Experiencing Matrimandir, Auroville.

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.