Reflection: Matirmandir
This experience was too
much for words to describe but I will try my level best to do it justice. Being
one of the fortunate seven in our group I got to visit Matirmandir, the Soul of
the City, Auroville. Our journey began with a short film at the visitor’s
center on Auroville and its Dream. We were then given individual passes to go
to the inner chamber of the Matrimandir. We all went by bus to the Mandir.
During the journey all I could think about is if I would find divine
consciousness and if I would be able to concentrate. We were then led in a
single file to drop off our bags and belongings that made me think of how I was
letting go of the material world and starting a new journey.
We
then sat in silence on a few benches that overlooked the Mandir and waited for
everyone to assemble. A man came and introduced himself as tour guide and he
gave us a little brief on the Matrimandir. The Matrimandir was wanted by the
Mother as a place to trigger the divine consciousness in those who visit it. He
also told us to keep an open mind and let the Mother work her energy in us.
We
were all then led by him on a path and the path began with a wooden plank that
we had to cross over this felt like a threshold, obstacle that I crossed over
into a different space and time. It felt like we were taken into a new
dimension and everything seemed to be all harmonious and peaceful.
The
path then led us to one of the twelve petals of the Mandir where we took off
our footwear and walked down a slope into the petal of Generosity. Inside the
petal I saw a small meditation room with glass doors that was beautifully lit
in purple light. To me the colour purple has always symbolized a sense of
royalty. Inside the room sat a man with his back facing the glass door and a
gold oval panel in front of him. This sight looked like I saw a real life
person attaining Nirvana. His body language was very peaceful and at confident.
We then walked out through the other door of the petal and down another small
slope that lead below the main ball of the Mandir. In the center was a small
crystal ball with twenty-four concentric circles of white marble petals.
We sat around it in a circle and maintained silence for about ten to
fifteen minutes. Initially it was difficult to concentrate due the diversity of
people and after a while I was able to do so. The only thing I could think of
was that ray of sunlight on the crystal ball. This made me think metaphorically
of how we as individuals need to be a ray of hope like the ray of light and
make this world a better place. A while later we heard a bell and our guide
signaled us with his hands to follow him.
We
then walked back through the petal of generosity and up a flight of stairs into
the dome of the Mandir. We then were given white socks to put over our pants
and then we were led to a higher level.
This
level was really exquisite and had a spiral white carpeted ramp leading to the
inner chamber. It was lit up beautifully in a light pastel pink light and it
had water trickles on four sides of the dome. This felt like I was taking the
stairway to heaven.
We
then went into the inner chamber and what I felt was transcendental. The
chamber was completely white with twelve pillars surrounding the large crystal
ball in the centre. The ceiling had a skylight through which a ray of sunlight
comes and shines on the crystal ball. This light illuminates the whole room and
every time the clouds cover the sun the light in the room dims and then beams
again. The reflection of the clouds moving gave the crystal a very mystical
look. We sat on cushions in two concentric circles around the crystal ball in
complete silence. I was overwhelmed with the whole experience. I was finally
able to shut out all the clouded thoughts in my head and just concentrate. This
was the first time I was really able to connect with my inner self and fully
understood what Gopi had told us at Navadarshanam. I then thought that the
mother had connected to me through the peaceful energy around. This experience
was beyond words and I wanted to sit there forever. A flash of light then
occurred in the room and it was time to go. I didn’t want to leave but I had
to. We went out in silence and down the spiral ramp again,and then removed our
socks. We then went out and down the stairs again, through the petal of
generosity to where we had left our shoes. The discomfort of physical existence
hit me and I felt like I was back to reality again. I had truly found my inner
self and felt a power greater than me.
We
then put on our shoes and went in a line to see the amphitheater where the earn
of soils of different nations was. We then went to the center of Auroville, the
big Banyan Tree and sat around. The tree was beautiful, strong and humungous it
made me think of so many metaphorical things. We need to learn to grow and
expand but stay grounded and stick to our roots. Many people were hugging and
touching the tree as a way of coping and comfort. It was beautiful to sit in
silence and listen to the sounds and feel the wind pass by. We then walked back
to from where we started to get our belongings.
This
experience was definitely something i'll remember for a lifetime. It left me
with so many things to think about and a trigger to connect to my inner self.
It is definitely one of the main reasons I would go back to Auroville.
