindo and “The Mother”
In 1920 a Frenchwoman, Mira Alfassa, joined Sri Aurobindo and became his spiritual companion: she is known as “The Mother”. Sri Aurobindo’s teaching is a synthesis of the traditional and modern yogas, turned towards the inner spiritual life — the discovery of the one Self and the awakening of a supramental consciousness that transforms human nature. The ashram was founded on 24 November 1926; Sri Aurobindo then withdrew from public life and entrusted its direction to “The Mother”, who continued his work after his death in 1950.
From the ashram to Auroville
“There should be somewhere on Earth an inalienable place, belonging to no nation, where all beings of goodwill could live freely, as citizens of the world…”
“The Mother”, 1968
From this vision, Auroville was born in 1969, an experimental and spiritual city about ten kilometres north of Pondicherry.
At the Samadhi
In the ashram, one can gather at the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, covered with fresh flowers — a place of great peace (every day 8 am–12 pm and 2–4 pm). Pondicherry is 100 km from Mahābalipuram (≈ 2 h by bus, 1 h 30 by car).
