Huta's letter to The Mother in 1965 inspired the creation of Matrimandir; it was to Huta that The Mother first explained Her concept of Auroville's town-plan.
The Mother : Contact Auroville
Huta had a strong connection with Auroville – a letter of hers to the Mother in 1965 inspired the creation of Matrimandir, the Mother’s Shrine; and it was to Huta that the Mother first explained, with sketches, her concept for the town-plan of Auroville. In 1966 Huta produced the painting which the Mother named ‘The Spirit of Auroville.’ All this is told in her books 'Matrimandir the Mother’s Truth and Love' and 'The Spirit of Auroville'.
THEME/S
There is the Truth of which the world’s truths are shreds, The Light of which the world’s ignorance is the shade Till Truth draws back the shade that it has cast, The Love our hearts call down to heal all strife, The Bliss for which the world’s derelict sorrows yearn: Thence comes the glory sometimes seen on earth, The visits of Godhead to the human soul, The Beauty and the dream on Nature’s face. ||146.57||
Here are the beautiful words of the Mother
To my very dear little child Huta,
Welcome to all those who aspire to do the Lord's work
With all my love
This book was first published as a booklet in 1974 under the name: Matrimandir—The Mother's Truth and Love.
It was done in great haste. Many things were left out, overlooked, unrevised. Since I have been requested by many people to reprint it, I have taken the opportunity to recast, revise and give a full picture of the matter.
The Mother's conversations with me about the Matrimandir and Auroville, seen and corrected by her, were very similar to those she had with a few other people. This similarity emphasises all the more the heart of her message. Moreover, her letters and her messages highlight the whole matter.
What I wish to present here is based purely on the spiritual and occult truths expressed and revealed by the Mother. It has nothing to do with outer circumstances, human perceptions and situations. The Mother's sayings hold good for all time. They stand ever true, ever new. The Mother was and is countless years ahead of our time.
Illuminating messages given by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo apply not only to Aurovilians but also Ashramites and the people of the world.
The Mother's Truth is One, but she expressed it in various ways. She might have told people concerned the same thing with a shade of difference. But this does not mean that the Mother has changed her Vision and Will. It is the Mother's Vision and Will which all of us should understand and try sincerely to carry out in Her Truth and Love.
This encouraging letter of the Mother will certainly help us:
Yes, my dearest little child
We are here to bring upon earth the victory of Truth and Love—and it will be done.
My profound gratitude and love to the Supreme Lord and the Supreme Mother.
Huta
You can be absolutely sure that the Lord is always doing the very best for the Truth.
Auroville wants to be the first realisation of human unity based on the teaching of Sri Aurobindo. Where men of all countries would be at home.
blessings
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Aims and Principles
Sri Aurobindo came to tell the world of the beauty of the future that must be realised.
He came to give not a hope but a certitude of the splendour towards which the world moves. The world is not an unfortunate accident, it is a marvel which moves towards its expression.
The world needs the certitude of the beauty of the future and Sri Aurobindo has given that assurance.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Centenary
I came across a booklet, Auroville: The Cradle of a New Man, in which the Mother has stated as follows:
Last year when I announced to you the manifestation of the Supramental Consciousness and Light and Force, I should have added that it was an event forerunner of the birth of a new world. But at that time, the new world was so much engulfed in the ancient that even now there are very few people who are aware of its birth and of the difference it brings into the world. Yet the action of the new forces has continued in a very regular, very persistent, very obstinate and, to a certain extent, very effective way. The result of all that has been noted at every step in almost day-to-day experiences.
First of all, it is not merely a new conception of the spiritual life and the divine reality. The old spirituality was an escape from life towards the divine Reality, leaving the world where it was, as it was. Our new vision, on the contrary, is the divinisation of life, the transformation of the material into a divine world. But this work could have been a simple continuation, an amelioration, an enlargement of the old world as it was. What has happened is truly a new thing:
A New World has been born. It is not the old that is being transformed, it is quite a new world that has been really concretely born.
At the present hour we are in the very heart of a period of transition, where the two are intertwined; the old persists, still all-powerful, continues to dominate the ordinary consciousness, while the new glides in, still modest, unnoticed to the extent that for the moment it disturbs nothing much externally, and even in the consciousness of most people it is quite imperceptible. And yet it works, it grows till the moment when it will be strong enough to impose itself visibly.
In any case, to simplify one can say that the old world, the creation which Sri Aurobindo calls the overmental, was in a characteristic way the age of the gods and therefore the age of religions. The flower of man's effort towards that which was higher than him gave birth to numerous religions, to a religious relation between the souls of the select few and the invisible world, and at the summit of all that, as an effort towards a still higher realisation, was born this idea of the unity of religions, of something that is unique, which is behind all manifestation—and this idea was really the ceiling of human aspiration. This conception is on the borderland; it is something which still belongs wholly to the Overmental world, to the Overmental creation and from there seems to look at another thing, something of which it has only a presentiment, which is a new creation it tries to attain but is unable to seize. To seize it, what is needed is a reversal. One must come out of the Overmental creation. But for that, the new creation, the supramental creation must have taken place.
And now all those old things seem too old, so antiquated, so arbitrary, such a travesty of the true truth.
In the supramental creation there will no more be religions. All life will be the expression, the flowering in forms of the Divine Unity manifesting in the world. And there will be no more what men now call the gods.
But all that is of the future, a future that has begun but will take some time before realising itself integrally. In the meanwhile, we are in a very special situation, extremely special, which has had no precedent. We are attending on the birth of a new world, altogether young, altogether weak—weak not in its essence, but in its external manifestation—not yet recognised, nor yet felt, denied by most, but it is there, it is there endeavouring to grow and quite sure of the result. Yet, the road to reach there is a new road, that has never before been traced, none went by that way, none did that. It is a beginning, a universal beginning. Therefore it is an adventure absolutely unexpected and unforeseeable.
There are people who love adventure, and to them I give a call and I tell them:
I invite you to the great adventure, and in this adventure you are not to repeat spiritually what the others have done before us, because our adventure begins from beyond that stage. We are for a new creation, entirely new, carrying in it all the unforeseen, all risks, all hazards,—a true adventure of which the goal is sure victory, but of which the way is unknown and has to be traced out step by step in the unexplored. It is something that has never been in the present universe and will never be in the same manner. If that interests you, well, embark. What will happen tomorrow, I do not know. You must leave behind whatever has been designed, whatever has been built up, and then on the march into the unknown. Come what may.
The second anniversary of the manifestation of the Supramental Consciousness Light and Force took place in 1964.
The Mother distributed this message to people on that day:
All earth shall be the Spirit’s manifest home, ||155.45||
That very year the movement for the New Town began. It was to be an extension of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The name of the New Town was given by the Mother in the beginning of 1965: "Auroville". Named after Sri Aurobindo, literally it means, "The City of Dawn".
Auroville–an International Township–is situated mainly in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India. It also lies partly in Pondicherry State.
The site is a low-lying plateau about 50-55 metres above the sea level, gradually sloping down to the sea on the East and to lakes on the West. It is planned to cover an area of about 15 sq. km. Auroville is situated 10 km. or so to the North of Pondicherry.
During this period various seminars were held in the Ashram. The project of the New Township, planned for 50,000 inhabitants, was sponsored and made known by the Sri Aurobindo Society, an International Organisation which the Mother had formed in 1960. She was the President of the Sri Aurobindo Society.
The Mother wrote the following message, dated 13.6.64, which is appropriate here.
None of the present achievements of humanity, however great they are, can be for us an ideal to follow. The wide world is there as a field of experiment for human ideals.
Our purpose is quite different and if our chances of success are small just now, we are sure that we are working to prepare the future.
I know that from the external point of view, we are below many of the present achievements in this world, but our aim is not a perfection in accordance with the human standards. We are endeavouring for something else which belongs to the future.
The Ashram has been founded and is meant to be the cradle of the new world.
The inspiration is from above, the guiding force is from above, the creative power is from above, at work for the descent of the new realisation.
It is only by its shortcomings, its deficiencies and its failures that the Ashram belongs to the present world.
None of the present achievements of humanity have the power to pull the Ashram out of its difficulties.
It is only a total conversion of all its members and an integral opening to the descending Light of Truth that can help it to realise itself
The task, no doubt, is a formidable one, but we received the command to accomplish it and we are upon earth for that purpose alone.
We shall continue up to the end with an unfailing trust in the Will and the Help of the Supreme.
The door is open and will always remain open to all those who decide to give their life for that purpose.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Sri Aurobindo Ashram
In August 1964 the Mother gave the following message to the World Conference of the Sri Aurobindo Society, at which the decision to start the New Township was taken:
The future of the Earth depends on a change of consciousness. The only hope for the future is in a change of man's consciousness and the change is bound to come. But it is left to men to decide if they will collaborate for this change or if it will have to be enforced upon them by the power of crashing circumstances.
So, wake up and collaborate!
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Human Unity
Here the Mother's words are quite apt:
A change in human consciousness will make possible the manifestation upon earth of a higher Force, a purer Light, a more total Truth.
The project of the International Township was approved by the Government of India and officially introduced to UNESCO. The project was endorsed and supported by the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris in its sessions from 1967 onwards.
I wrote to the Mother asking whether I could have a small house in the New Town. She answered on 16.11.64:
My dear little child Huta
You will have your house in the new town. But it may not be so soon as you believe.
With Love
People in India and the world over started giving money to the Sri Aurobindo Society to buy lands in Auroville.
Once again I wrote to the Mother about my house. She replied on 10.6.65:
My dear little child,
Quite willing to give you your house in Auroville, but it must be built first. You must keep the amount of which you spoke for the purpose.
Love
Some relatives of mine prayed to the Mother to see them for her blessing. But, unfortunately, they changed their minds!
The Mother wrote to me on 18.6.65:
Dear little child of mine,
It is nice that we shall be both alone on the 25th.
Let the others go their own way as they like.
For the house in Auroville, I had from the beginning said to Nava that your house must be in a pretty and quiet place and that if any of your family want houses in Auroville it must be at the other end of the town. So it will be all right.
On the 25th we shall have a nice, quiet time.
With all my love.
On the night of 19.6.65 I had a vision. The next morning I expressed to the Mother in detail what I had seen and felt.
The ardent aspiration was that the Mother should have her house in Auroville, because without the Spirit of Auroville the whole town would be lifeless.
She responded:
20.6.65
Huta, my dear little child
You have indeed a very sweet soul who makes very sweet projects and beautiful dreams—all that is passed on directly to the Lord who will show us clearly what is His decision.
Meanwhile, it is not to Nava that I shall show the letter but to the architect of Auroville when he arrives and see with him the way of giving a concrete realisation to the beautiful plans.
But I must warn you to be patient because all that may take more time than you expect.
However there is also a joy in waiting, the joy of expectation.
Further I wrote to the Mother about my childhood's dream, which I had suppressed for a long time.
She confirmed: on 21-6-65:
My dearest little child Huta
With your Rs. 500 of today, I have started a purse on which is written: "Huta—Auroville." So, little by little the money will collect.
In your yesterday's letter you spoke of a dream of your childhood "the most beautiful spot of the world".
This was also a dream of my own childhood. So our dreams have met for realisation.
Now it is only to be worked out. When we know how to wait, we put Time on our side.
Later the Mother told Nolini Kanta Gupta, Counouma, Dyuman, André, Amrita, Champaklal, Vasudha, Navajata and others that I had received the correct vision.
It was nice to read the Mother's talk of 23-6-65 in Mother India, Monthly Review of Culture, special issue of February 1967:
Have you heard of Auroville? For a long time, I had a plan of the 'ideal town', but that was during Sri Aurobindo's lifetime, with Sri Aurobindo living at the Centre. Afterwards, I was no longer interested. Then the idea of Auroville—I gave the name Auroville—was taken up again, but from the other end: instead of the formation having to find the place, it was a place—near the lake—which gave birth to the formation, and until now I took only a minor interest in it, for I had received nothing directly. Then our little Huta took it into her head to have a house there, by the lake, and to have a house for me next to hers—and to offer it to me. And she wrote me all her dreams: one or two sentences suddenly stirred an old, old memory of something which had tried to manifest—a creation—when I was very small and which had again started trying to manifest at the very beginning of the century, when I was with Theon. Then all that was forgotten. It came back with this letter: all at once, I had my plan for Auroville....
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Early Talks
My heart filled with joy and happiness because of the Mother's encouragement. In answer to my letter she wrote on 23.6.65:
Your letter is very nice. On the 25th I shall show you my plan of Auroville.
On Friday June 25th, in the morning after our work on Savitri, the Mother opened her diary in which she kept my letters. There were also some blank sheets of paper. She drew several sketches in front of me. Out of them she gave me these two.
This one is in the shape of a flower, a hibiscus, to which the Mother has given the significance, "Godhead—Pure and Perfect, it puts out its force in the world."
Then she pointed to each petal and counterpetal, and explained:
This drawing is divided into four petals with small semi circles between their divisions. They are meant for Civil Services like Post Offices, Banks, Telecom, Telegraph and so on. The four petals represent four Powers of the Supreme Mother. They are Mahakali, Maheshwari, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
Mahakali: Industrial area. Small industries will be in this place. The big ones will be on the seaside. And further towards Madras the land will be extended covering some 50 miles or so. Also, the land of Auroville will be extended towards Lake Estate southward.
Big industries will be far away from the inner parts, which must be in total silence and peace. They must not be affected by smoke and noise from heavy machinery.
Maheshwari: the Residential area. Here the ground must not be levelled but be kept as it is with hillocks. There will be tall trees, grass, flowers, small ponds, fountains, rockeries—all natural things—nothing should be artificial.
Mahalakshmi: Cultural zone. In this area there will be art galleries, studios, museums, exhibition halls, an auditorium, schools, colleges and so on. Musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors and other artists will have their houses—surrounded by natural beauties. The artists will be undisturbed and free to create new things.
The Mother smiled and said to me:
You will paint the walls of the Auditorium.
I raised my eyebrows and returned no answer.
She continued:
Mahasaraswati: International Zone. Pavilions of all the countries which present their customs and cultures.
For this sketch the Mother said:
Ah! Now the Mother Pavilion. This will be a separate island surrounded by a lake, tall trees, gardens with various kinds of flowers. I especially want the creepers of red hibiscus (Power) upon the outer dome of the Mother's Pavilion. They will look like living jewels against the white marble. There will be rockeries in Japanese style, varieties of cactus, small waterfalls, small pools with lilies, lotuses, small bridges, various kinds of fountains and marble statues—one of them will be Shiva in deep trance. From his matted hair flows the water like a fountain....
There will be only one entrance. I want precious, semi-precious and artificial stones to be paved from the gate to the Mother's Pavilion in gradations, because they are full of meaning.
The Mother revealed many interesting things about the precious and semi-precious stones.
According to her, Topaz corresponds to Jupiter, the God of benevolence. It is topmost and has tremendous power over other planets.
In 1965 the Mother asked me to wear Topaz, because she explained that the mounts of Jupiter on both my hands are very good and that I derive energy from Sri Aurobindo's Jupiter which is extremely powerful. For Amethyst she has revealed that it has a power of protection.
The Diamond represents the Mother's Light and Consciousness. Also there are Pearls, Corals, Emeralds, Rubies and other numerous attractive multicoloured stones. They have different cuts, qualities and symbols.
The stones have their own individuality and characteristic. They are conscious, sensitive, receptive and full of energetic vibrations. They hold in them the occult and spiritual power. Their influence and magnetic effect on human life are unique.
Here is the sketch of the Mother's Pavilion done on the same piece of paper by the Mother:
She told me:
The Pavilion will be in white marble and will have three storeys. The ground floor will be a huge marble hall—nothing material is to be kept in it except an arrangement by which there will be a perpetual flame representing the Immortal Flame of the Supreme Truth.
This flame will burn in a lotus built in the centre of Sri Aurobindo's symbol and my symbol combined, in a design made of pure gold. The Supreme Truth will be invoked in it.
The Mother gave this significance to the combination of Sri Aurobindo's symbol and her own:
The effective manifestation of Ishwara and Ishwari in union.
Sri Aurobindo has disclosed:
The Mother's consciousness and mine are the same, the one Divine Consciousness in two, because that is necessary for the play. Nothing can be done without her knowledge and force, without her consciousness—if anybody really feels her consciousness, he should know that I am there behind it and if he feels me it is the same with hers.
Sri Aurobindo, The Mother with Letters on The Mother: One Consciousness
About Sri Aurobindo's Symbol, the Mother wrote:
The descending triangle represents Sat-Chit-Ananda. The ascending triangle represents the aspiring answer from matter under the form of life, light and love. The junction of both—the central square—is the perfect manifestation having at its centre the Avatar of the Supreme—the lotus. The water—inside the square—represents the multiplicity, the creation.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: General
She continued her talk to me:
For the second floor I do not know yet, but on the third floor there will be a terrace garden and from this top floor the whole of Auroville will be seen.
On the terrace I would like to have carved marble seats with satin cushions—you know they carve peacocks, flowers and things like that in marble.
The Mother loved marble which is created by Nature and represents eternity, solidity, purity and light.
The Mother said:
This Shrine must have a vast area—not like this (The Mother took her handkerchief in her palm and closed her hand), so small. Also there must be a silent zone. No vehicles should move in this area, there should be no noise of any kind.
The Park of Unity will be divided into twelve gardens which will represent twelve Attributes of the Supreme Mother and her four Powers. In these gardens I would like to have varieties of flowers—specially the different kinds of Hibiscus—the Divine Consciousness.
On the other side, towards the boundary of the gardens, I wish to have a lake, huge trees like palms, pines, various types of ferns, neem, Indian cork trees, eucalyptus and many other beautiful big trees. They all represent Unity and Aspiration. When the lake will be dug, all the soil will be collected on one side in order to make it look like a small mountain where there will be fir-trees. You see, in future there will be snow!
When the Mother came to Pondicherry from Japan in 1920, she brought with her beautiful cards depicting tall trees and exquisite landscapes. The Mother gave these cards to me and told me that she wanted similar trees and scenery around the Pavilion of Truth.
She resumed:
Beneath each tall tree around the Mother's Pavilion there would be small carved marble seats. People will meditate in the open and be one with the vastness of Mother Nature—the Mother of the multitude and Her Creation.
I was listening to the Mother very attentively and with great interest. Suddenly she lifted my chin, looked deeply into my eyes and declared:
And you will be the guardian of the Mother's Shrine. Your tiny house in the shape of a lotus bud will be built on the island very close to my house.
I felt as if a drop of water merged into an ocean!
I was amazed and looked at her smiling face. My eyes were filled with tears of gratitude. The Mother put the other sketches back into her diary and while holding my letters, she remarked:
Look! All these letters of yours have started the Mother's Shrine.
I will explain to you more when I have spoken to the architect, who will come in September.
As a matter of fact, the exquisite plan had already been made by the Supreme Lord and the Supreme Mother. I was no more than a mere instrument.
After our talk, I kept on dreaming endlessly about the Mother's magnificent Vision. I asked her whether the dream of Auroville would turn out to be true. She replied on 16.7.65:
Huta, dear little child of mine,
The happy dream will turn out to be true.
LOVE
In 1954, the Mother wrote about her "DREAM". This text originally referred to the Ashram where, from practical point of view she saw the possibility to apply her Vision. But in 1964 everything seemed changed—outwardly, inwardly—in the earth atmosphere and consciousness. The Mother decided to create AUROVILLE which was also aiming and aspiring to fulfil this wonderful "DREAM".
This is the Mother's Dream:
There should be somewhere upon earth a place that no nation could claim as its sole property, a place where all human beings of good will, sincere in their aspiration, could live freely as citizens of the world, obeying one single authority, that of the supreme Truth, a place of peace, concord, harmony, where all the fighting instincts of man would be used exclusively to conquer the causes of his sufferings and miseries, to surmount his weakness and ignorance, to triumph over his limitations and incapacities; a place where the needs of the spirit and the care for progress would get precedence over the satisfaction of desires and passions, the seeking for material pleasures and enjoyment. In this place, children would be able to grow and develop integrally without losing contact with their soul. Education would be given not with a view to passing examinations and getting certificates and posts but for enriching the existing faculties and bringing forth new ones. In this place titles and positions would be supplanted by opportunities to serve and organise. The needs of the body will be provided for equally in the case of each and everyone. In the general organisation intellectual, moral and spiritual superiority will find expression not in the enhancement of the pleasures and powers of life but in the increase of duties and responsibilities. Artistic beauty in all forms, painting, sculpture, music, literature, will be available equally to all, the opportunity to share in the joys they give being limited solely by each one's capacities and not by social or financial position. For in this ideal place money would be no more the sovereign lord. Individual value would have greater importance than the value due to material wealth and social position. Work would not be there as the means for gaining one's livelihood, it would be the means whereby to express oneself develop one's capacities and possibilities, while doing at the same time service to the whole group, which on its side, would provide for each one's subsistence and for the field of his work. In brief it would be a place where the relations among human beings, usually based almost exclusively upon competition and strife, would be replaced by relations of emulation for doing better, for collaboration, relations of real brotherhood. The earth is certainly not ready to realise such an ideal, for mankind does not yet possess the necessary knowledge to understand and accept it nor the indispensable conscious force to execute it. That is why I call it a dream.
Yet, this dream is on the way of becoming a reality. That is exactly what we are seeking to do at the Ashram of Sri Aurobindo on a small scale, in proportion to our modest means. The achievement is indeed far from being perfect but it is progressive; little by little we advance towards our goal, which, we hope, one day we shall be able to hold before the world as a practical and effective means of coming out of the present chaos in order to be born into a more true, more harmonious new life.
The Mother, On Education: A Dream
In his book The Life Divine Sri Aurobindo has written:
There has been the dream or a psychic prevision of a fulfilment exceeding the individual transformation, a new earth and heaven, a city of God, a divine descent upon earth, a reign of the spirit, a kingdom of God, not only within us but outside in a collective human life...
Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine - II: Man and the Evolution
I plunged into the reveries of my childhood: Beauty, Wonder and Quietude. These things surely create a paradise upon earth, and to realise this, sincere, true and pure aspiration and effort are essential. A few lines from Savitri came to my mind:
In us too the intuitive Fire can burn; An agent Light, it is coiled in our folded hearts, Descending, it can bring those heavens here. ||30.36||
Days passed. I wrote to the Mother on 8.8.65.
My dearest Mother
Since we shall have some nice animals like deer and rabbits in the gardens, why can't we have lions near the Mother's Shrine?
Love.
She answered on 9.8.1965:
Huta, my dear little child,
Lions are indeed very nice, I have always at least one lion with me, but not physically, because people are too frightened and their fear makes a mess... Soon the architect is coming and at once we shall see what can be done.
After our work on Savitri, I asked the Mother whether different kinds of birds could be kept—they would, of course, be free and not caged. Also peacocks, India's National Bird, because they eat up snakes and scorpions. I added that the plants of Basil kept snakes away. She smiled and nodded.
Here I remember the legend of the book, Bhagavati Bhagavata. There is a marvellous description of the Supreme Mother and Her abode. It is on a coral island surrounded by tall trees, waterfalls, varieties of fragrant flowers, plants and hillocks. Animals wander fearlessly. Colourful birds continuously chant Her name melodiously among the splendours of magnificent nature. The Supreme Mother reclines on a unique divan supported by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Maheshwara. The whole Universe dwells in the nail of the big toe of Her right foot.
I once related this story to the Mother. She was charmed.
I never forgot to kiss her right foot whenever I went to her. I observed that many a time the Mother would stretch her feet towards me, as a help.
Sri Aurobindo has stated:
All is created by the Supreme Goddess, the Supreme and Original Mahashakti, all proceeds from her; all lives by her, all lives in her, even as she lives in all. All wisdom and knowledge are her wisdom and knowledge, all power is her power, all will and force her will and force, all action is her action, all movement her movement. All beings are portions of her power of existence.
Sri Aurobindo, Record of Yoga - II: Undated Notes, c. December 1926
On 1-5-1957 the Mother sent me her embroidered Egyptian crown which had two wings, one on either side of a bird. She asked me to paint only a profile of the bird. I finished the painting on 4-5-57 and showed it to her. The Mother liked the painting very much and asked me:
Child, can you draw a face with the crown which you have painted?
I replied:
Yes, Mother; I will try.
Afterwards she made several sketches of a face with the crown in order to show me how it could be done. Then suddenly she looked at me and said:
Ah! but you know that I have features like an Egyptian.
I caught a hint! I found one of the Mother's photographs in the Japanese dress—kimono—and sketched her face and showed it to the Mother in her room at the Playground. She saw my sketch. Amusement quivered in her voice as she asked me:
Child, from which photograph have you done this sketch?
I showed her the photograph. She exclaimed:
Well, eyes, lips and nose are not correct. Do you mind if I alter the drawing?
Not at all, Mother.
Then she opened a painted glass-box sent to the Mother by my younger sister, Usha from East Africa. She took out her hand-mirror and gazed at her reflection in it. It was a thrilling sight to watch the Mother do her own portrait with so much concentration and serenity. Time and again her lips were touched by sweet smile. After completing it, and handing the sheet of paper to me, she said joyously:
Ah! Voilà! the Supreme Mother herself came and showed her face. In this picture dwells my soul, and I give it to you. Indeed, you are a very lucky girl!
I was so much moved that I could not utter a word. She took my face between her hands and looked at me intently. There was a warm deep glow in her eyes with an exceptional charm I had never seen before. Then she drew me closer and pressed my head against her heart. I felt immense relief and peace.
Here is the portrait of the Supreme Mother.
After our work the Mother and I usually talked about one subject or another. Often the subject was Auroville—especially the Mother's Shrine.
I have kept a record of all the Mother's conversations, seen, corrected and approved by her. During the year 1965 she told me more than once that if people would not buy land quickly at Auroville when the price was low, then surely they would have difficulty later on when the price would be much more and many complications would arise.
This I conveyed to the people concerned. BUT...
On 1st September 1965 I showed the Mother some Japanese books, which she liked so much. In one of the books there was a picture of the Golden Temple at Kyoto. Pointing to it, she said enthusiastically:
Child, this is exactly what we shall have at the Centre, except for the shape of the roof—it must be a terrace and a dome; but the surroundings will be the same—lake, flowers, trees, rockeries, small waterfalls and so on.
Gardening is a wonderful thing—especially in Japan.
Long before, on 27.3.1957, in the morning the Mother had sent me an attractive card of the Golden Temple at Kyoto. The ethereal scene of the Temple gave an impression of silence, beauty, wonder and an immense peace.
The Mother commented on the card in the evening when she saw me in her room at the Playground:
Ah! You know I saw the Golden Temple at Kyoto when I was in Japan. It is very beautiful.
The Mother gave the following message to the Japan Centre on 16.10.1972:
Japan was, in the physical world, the teacher of beauty. She must not renounce her privilege.
Pournaprema, the Mother's granddaughter, once showed me a big card depicting the Golden Temple in Kyoto, which the Mother gave to Roger Anger on his birthday in 1966. Underneath the card she had inscribed a message in French, as in this transcription from the original:
Que cette année marque le début d'une réalisation vaste et belle qui sera le premier pas vers la Création Nouvelle.
Let this year mark the beginning of a vast and beautiful realisation which will be the first step towards the New Creation.
I asked Pourna how the card came to her. She said:
When Roger shifted to his new house in Pondicherry he left this card and the Mother's photograph in his old house.
Roger told me that now everything is past and old. All this happened after the Mother left her body.
In the book, Gardening the Japanese Way (p. 137) Sima Eliovson writes:
The Garden of Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, also called Rocuon-ji (Deer Park), was originally built for the shogun Yoshimitsu (1367-95 AD) after his retirement. The garden comprises about 4 1/2 acres, including a pond of 1 3/4 acres, with islands representing the tortoise and crane, symbols of long life. The Pavilion, converted to a Buddhist temple after Yoshimitsu's death, was destroyed by fire in 1950. It was rebuilt according to the original plans in 1955....
The gilding is a new innovation and condemned by discerning Japanese. The pointed eaves of the roofs of this three-tiered building form an exciting pattern against the sky, which is reflected in the water of the large lake surrounding it. The pond was once filled with lotus leaves and designed to create an image of paradise (the Seven-treasure pond of the Buddhist paradise), but its present untrammelled surface forms a perfect mirror for the Pavilion. This lake is broken by an island embedded with stones and planted with tall pines, while smaller islands emerge here and there. Some are tortoise-shaped. This garden illustrates the love of islands and lakes in both Japanese and Chinese gardens of old. The clay soil of this area is ideal for formation of a large lake, for it holds the water well.
One may stroll around the lake which is surrounded by trees, chiefly Red and Black Pines, but also the evergreen Podocarpus macrophylla and Lithocarpus (Pasania edulis). Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa are plentiful in the garden, with their crisp cypress-like foliage in contrast to the other trees. There are palms with tall stems and fans of leaves (Trachycarpus) and numerous shrubs like Camellias, Gardenia Jasminoides and Pieris. The deciduous oak, Quercus glauca, is trimmed into a low bush so as to display its tender bronze spring foliage. In a large public place such as the Golden Pavilion grounds, papers flutter from the 'fortune' trees and hedges at the entrance, representing a donation to the temple and the fond hope that one's fortune will improve....
The stroll Garden, with lake and island, is one of the favourite types of garden in Japan, and has been popular since 612 A.D., when a lake and island were made in the garden of the Empress Suiko at Nara.
This beautiful example illustrates how the tranquil stretch of water mirrors the pine trees on the island, as well as the graceful Pavilion....
Prabhat Kumar Poddar informed me that Mr. M.J. Patel of Japan and some others formed a group to coordinate the Japanese Pavilion and cultural participation in Auroville. The Mother was very much interested and inquired about the Japanese Pavilion.
Some of the Indian States kept sending the funds for their Pavilions also.
I do not really know what happened and what was the result.
The Mother wrote to me on 7-9-65
My dear little child Huta,
Roger has just arrived yesterday. I am seeing him this morning to explain to him the plan of Auroville. The Central Park will be the park of Unity containing the Pavilion and its 'annexe' as formerly decided.
The Mother gave the following message to people on 8-9-65
Auroville wants to be 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.
On 28th November the Mother saw me in the morning in her music-cum-interview room. After our work, she gave me a lovely yellow flower, Anthocephalus, Kadamba tree—in Sanskrit it is called Nipa. The Mother had named the flower:
Supramental Sun: We aspire that its rays may enlighten and transform us.
The Mother laughed softly and said to me:
Here, take it. This is "Supramental Sun". It is a traditional flower of Krishna.
I asked:
Mother, we must grow this in the area of the Mother's Shrine—for Krishna will come there.
She said:
Yes, you see, when I used to walk meditatively to and fro in the corridor near Sri Aurobindo's room, Krishna too walked with me.
I said:
All the Gods, even the Supreme Lord, will come to the Mother's Shrine.
She leaned forward from her high-backed carved chair, held up my chin and looked deeply into my eyes, smiled sweetly and nodded her head approvingly.
People started telling many things about Auroville. I informed the Mother She answered on 24-7-65:
24-7-65
My dear little Child,
What you have just written is news to me—I know nothing about it.
I told you already that I am waiting for the architect of Auroville who is coming at the beginning of September and we shall do together the plan of the town. I shall explain to him what I want and thing will be done accordingly.
Nobody else has any saying in the matter. If sincerely you want the Truth, you must first abstain from believing all the stories that people tell you, not always with a very harmonious intention.
Once again the Mother wrote to me:
It is Roger who will lay the first stone of the pavilion, in front of a few people (one of each country) and you will be there.
Roger will come back in February or March of next year 1966; so the ceremony cannot take place before that. According to your wish, the money you gave me will be used for that purpose.
Once more, my dear child, I warn you not to listen to what people tell you, whoever they are, about Auroville, because nobody except me, knows the exact thing. If you want to know something about Auroville, ask me, and nobody else and about the Pavilion I will certainly let you informed of all happenings.
I went to the Mother on 24th December. After our work She told me:
The place for the Mother's Shrine is chosen. It is really a very nice place.
Mother, the Truth must win.
She responded with a smile:
If there is anything certain, then it is the Truth, and that must win and it shall win.
I said,
Mother, first the Truth must have its place in Auroville and the rest will follow.
She gave a small enchanting laugh and replied:
My child, the Lord is arranging everything. Look, while we are talking, He is right here and smiling at us.
Mother; what then are we waiting for? Please ask Him to do the needful for the Truth soon.
Her blue-grey eyes sparkled with amusement as she said:
Soon! Well! We must wait and see.
Mother; what about the money? Oh, if I had sufficient money, I would give it straight away for the purpose, but...
She held my hand and said with a smile:
All will be done.
Navajata, the Secretary of the Sri Aurobindo Society, took me to the chosen place on 29.12.65, a Wednesday, in the morning.
It was a barren land—almost a plateau, without any trees save a lone banyan tree on a slightly raised ground that witnessed all the ups and downs of the vast land and Nature's moods.
I heard that somebody had suggested cutting down the banyan tree. But the Mother strongly refused.
Trees meant so much to her. Now they cut trees indiscriminately!
Somebody from Auroville gave me a clipping about Kaduveli Siddha—the legend of Irumbai temple. Several Aurovilians put together the following matter which was based on a tape-recorded conversation with a Brahmin of the Temple at Irumbai, a little away from the borders of Auroville.
When the Mother came to know that the villagers wanted to ask the Government to let the Aurovilians manage the area of the land close to the temple, she said:
It is all right.
Legend of Irumbai Temple
Wandering the barren canyon lands of Auroville or down the dusty village roads past crumbling temple ghats, one cannot help but wonder about an ancient culture that outwardly has been relegated to ruin, yet inwardly still haunts us with a hidden sense of epic grandeur and of might. Who were the priests, saints and rishis of these temples? What were their aspirations? What were the stories and traditions of these villages we pass through every day?
Our daily contacts with the villages through work, through disputes over land and grazing rights, if not more serious ones, through brief glimpses caught as one passes by, of temples, of crowds in the evening dusk, of people staring silently, of tea-shops, and low dark huts, gives one the strange impression of two cultures hurtled together to find something at what is, perhaps, the end of an Age.
The villages of Irumbai, Kottakarai, and Edayanchavadi, sites of continual daily contact between Auroville and the Tamil reality, have temple traditions going back millenia. They tend to have a strong devotion to the god Shiva and among their stories and traditions, Auroville, as the legend of Kaduveli and temple of Irumbai will show, is not absent.
The temple of Irumbai represents an important cultural and historical site, its sanctum sanctorum dating back more than two thousand years. It is mentioned in the collection of songs called the "Thevaram" of the famous Shaivite saint of the South, Thirugnana Sambanthar, who lived some twelve to fourteen hundred years ago, and who composed songs on the presiding deities and the geographical locality of almost all the early Shiva temples in the South. He sang of the presiding deity of Irumbai temple, Mahakaleswara, as well as the goddess Kuilmorhli Ammai, which means: "Mother with the sweet voice of the kuil birds." He depicts the Irumbai temple and its surroundings in beautiful language, mentioning the lotus pond, the green fields around the temple and the thick forests surrounding Irumbai village, which are today non-existent.
The temple was renovated under the Cholas and the Pandyas, whose kings donated hundreds of acres of land to the temple, and it had at one point perhaps as many as seven outer walls. A large statue of the god Ganesh, once part of the temple, now stands in the village itself.
Today, the temple sits at the entrance of Irumbai village beside the large crumbling stones of the lotus pond ghat where villagers bathe in the lazy afternoon, and despite its urgent need of repairs, still commands that ancient sense of power which in India overrides the ruins and ravages of time. It is the courtyard of the first of the seven walls that still exists and stands facing the west pillar of the Matrimandir across the rice paddies a couple of kilometers away.
The temple is particularly associated with the legend of Kaduveli Siddha, a famous yogi who lived in the area some four to five hundred years ago. He is remembered for his songs on how to control one's anger (Ref: "Songs of the Siddhas" in Tamil) and his wooden Samadhi is to be found on the road from Edayanchavadi to Pondy, close to the community of Forecomers. It is around him that the legend of Irumbai temple is based.
According to the legend, Kaduveli Siddha was performing a harsh penance. Sitting under a peepal tree in yogic poise for days, the heat of his body was so intense that the rain Gods suffered, no rains came, and the people were exposed to hardship and drought. The situation was so bad that it finally came to the ears of the King, who ruled from Edayanchavadi village, the region of which Irumbai was an important cultural centre, and Kottakarai, today a village adjoining the Auroville settlement of the same name, was one of his forts (Kottakarai in fact means: "End of the fort").
No one dared disturb Kaduveli in his penance as he chanted the mantra of Eswara, and soon an anthill started to rise up around him. Finally a temple dancer, named Valli, devoted to the Lord Shiva, decided to do her best to get the attention of the yogi, and to rescue the King and his people from the adverse effects of his tapasya. She observed that occasionally the Siddha would, with his eyes shut, put out his hands to catch and consume the falling, withered peepal leaves. So she prepared some thinly fried apalam (a flat salty wafer made out of green gram dhal) and started placing them into the yogi's outstretched hands as he tried to catch the falling leaves. Soon he started eating the apalams and getting his taste back. Slowly he grew fatter until finally the anthill broke and fell, and he was once more exposed to the rays of the sun. Finally he opened his eyes. Valli was extremely happy and was able to take him back to her house where she kept him in his best moods, dancing for him and learning songs from him. Meanwhile the God of Rain was relieved from the torture induced on him by the heat of the yogi's tapasya, the rain fell in plenty, and the people were happy once again.
In order to celebrate this event the King ordered a big Puja to be held at Irumbai temple, which was to be followed by a classical performance by Valli of one of the highest orders of classical dance, in which she would act out the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, in the form of Nataraja. During the performance however one of her anklets fell off, and she started suddenly to lose her balance and rhythm. Kaduveli, who saw the Lord Shiva in Valli, picked up the anklet and put it back upon her foot. This exposed him to the ridicule of King and court for having touched the feet of a dancing girl, and he was heckled and jeered. Furious, he invoked Lord Shiva to come out of his temple and prove his innocence in a rain of stone. Immediately the lingam in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple exploded, and wherever its fragments fell suddenly became desert. No greenery will grow around these spots, including a crater at a distance of three kilometers from the village, and they are still to this day known as `Kaduveli'
The King was suddenly frightened and begged the pardon of the Siddha, bowing down to him with all his entourage and pleading with him to quench the effects of his anger and curse. This appeased Kaduveli, who, repenting of his anger, said that what was done was done, but that in the future people from far-off lands would come and make the desert land green and fertile again. Today there are villages who feel that the Aurovilians are the people from far-off lands mentioned by the Siddha, and that the curse is now beginning to leave them.
Whatever one's interpretation of the legend might be, it is in any case an interesting tale, and the next time one passes through what was once the kingdom of Edayanchavadi, one might well wonder about this story of the dancer, the Siddha and the people from far-off lands, that occurred some five hundred years ago.
There were quite a number of people who were not convinced about the Mother's Vision—about the New World. I wrote to the Mother in this regard. She answered:
Truth does not depend on any exterior form, and will manifest in spite of all bad will and opposition.
The Mother has explained about Truth:
Truth is not linear but global; it is not successive but simultaneous. Therefore it cannot be expressed in words; it has to be lived.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Some Experiences of the Body Consciousness
This passage by the Mother is very appropriate:
Sri Aurobindo came to tell us, "One need not leave the earth to find the Truth, one need not leave life to find his soul, one need not abandon the world or have only limited beliefs to enter into relation with the Divine. The Divine is everywhere, in everything, and if He is hidden, it is because we do not take the trouble to discover Him.
The Mother, Mother's Agenda — 1971: April 17, 1971
It is really interesting to read the following explanation by the Mother:
All things considered, looking at the world as it is and as it seems it must be irremediably, the human intellect decreed that this world must have been a mistake on the part of God and manifestation or creation can be only the result of desire, desire for self-knowledge, desire for self-manifestation, desire for self-enjoyment and the only thing to be done is to put an end to this mistake as soon as possible by refusing consent to desire and its evil consequences.
But the Supreme Lord answers that the comedy has not yet been wholly played out, and He adds, "Wait for the last act, maybe you will change your opinion."
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: The Divine Working in the Universe
The following statement by the Mother is equally interesting.
Somebody asked me:
In the work of Transformation, who is the slowest to do his part, man or God?
I replied: —
Man finds that God is too slow to answer his prayers.
God finds that man is too slow to receive His influence.
But for the Truth-Consciousness all is going on as it ought to go.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: The Supramental and the New Being
On 20th February, I met the Mother in the morning for our work. After the work, along with a bouquet of white roses and other white flowers, she gave me separately a flower of a creamish colour—a hibiscus—and said:
Here! take it, this is Auroville.
I was amazed as I came to know for the first time this name for the flower: "Auroville." The same flower she had formerly called:
Godhead: Pure and Perfect, it puts out its force in the world.
Earlier the Mother had made me do the painting of this flower as one of the Savitri paintings: Book One, Canto Four.
Here is the sketch done by the Mother in this connection.
I was admiring the flower "Auroville" the Mother gave me.
Meanwhile the Mother drew a sketch of the Matrimandir entrance and explained it to me:
1) The entrance of the Mother's Shrine
2) Small bridge connecting the Shrine and the guardian's house.
3) A box-room. The Mother said that in the box-room the cleaning equipment for the Shrine would be kept. She was very practical.
4) A fountain. The Mother said that before entering the Shrine people would wash their feet at the fountain. In fact, she wanted water to be spread out all over the path leading to the Shrine. This was exactly what the Mother wanted in the entrance of Golconde too.
On 10.1.1970 the Mother gave a talk to some other people which tallies with what she told me about the water flow:
But the first idea was to encircle it [the Mother's Shrine] with water, so that one has to cross the water in order to enter the temple—it is quite possible to make a flow of water
The Mother saw me in her music-cum-interview room on 25.2.66.
I offered her a flower: Couroupita guianensis. According to the Mother it signifies: "Prosperity—stays constantly only with those who offer it to the Divine" She smiled and asked:
Is it for Auroville?
I said, "Yes, Mother."
The Mother gave me a card and said:
Child, when I was looking for some papers for Birthdays, Sri Aurobindo was there. He gave me this card and said, "This is for Huta."
I opened the card and read on it Sri Aurobindo's words:
Fix not the time and the way in which thy ideal shall be fulfilled. Work and leave time and way to God All-knowing.
Sri Aurobindo, Essays Divine and Human: Karma
The Mother and I exchanged smiles.
Then suddenly I asked her whether gods and goddesses of the Overmind would collaborate and help in the project of Auroville. She went into a trance for quite a long time. She awoke and revealed:
Gods and Goddesses of the Overmind haven't yet surrendered to the Supreme Lord because they have their own great power and they live in the Higher Consciousness.
When Sri Aurobindo was in his body, I used to give blessings on the Puja days. They used to come.... Also when I was going downstairs and giving meditations all these Gods and Goddesses used to assemble over there. But they are indeed independent; you see, for example, one of Kali's many aspects comes to me and tells me when human beings do wrong things. And I keep Her quiet. Also one of the aspects of Durga came to me last year on one of the Puja days. She was simply magnificent. I asked Her to surrender to the Supreme Lord. She said, "This is exactly what I wanted You to tell me. I am ready!" She was really wonderful.
In 1960, on the night previous to the First Anniversary of the Supramental Manifestation, Krishna came to me and told me, "It is I who will distribute tomorrow's message." So the next day when I went down, He sat on my lap and started giving blessings to people. It was really so amusing, seeing Him do so.... So, you see, these Gods are independent with their own Powers and are free to do as they like.
When I was staying in another house (not here) I was very much attached to Shiva. I asked Him to manifest on earth. He said, "No, I will not do so. I shall come only when the Supramental Race will be on this earth." So I had nothing to say. He is free.
Ever since I took birth on this earth, these Gods and Goddesses have been constantly with me.
In the old days, when I was taking a walk near Sri Aurobindo's room, Krishna used to walk with me.
I know that these Gods and Goddesses will help human beings in the New Creation, the New World of the Supermind...
The Mother has explained in Vol. 4, [pp. 395-396] about Overmind and Supermind:
I believe I have already told you once that these are the original beings in their higher reality and these are of a particular kind; then, as they manifest in more and more material regions, nearer and nearer the earth, they assume different forms and also multiply in a strange way. If you like, the beings Sri Aurobindo speaks of here belong to regions quite close to Supermind, they are still in quite a clear and conscious contact with the supramental origin. These beings manifest also in what Sri Aurobindo calls Overmind and in these the form becomes as it were more marked, a little more precise and at the same time reduced in power and capacity. Then from the Overmind they come down into the human mind, the terrestrial mind.
The Mother, Questions and Answers (1950 - 1951): 11 May 1951
Sri Aurobindo has written about Gods:
Gods are Personalities or Powers put forth by the Divine, they are therefore in fact limited emanations, although the full Divine is behind each of them.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: The Gods
They are in origin and essence permanent emanations of the Divine put forth from the Supreme by the Transcendent Mother, the Adya Shakti; in their cosmic action they are powers and personalities of the Divine, each with his independent cosmic standing, function and work in the Universe. They are not impersonal entities but cosmic personalities, although they can and do veil themselves behind the movement of impersonal forces. But while in the Overmind and the triple world they appear as independent beings, they return in the Supermind into the One and stand there united in a single harmonious action as multiple personalities of the One Person, the Divine Purushottama.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: Terminology
The Gods cannot be transformed, for they are typal and not evolutionary beings, they can come for conversion, that is to say, to give up their own ideas and outlook on things and conform themselves to the higher Will and Supra-mental truth of the Divine.
Sri Aurobindo threw some light on the Vedic Idea:
The Vedic Rishis never attained to the Supermind for the earth or perhaps did not even make the attempt. They tried to rise individually to the supramental plane, but they did not bring it down and make it a permanent part of the earth-consciousness. Even there are verses of the Upanishad in which it is hinted that it is impossible to pass through the gates of the Sun (the symbol of the Supermind) and yet retain an earthly body.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - II: Distinctive Features of the Integral Yoga
I never stopped dreaming about the New World—especially The Mother's Shrine. I knew that the Supreme Truth was going to be invoked there, and I must prepare myself.
I asked the Mother what virtue I should possess in order to be worthy of being a guardian of the Mother's Shrine. She replied:
Very dear little child Huta
The pure love from your heart and soul is all that is required to make you worthy of being the guardian of the Truth Pavilion.
I mused over the Mother's words, "The pure love from your heart and soul..." I felt within me that this state could only be achieved if I had no more self-will, no more ego's pride, no more selfishness and ambition. Perfect surrender to the Supreme Lord would solve many riddles. To realise that Love, I must forget my small self and merge in that pure Love. Here I recall one of the Mother's letters to me dated 2.9.66:
Love is the source of the Universe and the Power that unites the manifestation to its Creator.
Aspire sincerely and one day you will feel and be the LOVE.
With all my Love.
These lines from Savitri flashed into my mind:
This transfiguration is earth’s due to heaven: A mutual debt binds man to the Supreme: His nature we must put on as he put ours; We are sons of God and must be even as he: His human portion, we must grow divine. ||15.10|| Our life is a paradox with God for key. ||15.11||
On 4th March 1966 I went to the Mother in the afternoon. She said:
Child, Roger is coming on the 7th and I am going to see him on the 8th. I shall tell you all about the plan when you come on the 10th.
I seized an opportunity and prayed to her to lay the first stone of The Mother's Shrine, because the Supreme Truth would manifest there. Previously it had been decided to lay the foundation stone of the Truth Pavilion that very year, 1966. So naturally I asked the Mother to do it.
She went into a trance. When she opened her eyes, she remained absolutely silent. Then suddenly she drew my head towards her and kissed me on my forehead. I could not make anything out of this gesture except that her touch soothed me.
But I was insistent. I wrote to her and requested her once again to lay the first stone of The Mother's Shrine. She answered:
7.3.66
My very dear little child Huta
I have left everything to the Lord. It is He who decides and will always decide for this body. As yet, for this matter, He has not let me know His Will. That is why I have not answered.
Once again a prayer from my heart arose. The Mother answered on 8.3.66:
Received your very beautiful prayer to the Lord passed it on to Him and am waiting for His reply.
The Mother wrote to me the following letter dated 9.3.66:
Of one thing you can be sure. The Lord's Will is the Truth in everything and everywhere, always.
I went to the Mother on 10.3.66 in the morning as previously arranged.
She recited some passages from Savitri which correspond with Savitri paintings. I tape-recorded them. After the work, she took my hands into hers and said with concern:
Child, you must take proper rest. Only in rest and peace can you work nicely. When you are restless, inspiration vanishes before it comes to you. So do everything in rest, in peace. Then you will not feel tired.
The same evening I wrote a letter to the Mother regarding Auroville. She sent her answer at 7.15 p.m. along with a bunch of white roses.
I have said nothing about Auroville this morning, because I had not yet had a talk with Roger. Yesterday I saw only the plans and models of the town that are simply wonderful, just as I wanted them to be. They will be exhibited in the Auroville office in front of the Ashram. You can see them there, and I am sure that you will be happy as the Truth Pavilion is a kind of island in the centre of an artificial round lake and looks like an immense lotus opened towards heaven.
I talked to Roger only this afternoon and he told me all his plans of action and work, which are excellent.
He says that the foundation stone must be laid only when the work of construction will start; and naturally things are not yet ready for that. It will take some time more which is quite right and wise.
You see, that is why the Lord did not give his answer to your prayer, because the time is not yet come for it.
I expressed my gratitude to the Mother for all the information she had given me. She replied on 11.3.66:
Indeed, true love is always patient. It is only desire that is impatient.
This plan is taken from the brochure: Auroville 1966. It represents the Mother' symbol:
This plan was made in 1966. It was exhibited along with other plans of Auroville. This was the plan the Mother dwelt upon in her letter to me dated 10.3.1966. She wanted it to be exactly like her symbol.
Sweet dreams of the New World kept coming endlessly, I sincerely aspired to serve the Supreme Truth and the Supreme Love. But I felt strongly that some people might not appreciate the idea of my being the guardian of the Truth Pavilion. I expressed my feeling to the Mother. She answered:
My very dear little child Huta,
Fear not. The Lord is not influenced by what people say or desire. You will be the guardian of the Pavilion as decided.
On 13th March, late at night, I was strongly inspired to do a painting. I felt within me that the Mother had sent her inspiration and vision to me, and I must do something. I got up from my bed and did the painting. But I did not know what it represented, so the next morning I sent it to the Mother, and she wrote:
The painting is pretty and the inspiration good. Is it the spirit of Auroville that you wanted to express? When looking at the picture I had this feeling.
On a separate piece of paper she wrote:
The Spirit of Auroville
I was amazed, because I did not know anything except that I had followed the inspiration.
On 19.3.66 the exhibition of Auroville was declared open in the house where now Pourna Prema (the Mother's granddaughter) resides. I framed the picture and sent it to the Mother. She wrote:
The picture looks quite nice in the frame. It is already at the exhibition.
For almost one and a half years the painting remained where it had been put. Then, unhappily, it was removed on 28.6.68 by an American, William Netter.
When I took the painting to the Mother the same day, she was extremely sad and asked me to keep it with the paintings of Savitri in Golconde.
Much later the Mother gave the painting of The Spirit of Auroville through me to my elder brother Laljibhai. She wrote on 19.7.68:
Laljibhai,
I think this painting will be quite appropriate in your new office. With love and blessings.
When Laljibhai's new office with the name "Auroville Electronics and Allied Industries" was opened on 15.6.1969 at 8.45 a.m. the painting was placed between the photographs of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Indeed, without the Spirit everything is lifeless. This applies to each and every case, whatever we execute. And The Spirit of Auroville reflected the Mother's own vision.
In March 1983 the painting was given back to me by my nephew Suresh in a totally ruined condition. Rain-water and mildew had worked havoc with it. I had a terrible shock.
The picture remained in my apartment for a month. Then I tried to remove the stains with turpentine. The painting had become so brittle that it broke into shreds. The one surprising thing was that only the tiny face of the "Spirit" had survived the damage. So I cut it out very carefully and put it in a red plastic box and placed it in my Meditation Room near Sri Aurobindo's photograph. Later the box was placed on the Mother's chair in the Mother's room upstairs in the Ashram main building.
Here is the Spirit's face.
Afterwards I was inspired to do a new painting of The Spirit of Auroville. On 9th April 1983 I took a canvas board and held it forth towards the Mother's photograph in my Meditation Room and prayed to her ardently: "O Mother, if the Spirit is still there, let it manifest on this new canvas board."
And lo! within two hours, without any preliminary drawing, a picture took shape as if the Spirit were emerging from the board. I had only to follow what was shown to me. The whole work was done in a sweep, not needing the slightest alteration. My hand felt possessed by the Divine Force as it moved.
After finishing the painting I offered it to the Mother's photograph. The eyes in the photograph were as if living, laughing, moving, appreciating.
Later the new painting was placed on the Mother's chair in the Mother's room upstairs in the Ashram main building. This was the Victory of the Mother!
The entire work was done in an inexpressible serenity. It was an extraordinary experience for me. I was touching oil colours and brushes after sixteen years. I was not certain whether my hand would be steady, but to my amazement it was much steadier than before. It was the Mother's miracle!
I have chosen the new painting for the cover of this book The Spirit of Auroville. In 1997 we got 3000 cards of The Spirit of Auroville printed through our Trust, the Havyāvahana Trust, which was created on 24-11-1995. On that same day Nirodbaran of Sri Aurobindo Ashram laid the foundation stone of Savitri Bhavan in Auroville. Some 2,700 Cards were given to be sold for the benefit of Savitri Bhavan when Auroville completed 30 years, on 28-2-98.
The Spirit which is now manifested in the new picture may be the brilliant destiny of the true Auroville, which will be realised by the Power of the Supreme Lord.
In a letter I asked the Mother how the gigantic project of Auroville could be materialised without sufficient money. She replied on 18.4.66:
When the Lord has decided something it is bound to happen whatever are the resistances.
Caught in our human nature, I was not yet convinced about the Mother's supreme Vision. Everything seemed to me a dream. I expressed my feeling to her. She gave me an assurance:
You say that Auroville is a "dream". Yes, it is a "dream" of the Lord and generally these "dreams" turn up to be true, much more true than the human so-called realities!
Vijay, my elder sister's son, asked the Mother about agriculture and commerce before he started work in the Auroville office. She replied on 17-8-66:
17-8-66
Vijay,
Both agriculture and commerce will have their place in Auroville. So you choose the one you like best.
My blessings will always be with you to prepare yourself for the Divine's work.
With love and blessings.
Later on he was taken seriously ill and left for the U.K. with his parents.
The Mother gave this confirmation to people on 24.9.66:
Even if you don't believe it, even if all the circumstances seem quite unfavourable, I know that Auroville will be.
Despite hideous difficulties, setbacks and catastrophical conditions, Auroville survived! Aurovillians struggled hard to make the Mother's words true!
These are the messages given by the Mother in 1966:
Auroville should be at the service of Truth, beyond all social, political and religious conviction.
Auroville is the effort towards peace, in sincerity and Truth.
Auroville is an attempt towards world peace, friendship, fraternity, unity.
For those who are satisfied with the world as it is, Auroville obviously has no reason to exist.
We would like to make Auroville the cradle of the Superman.
The Mother has stated:
Humanity is not the last rung in terrestrial creation. Evolution continues and man will be surpassed.
It is for each one to find out whether he wishes to participate in the advent of this new race.
In this connection the Mother has revealed:
You know that Sri Aurobindo is teaching us that man is not the last term of the evolution and that a supramental being is in preparation. Between the man of yesterday and the new being that is to come, there is a number of men who will develop intuitive capacities and will serve as a kind of bridge between the two. It is these I call the men of tomorrow.
On November 1, my spiritual birthday, the Mother said:
In September I gave the card of the world as it is. Now this card is of the Future World. (She pointed at the cover which was of an ethereal colour—a beautiful mixed marbling of soft pale blue, pale green and silver.) This World must be like this...
Then she opened the card. On one side there was a gold-coloured OM; on the other she had written:
Let all your life be entirely and exclusively governed by the Supreme.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Your Life
My eyes were filled with grateful tears.
Then we had a long meditation. I felt strongly that all that the Mother had done was full of occult and spiritual meaning. Indeed, when our life is governed by the Supreme, the Future World cannot but manifest and the old world disappear.
Writing of the ancient world and the world of tomorrow has reminded me of this touching fable by Steve Goodier:
Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead they look for the colourful blossoms of desert plants.
The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life.
Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.
On 14th December 1966 I heard a radio programme on the big project of Auroville. I wrote to the Mother about it. She replied:
Just a word to tell you that there is no question of laying any first stone of Auroville for the moment.
When the question will arise, certainly the first stone must be that of the Truth Pavilion or whatever it will be called and I shall remember your offering.
The year 1967 began:
The Mother sent me a card illustrating white, yellow and pink flowers—zephyranthes. They are named by the Mother:
Prayer: Self-giving is true prayer.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Self-giving
White flower: Integral Prayer—the whole being is concentrated in a single prayer to the Divine.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Prayer and Calling the Divine
Yellow flower: Mental Prayer—spontaneous in a mind aspiring for transformation.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Transformation and the Parts of the Being
Deep pink flower: Vital Prayer—the vital implores for its purification.
Also the Mother sent me the following Mantra:
श्री माता च श्रीअरविन्दश्च शरणं मम
The Mother and Sri Aurobindo are my refuge.
In my spiritual diary the Mother wrote:
Let this year be the advent of peace in your heart, of light in your mind, and of the joy of the Divine's Presence in all your being.
With love
The Mother has disclosed in Vol. 12, [p. 447] about the old Mantra:
I am going to tell you my old mantra; it keeps the outer being very quiet:
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE.
These three words—for me they meant:
OM—I implore the Supreme Lord.
NAMO—Obeisance to Him.
BHAGAVATE—Make me divine.
For me that has the power to calm everything.
The Mother, On Education: 14 March 1973
Days passed, slipping into weeks and months. During this time I heard many things from various people about Auroville.
On 16-3-67 the Mother gave this message to Promesse:
Auroville is the shelter built for all those who want to hasten towards a future of Knowledge and Peace and Unity.
On 19.6.67 I was invited to the sector named "Promesse". I did not go. The Mother was informed about it. She wrote:
Here is the declaration that has been read yesterday at "Promesse". I am sending it to you, so that you may know that things are not as you have been told they are.
The First Condition to Live In Auroville
To be convinced of the essential unity of mankind and the will to collaborate for the material realisation of this unity.
The title of the Mother's message for "Promesse" was slightly altered later on. Amal Kiran wrote to the Mother about it, asking, "instead of 'to live' may I put `for living'? I feel that this would satisfy English idiom better."
The Mother answered:
“Certainly yes—for living' is much more correct."
On 7th September 1967 I went to the Mother in the afternoon. She told me:
Child, now I am collecting the money you are giving me. I am collecting it in the leather bag which also you have given me.
We are planning for 1968. We haven't decided who will lay the first stone, but it is very interesting to find who it will be. I am now waiting for an order.
Later, one afternoon the Mother told me:
Child, it is very interesting. You see, we have invited the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to lay the foundation stone of Auroville on 28.2.1968.
But unhappily I came to know that Mrs. Gandhi could not do so because of her numerous political commitments. Later, she sent the following message to the Mother from New Delhi on 25.3.1969:
Pondicherry was Sri Aurobindo's place of political exile and spiritual unfolding. His effulgent message radiated to different parts of the world from Pondicherry. It is appropriate that seekers of enlightenment from various lands should found a new city there bearing Sri Aurobindo's name. It is an exciting project for bringing about harmony among different cultures and for understanding the environmental needs for man's spiritual growth.
May Auroville truly become a city of light and of peace.
On 11.9.67 the Mother saw me in the morning. After our work, she said with a charming smile:
Ah! now I am telling you how it will be. We want young people—young in body and mind.
Here we have 600 children who will invite the children of the world. They will come with a handful of soil of their own countries. This soil will be collected in a marble lotus-urn of a special kind and then this urn will be sealed up.
The Mother went into a trance for a moment or two. She awoke, and said:
The Truth Pavilion and your tiny house will be very close to each other—your house will stand between the Banyan tree and the Truth Pavilion. All these will be on an island—surrounded by water, trees and the Gardens of Unity. It will take five years if we have sufficient money. Yes... otherwise... But I want the whole town to be built within ten years' time.
I said, “Mother, nothing is impossible for You and the Lord.”
She affirmed:
Exactly, this is what I tell people who are anxious, that the Lord will do everything.
And she laughed softly.
Then she drew a sketch of my tiny house and explained it:
Everything must be built-in—so that the rooms look big and empty of many things. Everything must be simple: sitting-cum-office room, sleeping room, bathroom and small kitchenette.
I should like to quote the Mother:
There is a great beauty in simplicity.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Simplicity
To express harmony, of all things simplicity is the best.
This announcement appeared in the newspaper:
‘Auroville’ Work To Begin From February 1968
PONDICHERRY, Oct. 3 1967 (PTD)—The foundation stone of "Auroville" new international cultural township, sponsored by the Sri Aurobindo Society, will be laid on February 28th next year, the General Secretary of the Society, Shri Navajata told Pressmen here today.
The new township, about three miles from Pondicherry, would cover an area of 15 sq. miles.
The twin conditions laid by the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram for those desirous of becoming citizens of Auroville—"The City of Dawn"—are: To be convinced of the essential unity of mankind and the will to collaborate in the material realisation of that unity.
The project was endorsed by the General Conference of UNESCO which met in Paris in October last year. It had been approved by the Government of India. Shri Navajata added:
The township would take shape over the next 15 or 20 years, and eventually accommodate 50,000 residents.
Since the Mother had been telling me all about The Mother's Shrine, I asked her whether her precious things could be arranged in it. She answered:
Indeed it is a very good idea to collect and keep all my precious things that are to go in the Mother's Shrine.
The only obstacle is that I have no precious things nowhere, neither in my rooms nor in Dyuman's stores—no precious things at all... and the Mother's Shrine will be an empty place, empty of all material things, meant only for meditation, and prayer.. and I hope, filled with light, spiritual force and the presence of the Truth.
I contemplated on the Mother's letter and realised exactly what she had meant.
The year went by on wings of time. On 1.1.1968 I received a letter from the Mother:
Here is the New Year message. I send it with all my love and blessings for good health.
1.1.1968
Remain young, never stop striving towards perfection.
There was a rumour that instead of The Mother's Shrine, there would be a small lotus and nothing else. But I knew that the "Dream" of the Supreme Lord would be realised despite all disorder, distortion, controversy, oppositions and obstructions.
The Mother's letter to me dated 23.1.68 was a great relief:
We must let the Lord see and arrange things for us. Then we shall be out of trouble.
On 12.2.68 I unexpectedly received from the Mother a beautiful bouquet of various flowers, white roses, and a card on which she had inscribed:
Nature proves her collaboration with a smile of flowers.
Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India visited the Ashram on 12.2.68, she saw the Exhibition of Auroville Plans.
After seeing the plan of the International Zone, she remarked:
Auroville is an exciting project for bringing about harmony among different cultures, and for understanding the environmental needs of men's spiritual growth.
Here I may mention that so far the Mother and I had called the Centre, 'the Truth Pavilion' or simply 'the Pavilion' or else, 'The Mother's Shrine'.
Then the Mother named the Centre:
The Mother called me in the morning on 16.2.68. After our work on About Savitri I informed her about the rumour. She said:
Yes, nasty people speak against the Truth.
Then she went into a trance for a few moments. On waking she once again told me what she had explained to me earlier:
Your tiny house will be between the Mother's Shrine and the banyan tree. There will be 12 gardens with various kinds of Hibiscus and other flowers, plants, tall trees with marble seats underneath. Marble statues, marble fountains, small waterfalls, small pools with different coloured lilies and lotuses, small bridges, rockeries in Japanese style with varieties of cactus. There will be only one entrance. The pavement will be decorated with precious and semi-precious stones. This area will be surrounded by a huge lake. On one side of it, there will be tall trees—they mean Unity. On the other side of the lake there will be hillocks with fir and pine trees. The Mother's Shrine will be on an island.
After a pause the Mother continued,
The city will have four zones representing the four Powers of the Supreme Mother.
I want that in each part of the town, houses should be built in particular shapes: Square, Hexagon, Round and Triangular. Each shape will have a special colour: Rainbow, Orange, Gold, and Light Blue.
Mahakali: North—Industrial zone
The shape will be square, colour will be rainbow—it has seven colours. The number seven represents Realisation. There will be five Industrial zones. Some are on the sea-side where the big factories, godowns, stores and sheds, will be built to export goods.
Small scale industries like handicrafts, bakeries, potteries and other workshops will be built for things of immediate need. Also there will be showrooms, manufacturing and displaying things and guiding people where things can be obtained and bought. Also there will be schools to learn handicrafts, offices, and this zone will be surrounded by trees and gardens.
Maheshwari: South—Residential zone
The shape will be Hexagon. The colour will be gold, golden pink. The shape signifies 'Perfect Creation'.
The Residential zone will have 3 sections
1) People who wish to stay in a collectivity, that is to say as neighbours, can stay there.
2) There will be old men's and women's houses. Also big houses like management houses where people can have all the facilities, because they work outside in various places. All these houses will be surrounded by gardens and trees.
3) There will be independent houses with gardens and trees.
Mahalakshmi: East—Cultural zone
The shape will be round—the circle means 'integral Power'. The colour will be pale orange. This zone will have 3 sections.
Mahasaraswati: West—International zone
The shape will be the triangle, which signifies wisdom. The colour will be pale blue, which means peace.
The Pavilions of all the Nations will be in this area. They will represent their culture and customs.
I marvelled at the Mother's description
According to Sri Aurobindo:
Rainbow — signifies Peace and Deliverance.
Square — signifies Supermind.
Mountain — Ascending planes of the higher consciousness. Symbol of the embodied consciousness based upon earth but rising up towards the Divine.
Lake — The Lake is the being in its individualised consciousness.
Trees — Standing image of the Universe—the Tree of Life.
Water — The symbol of a state of consciousness or a plane, also multiplicity the creation.
Lotus — The Lotus is the symbol of the opening of the centre to the Light.
Flower — A blossoming in the consciousness, sometimes with special reference to the psychic or the physical vital, mental and physical consciousness.
Usually indicates a psychic activity.
Red flowers ordinarily indicate an opening of the consciousness either in the physical or some part of the vital according to the shade.
About the triangle, Sri Aurobindo has written:
In one position it can symbolise the three lower planes, in another the symbol is of the three higher ones. So both can be combined together in a single sign.
About flowers the Mother wrote:
Flowers teach us the charm of silence and thus the self-giving which demands nothing in return.
Flowers speak to us when we know how to listen to them,—it is a subtle and fragrant language.
The Mother has also written about flowers in Vol. 6, [p. 229]:
Flowers are extremely receptive. All the flowers to which I have given a significance receive exactly the force I put into them and transmit it. People don't always receive it because most of the time they are less receptive than the flower, and they waste the force that has been put in it through their unconsciousness and lack of receptivity. But the force is there, and the flower receives it wonderfully.
The Mother, Questions and Answers (1954): 14 July 1954
On the Mother's birthday, 21.2.1968, I went to her in the afternoon. She gave me a silver-coloured blessing-packet, along with this message:
The best way to hasten the manifestation of the Divine's Love is to collaborate for the triumph of the Truth.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Darshan Messages
She smiled and said:
Child, the continuation of this message will come on the 29th.
Not once but often the Mother told me and wrote to me about Truth and Love. As a matter of fact, the whole theme of the Matrimandir is based on TRUTH and LOVE.
The Mother gave me a receipt for the sum I had offered to her for the Matrimandir. I was hesitant to take it from her, because I trusted her. But still she insisted and said:
Read it my child, and whenever nasty people speak against the Truth, show them this paper. This must be kept as a proof.
Received from Huta the sum of Rs. 14,877/- (Fourteen Thousand Right Hundred And Seventy Seven only) for the construction of her pavilion at the Matrimandir of Auroville.
Signed for the Sri Aurobindo Society, Auroville by Navajata General Secretary
Also the Mother remarked:
14877 is an occult number:
According to the Mother:
Number 1 is the One
Number 4 is Manifestation, Perfection
Number 8 is Occult formation, double manifestation, and double protection Number 7 is Realisation
The inauguration ceremony of Auroville took place on 28.2.1968 at 10.30 a.m.
I did not go there, but sat quietly on a terrace close to the Mother's room in the Ashram main Building and heard the Mother's message when it was relayed by the All India Radio, Pondicherry.
Her message was given first in French and then in English as follows:
Greetings from Auroville to all men of good will.
Invited to Auroville are all those who thirst for progress and aspire to a higher and truer life.
After a pause the Mother proclaimed the Charter as follows in French:
28.2.68
Charter of Auroville
1) Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville one must be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.
2) Auroville will be the place of an unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages.
3) Auroville wants to be the bridge between the past and future. Taking advantage of all discoveries from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring towards future realisations.
4) Auroville will be a site of material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual human unity.
I heard from some people a vivid description of the event.
The world assembled at the centre of Auroville. The weather was bright and pleasant. The colourful flags of various countries like France, Czechoslovakia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, America, Hungary, England, Germany, Central Africa, Italy, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Fiji, El Salvador and so on fluttered in a gentle breeze along with the flags of the Mother and Auroville.
The youth of 124 member states of UNESCO participated in the Ceremony by depositing a handful of soil from their own countries in the foundation urn, to symbolise the coming together of the Nations of the World.
This quotation from the Mother is quite apt here:
The World is One. This is a fact.
Let us become conscious of it and live up to this Unity.
Also the youth of 23 Indian States collaborated in the function by bringing soil from their own places and placing it in the urn. Soil from Sri Aurobindo's Samadhi was also brought and placed in the urn by young people from the Ashram school, also the soil of Auroville.
After the ceremony Nolini Kanta Gupta, Secretary of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, sealed the urn, after putting in a copy of the Auroville Charter written by the Mother on parchment paper. This Charter was read out in sixteen languages in front of the enormous gathering who witnessed the occasion. UNESCO's General Secretary, Mr. Fewtic was present. Also there were other top officials and dignitaries.
There was a display of plans, papers, models, and designs approved by the Mother, as well as the Charter of Auroville. The beautiful floral decorations were simply charming.
The urn was designed and made by an Italian Aurovilian, Vincenzo. It was covered with small pieces of marble split with a hammer and arranged in rows. Between the rows were seven strips of black granite. On a rectangular metal plate was an inscription from the Mother: the date, 28.2.1968, her blessings and signature. This plate was fixed on the urn. But later, unfortunately, twice or three times the plate was damaged, and then it disappeared.
The present urn was not at all the Mother's idea or wish. When she came to know of the removal of the plate, she remarked:
An evil spirit was there also.
Personally I feel that the true Spirit of Auroville was rejected and removed, so no wonder the evil spirit remained! And played havoc! Nonetheless, the Mother's Force and Grace were and are still there to make Auroville her "Dream".
On 28.2.1968 the Mother gave one more message, thus:
Auroville:
At last a place where one will be able to think only of the future.
At last a place where one will be able to think only of progressing and transcending oneself
At last there is a place where one will be able to live in peace, without conflicts and without rivalries among nations, religions and ambitions.
At last there is a place where nothing will have the right to impose itself as the exclusive truth.
The same day the Mother gave yet another message:
To put around the tree
Auroville the City at the service of Truth.
What The Mother had wished was done, but unhappily for only a short time. This Message, which was engraved in French and in Tamil on a large copper ring and then put into place around the trunk of the banyan tree was removed, and the place meant for it was empty for many years, until again the copper was found and re-installed upon the Banyan tree, where it can be seen today.
The Mother gave great importance to the Banyan tree for occult reasons of her own.
She always loved tall trees and was against cutting them down. We may read in the book White Roses the following two letters by her:
Nature aspires through her tall trees.
The trees rise towards the sky, beautiful symbols of Nature's aspiration towards the Light.
On the following day, 29.2.68, I went to the Mother. She asked me:
Child, did you go there?
I said, "No, Mother. Remember, you told me that there would be a huge crowd, and it would be better if I did not go there."
She smiled and nodded approvingly and told me joyously:
Oh, everything went on wonderfully.
I said, "Mother, I am very happy. Let Your will be done."
She smiled and handed me the message of 29.2.1968, saying:
This is the continuation of the message of 21.2.68.
It read:
Truth alone can give to the world the power of receiving and manifesting the Divine's Love.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Messages for the Supramental Manifestation upon Earth
On that day, 29.2.1968, at 5.15 p.m., the Mother gave Darshan from her balcony to the Ashramites, Aurovilians and the representatives of different countries and the Indian States who had participated in the inaugural ceremony at the Centre of Auroville.
Somebody asked the Mother:
How dependent is the building of Auroville upon man's acceptance of spirituality?
The opposition between spirituality and material life, the division between the two has no sense for me as, in truth, life and the spirit are one and it is in and by the physical work that highest Spirit must be manifested.
During this period someone questioned the Mother in June 1968.
Q. What is the difference between the Ashram and Auroville?
The Ashram will keep its true role as a pioneer, inspirer and guide. Auroville is an experiment in collective realisation.
Sri Aurobindo has written about his Ashram:
This Ashram has been created with another object than that ordinarily common to such institutions, not for the renunciation of the world but as a centre and a field of practice for the evolution of another kind and form of life which would in the final end be moved by a higher spiritual consciousness and embody a greater life of the spirit.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Himself and the Ashram: The Purpose of the Ashram
On 16.6.68 the Mother gave these messages for Auroville:
Auroville is meant not for the satisfaction of desires but for the growth of the true consciousness.
It is true that to live in Auroville a great progress of consciousness has to be made. But the moment has come when this progress is possible.
In 1967 "Promesse" had already been formed at the border of Auroville. Then after the Foundation Ceremony followed "Auro Beach", "Aspiration", "Hope" and others.
On 28.6.1968 the Mother recited some passages of Savitri and gave her comments on them, which I tape-recorded.
After the work, she asked me to sit very close to her and meditate with her. No sooner did I close my eyes than I felt an immense peace engulfing my whole being.
When the Mother opened her eyes, she smiled and said:
Child, do you know the Banyan tree at the centre of the Mother's Shrine? Just now I saw you in my vision. You were sitting under the Banyan tree, and garlands were hanging all over you from the branches of the tree. Also the flowers were showered on you from above. You were peacefully quiet.
I painted her vision according to her instructions. When she saw the painting, she asked me to alter the length of the grass. She said that it should be short. I made the alteration. The Mother was amused to see the squirrels, the deer and the rabbit. She made small happy exclamations, pointing at various details, and laughed. Then on a sheet of paper, after a little concentration, she wrote:
The Inner Life
I was amazed to see the reproduction of this painting in The Matrimandir Newsletter No. 66, May-June 1990.
Hindu mythology reveals that the banyan tree Ficus religiosa is the sacred tree of wisdom. Underneath the tree Shiva meditated in his Dakshinamurti aspect. Also the banyan tree is one of the aspects of Shiva. Satyavan passed away under a banyan tree. Savitri did puja to the tree and brought back Satyavan's soul upon earth. Yama, the God of Death, is also one of the aspects of Shiva. Till now the Indian women do puja to the banyan tree on full moon days, and pray for their husbands' long life. There are numerous legends about this tree. The Mother named this tree "Unity".
The Mother expressed her wish to have marble seats around the banyan tree so that people could meditate there quietly.
The Mother has written about the "Inner Life":
Once a man has tasted the joy of inner life, nothing else will ever satisfy him.
On 11.7.68 the Mother saw me in the afternoon. Whenever I went to her, we talked intimately. I said, "Mother, I know that you will surely make me reach my goal despite everything."
She said with a smile:
Yes, that is sure.
I said, "Mother, true love for you will lead me to my goal. But the love I have for you is not sufficient. Why don't you make me love you more and more?"
She laughed softly and said:
Ah! That is up to you.
At once I held both her hands, pressed them against my heart and said, "Oh! Mother, I can give my life for you."
Suddenly she drew me very close to her and kissed my forehead. Then she gave me the flower named "Auroville".
On 17.10.68 the Mother gave me two booklets on Auroville and said:
One is in English and one is in French.
I read them with interest.
The Mother gave the following message on 5.11.1968:
It is not for comfort and satisfaction of desires that one comes to Auroville; it is for the growth of consciousness and consecration to the Truth that has to be realised.
Unselfishness is the first need to participate in the creation of Auroville.
The Mother's message of 1969 was brief but dynamic:
No words—acts.
About the 1st January 1969 she has stated:
On the 1st January 1969 at 2 a.m. a Consciousness descended into the earth's consciousness and materialised there. It was a most marvellous descent, full of consciousness, force, power, light, joy and peace, and it suffused the whole earth's atmosphere.
This descending Consciousness was afterwards identified by me as being an intermediate level between the present mental consciousness and the Supramental Consciousness. This descending Consciousness is that of the Superman, which is still that of man but with a very enlarged range and power, but not transformed into the gnostic being. This consciousness of the Superman has not only descended into earth's consciousness, but is established there and is fully operative.
The Mother described her experience of 1.1.1969 in this way:
On the first, something truly strange happened ... And I was not the only one to feel it, some others also have felt it. It was just after midnight, but I felt it at two o'clock ... It was something very material, I mean it was very external —very external—and it was luminous, with a golden light. It was very strong, very powerful; but even so, its character was a smiling benevolence, a peaceful delight and a kind of opening out into delight and light. And it was like a "Bonne armee", like a greeting. It took me by surprise. It lasted, for at least three hours I felt it ... my own impression was that of an immense personality—immense, that is to say, for it the earth was small, small like this (gesture, as though holding a small ball in her palm), like a ball—an immense personality, very very benevolent, which came for ... (Mother seems to lift this ball gently from the hollow of her hands). It gave the impression of a personal divinity (and yet it was ... I do not know) who comes to help, and so strong, so strong and at the same time so gentle, so all-embracing ...
What has become of it? I do not know.
It was the beginning of the year. As if someone having the dimensions of a god (that is to say, someone) came to say "Bonne année", with all the power to make it a Bonne année. It was like this.
But what was it?...
So concrete...
I do not know.
Is it ... is it the personality?—because it had no form, I did not see any form, there was only what it had brought (Mother feels the atmosphere), the sensation, the feeling: these two, sensation and feeling—and I asked myself if it was not the supramental personality ... who will then manifest himself later in material forms.
The body, this body, feels since that moment (the thing has entered into it everywhere, deeply), it feels much more joyous, less concentrated, more lively, in a happy, smiling expansiveness. For example, it is speaking more easily. There is a note—a constant note of benevolence. A smile, yes, a benevolent smile, and all that with a great force....
The Mother, Notes on the Way: 4 January 1969
On 9.1.69 the Mother stated about the area around the Matrimandir:
I should like this whole place to be called PEACE, and that Peace should reign there, not only between the occupants but with the whole of Auroville present and future.
Peace. The foremost thing must be Peace. Whatever you do must be by peaceful means.
The second thing necessary is Harmony, not only general harmony but also between the individuals living there. You must begin to look for harmony in each individual and not dwell on the disharmony. The disharmony exists everywhere. You must reject that and allow only the harmony to enter
There must be a sense of Order. Each individual must have a sense of self-discipline, and actually practise it.
PEACE, HARMONY, ORDER, SELF-DISCIPLINE.
On 14.2.1969 the Mother saw me in her music-cum-interview room and told me:
At the end of March, when Roger will come, the final plan will be made. At the moment the plan of Auromodel is being made.
During this time the Mother explained:
The Ashram is the central consciousness, Auroville is one of the outward expressions. In both places equally the work is done for the Divine.
The people who live in the Ashram have their own work and most of them are too busy to give time to Auroville.
Each one must be busy with his own work; this is essential for a proper organisation.
Here are two more messages dated 20.9.1969 from the Mother:
Earth needs a place where men can live away from all national rivalries, social conventions, self-contradictory moralities and contending religions.
A place where human beings, freed from all slavery to the past, can devote themselves wholly to the discovery and practice of the Divine Consciousness that is seeking to manifest.
Auroville wants to be the place and offers itself to all who aspire to live the Truth of tomorrow.
Auroville is the ideal place for those who want to know the joy and liberation of no longer having any personal possessions.
On 17.10.69 I wrote a letter to the Mother about the Matrimandir:
I am sure you will fulfil the aspiration of true and sincere people.
I pray to you: Let your will be done for everything in all Truth and Love.
Yours Huta
She replied:
You can be sure that the Matrimandir will be done according to the Divine’s inspiration.
By this time the Mother had already instructed Roger Anger to make twelve gardens in the central part of Auroville. But....
The Mother gave the following message on 8.11.69:
Auroville International's status, objectives and working methods were examined and approved for a realisation of unity and harmony.
With blessings.
This is the Text about Sri Aurobindo's Vision:
The task of giving a complete form of Sri Aurobindo's vision was entrusted to the Mother. The creation of a new world, a new humanity, a new society expressing and embodying the new consciousness is the work she has undertaken. By the very nature of things, it is a collective ideal that calls for a collective effort so that it may be realised in the terms of an integral human perfection.
The Ashram founded and built by the Mother was the first step towards the accomplishment of this goal. The project of Auroville is the next step, more exterior, which seeks to widen the base of this attempt to establish harmony between soul and body, spirit and nature, heaven and earth, in collective life of mankind.
When the Mother re-read this Text in 1972, she added the words: "more exterior' in the last sentence.
On 26.12.69 I wrote to the Mother as follows
My dearest Mother,
Last year on 16th February you gave me the receipt signed by Nava for Rs. 14,877/- for the construction of my pavilion at the Matrimandir of Auroville.
I have now only a little money left, out of what you had given me a few years back to spend on Savitri paintings.
Now I have to publish a number of books, as you know. So I would like to have the Rs. 14,877/- back from Nava. I spoke to him about it. He replied that he has used it up for other purposes, while in the receipt it is clearly written that the money was only for one specific purpose. He also told me that he would be able to return the money only in January—next year of course. At the next meeting he was hesitant. I shall be thankful if you'll kindly request him to hand over the sum at his earliest convenience.
I don't wish to cause any trouble but I can't help asking for this money since it is needed for important work, such as material to be bought for "About Savitri"; next year the book "Salutations" has to come out and then the preparation of three volumes of "The Story of a Soul"; I also wish to publish "White Roses" three volumes collected in one.
Considering all these things, I pray to you to help me,
Yours,
I told you myself that this money was used for the first day ceremony of Auroville, and when the time of building Auroville, your pavilion would be built without asking you anything more. When I gave you the receipt, you did not want to take it, but I told you to keep it as a proof that you had already paid for your pavilion, so that no more money should be asked from you.
There has never been any mention of the possibility of returning the money to you. This is quite out of question.
Blessings
I understood the Mother's point of view. In fact, she has countless ways to fulfil her children's aspirations.
I was inspired by the Mother and instructed by P. Counouma, the then Man-aging Trustee of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, to form a Trust in 1980. But it was materialised only on 24-11-1995.
The name of the Trust is the HAVYAVĀHANA TRUST means: That which carries our offering to the Supreme Lord. In the Veda Havyavahana signifies: The God-Fire who carries our oblation to the Supreme Lord.
Through this Trust many books have already been published and many more will follow suit.
On 26th December 1969 I went to the Mother to hear the New Year music. There was also a Message given by her:
The world is preparing for a big change.
Will you help?
That day happened to be one of my days with the Mother. She recited from Savitri only one passage, for it was very long. After the work she read my prayer, and on the same sheet of paper she wrote:
It will be realised by the Supreme Power and Love.
That night I had a wonderful vision:
I went out of my body. My subtle body was now soaring up and up in an enormous space. There were the moon and stars. The atmosphere was very light, cool and soothing. I felt free like a bird. I did not realise how far I went up but now I could not see the moon and stars. I was beyond the heavenly bodies. There was endless space before me. Suddenly I saw something shining from the far horizon. I headed towards the glow. Now I was not soaring up vertically but my movement was as if I were swimming into a vast space. I was coming closer and closer to my destination. My first glance fell on two huge Suns—the one on the right was golden yellow and the other on the left was golden red. Their edges were touching and mingling with each other. I came still closer by crossing an immense lake which was packed with diamond-like lotuses and emerald leaves. The reflection of the two Suns added glory to the breathtaking beauty of the marvellous scene which was spread out like a panorama before my eyes.
I was now floating a little above the lake. Its coolness enveloped my subtle body. Here the Divine had strewn lavishly her exquisite Beauty and Wonder and Quietude. The divine vibrations were overwhelming. I was engulfed by the new consciousness.
I reached the Suns. Their Force and Power were absolutely still and calm. Then I saw a narrow passage between the two Suns. I entered it, and on the other side I saw a golden world. There was nothing there except the golden Light. I landed slowly on the divine soil, but to my surprise, I was a little above the soil. I could not set my feet there. I was not walking but floating in this enchanting atmosphere. I came across a few luminous beings who were active, but their activities were without any sound. Everything was heavenly. There I felt the perfect Consciousness, Harmony, Peace and Silence. I was simply bathed in the Golden Light, in the soothing vibrations of a quiet joy and happiness. I roamed here and there freely, and silently communicated with the beings. Nothing was new to me because I identified myself completely with this magnificent World of the Golden Light.
I was reluctant to come back to the dark world of falsehood. But alas, the next morning I saw myself lying in my bed. I felt extremely sorry and lost, and shed a few silent tears.
At once I remembered the whole passage from Savitri which the Mother had recited the previous morning and on which she had given her comment. The passage recounts an experience of Aswapathy, the Yogi-King, father of Savitri:
A glimpse was caught of things for ever unknown; The letters stood out of the unmoving Word. ||8.18|| In the immutable nameless Origin Was seen emerging as from fathomless seas The trail of the Ideas that made the world, And, sown in the black earth of Nature’s trance, The seed of the Spirit’s blind and huge desire From which the tree of cosmos was conceived And spread its magic arms through a dream of space. ||8.19|| Immense realities took on a shape: There looked out from the shadow of the Unknown The bodiless Namelessness that saw God born And tries to gain from the mortal’s mind and soul A deathless body and a divine name. ||8.20|| The immobile lips, the great surreal wings, The visage masked by superconscient Sleep, The eyes with their closed lids that see all things, Appeared of the Architect who builds in trance. ||8.21|| The original Desire born in the Void Peered out; he saw the hope that never sleeps, The feet that run behind a fleeting fate, The ineffable meaning of the endless dream. ||8.22|| As if a torch held by a power of God, The radiant world of the everlasting Truth Glimmered like a faint star bordering the night Above the golden Overmind’s shimmering ridge. ||8.23|| Even were caught as through a cunning veil The smile of love that sanctions the long game, The calm indulgence and maternal breasts Of Wisdom suckling the child-laughter of Chance, Silence the nurse of the Almighty’s power, The omniscient hush, womb of the immortal Word, And of the Timeless the still brooding face, And the creative eye of Eternity. ||8.24||
The Mother's comment ran:
All these images are meant to break the ordinary receptivity of the mind, and to open it to the conception, vaster; truer; creative, of the Supramental.
It is only in a receptive silence—when the whole inquisitive mind stops moving—that one can feel and understand the images described in these verses.
Also my memory flew back to one of the Mother's letters of the preceding year, when I had expressed to her my wish to go back to my own world of Beauty and Peace:
I am leading you to a place much more beautiful than the one from which you came—a place of full and harmonious Consciousness.
I felt strongly that my vision of the Golden World was a glimpse which the Mother had given me—and that actually she had taken my consciousness there. But according to our human nature, I thought that the vision might be some kind of mental formation by myself; it could be simply a dream. I wrote to the Mother in order to make sure, because what I had seen had the look of a living thing, which I can never forget. She answered:
Happily, the true worlds and the true Consciousness are not a dream, but the only real Reality for those who are sincere and conscious.
Bonne Année
for 1970
with all my love and blessings.
Then I did the painting of my vision and showed it to the Mother. She said:
It is very impressive.
It is very impressive
This painting will appear along with the lines of Savitri and the Mother's comments in the book About Savitri Part Three.
On 1st January 1970 the Mother gave a message to all:
1970
The World is preparing for a big change.
About Beauty, the Mother has written:
In the physical world, of all things it is beauty that expresses best the Divine.
The physical world is the world of form and the perfection of form is beauty. Beauty interprets, expresses, manifests the Eternal. Its role is to put all manifested nature in contrast with the Eternal through the perfection of form, through harmony and a sense of the Ideal which uplifts and leads towards something higher.
The Mother wrote in her Prayers and Meditations on January 29, 1917:
In the world of forms a violation of Beauty is as great a fault as a violation of Truth in the world of ideas. For Beauty is the worship Nature offers to the supreme Master of the universe; Beauty is the divine language in forms. And a consciousness of the Divine which is not translated externally by an under-standing and expression of Beauty would be an incomplete consciousness.
But true Beauty is as difficult to discover, to understand and above all to live as any other expression of the Divine; this discovery and expression exacts as much impersonality and renunciation of egoism as that of Truth or Bliss. Pure Beauty is universal and one must be universal to see and recognise it....
The Mother, Prayers and Meditations: January 29, 1917
The twelve attributes corresponding to the twelve gardens round the Matrimandi were named by the Mother as follows:
Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, Light, Life, Power Wealth, Utility, Progress, Youth, Harmony, Perfection.
Each garden is represented by a different Hibiscus flower, bearing the inner significance as named by the Mother, and according to the particular garden, as follows:
Existence:
Psychic Power in Existence: Manifold, imperious, irresistible in its comprehensive sweetness.
Consciousness:
Consciousness One with the Divine Consciousness: Smiling and happy, it no longer knows any shadows.
Supramental consciousness:
Gloriously awake and powerful—luminous, sure of itself and infallible in its movements!
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: The Supramental Manifestation upon Earth
Bliss:
Ananda: Calm, tranquil, equal, smiling and very gentle in its truly simple austerity.
Ananda in the physical: It is welcome even if it manifests rarely.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: The Body (the Physical)
Light:
Light of Purified Power; Of irresistible simplicity in its power, solely consecrated to the Divine.
Life:
Conversion of the Aim of Life from the Ego to the Divine: Instead of seeking one's own satisfaction, to have the service of the Divine as the aim of life.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: The True Aim of Life
Power:
Power in the Service of the Future: Without haste, but sure of its success.
Wealth:
Wealth: True wealth is that which one offers to the Divine.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Wealth and Economics
Utility:
Usefulness of the New Creation: A Creation which aims at teaching men to surpass themselves.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: The New Creation
Progress:
Power of Progress: Progress is the sign of the Divine influence in Creation.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Progress
Here are some more words from the Mother about Progress:
Progress: The reason why we are on earth.
The true progress is to come always closer to the Divine.
Youth:
Eternal Youth: A gift that the Divine gives us when we unite ourselves with Him.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Immortality
The Mother's words are relevant here:
To know how to be reborn into a new life at every moment is the secret of eternal youth.
The Mother, On Education: Students
Harmony:
Harmony: Let us strive that the day may come when this will be the means and the goal.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Harmony
Integral Harmony: Harmony between things, harmony between persons, harmony of circumstances and above all, harmony of all aspirations directed towards the Supreme Truth.
Power of Harmony: Simple, noble, dignified, powerful and charming.
Perfection:
Psychological Perfection: here is not one psychological perfection but five. They are: sincerity, faith, devotion, aspiration and surrender.
The Mother told Richard and Annie, his first wife, on December 18, 1969, that she wanted the first design to begin around the Banyan Tree, which is to be the Garden of Unity. She said:
I have chosen all the flowers.
As for the central garden, which we had once spoken of as "the Garden of Love", the Mother asked for it to be called simply "the Matrimandir Garden" and not "Love". For she said:
I dislike this word [Love], for man has turned it into something grotesque; I am speaking of the principle of Divine Love. But that has changed: it will be the Matrimandir Gardens.
Here is a message from the Mother in connection with Love:
Do you know what is true love? There is only one true love, the love from the Divine, which, in human beings, turns into love for the Divine.
Shall we say that the nature of the Divine is Love.
The Mother, On Education: The New Age Association
Somebody questioned the Mother:
What is it in a flower which makes it take and reflect a certain colour?
She answered:
The scientists say that it is the composition of its atoms but I say that it is the nature of its aspiration.
Many of these flowers—with significances—are varieties of Hibiscus. The Mother very much wanted these varieties of Hibiscus in all these gardens, ranging from white to multicoloured, small to big, single to double or multiple petals. In fact she loved all flowers.
So by early 1970, Richard and his helpers had started a Nursery, close to the Matrimandir, to start preparing all the plants for the future gardens. But he was also deeply interested in music, and was a lover of Sri Aurobindo's wonderful Epic poem Savitri.
On 28.3.70 I wrote a letter to the Mother:
For the last two months I have been thinking of asking you about Auroville—especially the Matrimandir.
Once you wrote to me to ask you directly regarding Auroville, because you alone knew the future plans of Auroville.
I wonder whether Auroville will be built according to your vision or according to the vision of human beings!
I feel that there seems to be little Harmony, Unity, Peace, understanding and collaboration among people. Moreover there is no money at all.
Owing to the financial difficulties surely the Divine's plans should not be changed or minimised in any way.
I came to know that there would be no lake around the Matrimandir. The Urn would remain as it is and Matrimandir will be somewhere nearby in a globe-like shape instead of in a lotus shape.
Mother, please, believe me, I am not anxious about my house over there. I am not particular. House or no house makes no difference to me so long as I am near you.
I shall be grateful and happy if I will know the truth from you about the plans of the Matrimandir.
In case everything will be built in a hurry and on a small scale and not quite according to the Divine's Will because of the financial difficulties, then truly it will be very sad and disappointing for the whole of Auroville. For the Matrimandir is the Soul of Auroville and the Soul of the whole World.
Now will not the Supreme Lord do something for His own Dream?
The Mother dictated to M. André in answer to my letter on 28-3-70:
It has been decided and remains decided that the Matrimandir will be surrounded with water. However, water is not available just now and will be available only later, so it is decided to build the Matrimandir now and surround it with water only later, perhaps in a few years' time.
As regards the Matrimandir itself I have selected our plan which agrees with the vision I had of the inside and has my full approval. Therefore there is no need to worry. The Matrimandir will be built now and water brought round it later.
Here the Mother has stated:
... as regards the Matrimandir itself I have selected our plan which agrees with the vision I had of the inside and has my full approval.
She did not mention the outside structure. Her indication was: "...the vision I had of the inside..."
For gradually the models of Auroville and Matrimandir started changing. First, the idea was to build the Matrimandir in a shape of a Pyramid. About the Pyramid the Mother remarked
Ancient Egypt belongs to the past, we are here to prepare the future.
Then eventually it became a globe structure.
Earlier the Mother had wanted an eternal Flame in the Matrimandir, because the Fire is sacred and its significances are many. Then finally the Crystal Globe was chosen. The globe with the sun-ray symbolises "The Ray of the Supreme Truth".
I came across a very interesting article in Auroville Today, Number Five, April 1989:
Auroville Yesterday?
By Gilbert
"Here is the place which belongs to no prince, to no god. No one owns it. Here is the place for all of us... The earth will find joy in it. Here the hearts will be happy."
Does this sound familiar?
You may have heard about the beautiful queen of Egypt. Nefertiti. She was born in 1388 B.C. and was married to the Pharaoh Amenophis IV, later known as Akhnaton. Akhnaton was a daring reformist. He opted for a monotheist cult, in a time of polytheism. He only worshipped the Light, pure and free.
In 1369 B.C., this "modern" couple founded the new city of Amarna, which means Horizon. It became the capital of Egypt. It was situated midway between Memphis (Cairo) and Thebes (Luxor), on the eastern bank of the Nile.
At this place, the cliffs of the high desert shift away from the river and form a wide hemicircle of fertile soil, some 12 kms long and a bit less than 5 kms wide. Big steles (flat pillars) were put around the area, bearing the story of its foundation:
At the centre of the city, Akhnaton and Nefertiti built a temple to the Light. Inside, there was no picture of any god and no image of traditional worshipping.
In this new city, Akhnaton wanted everybody to be equal: Egyptians and foreigners (many of whom were attracted there), king and common people, men and women. Artists and craftsmen received support and encouragement to express their skills fully. Money was not the sovereign ruler. Soldiers did other jobs than war.
It went on for 22 years, amidst growing discontent of the traditional ruling classes: the army chiefs and the polytheist high priests.
When the general-dictator Horemheb seized power in 1347 B.C., he revived the old capital Thebes and sent thousands of troops to Amarna with one goal: total obliteration. Graves were mutilated, buildings demolished, the names of Akhnaton were frenziedly chipped from the walls. The city was virtually razed to the ground. A layer of cement was spread over the ruins, as if to make sure that no contamination from this cursed place could ever occur.
Only the upper Castle remained untouched. The queen Nefertiti, who helplessly witnessed everything, found refuge there with her scribe Bubastos.
This story perhaps gives Auroville a new dimension; was it the same spirit that passed unscathed from Egypt through the centuries to be materialized again here in India?
The Mother had a close connection with Egypt. For she had been an Egyptian in several past births. One of them was as a sublime queen, Hatshepsut.
Here is a statement by Medhananda (name given by the Mother), the gentleman from Germany who was in charge of the Sri Aurobindo Library.
It appeared in Mother India, June 1958, p. 40:
Standing in front of a portrait of Queen Hatshepsut, the Mother told us the following story when she came to the Library to open an exhibition on "Ancient Egypt" in August 1954:
When she was a girl of about eight or ten, she and her brother (Matteo Alfassa) were taken one day by their teacher to the famous Louvre Museum in Paris. On the ground floor are the galleries of Egyptian antiquities. As they were slowly passing through the collections, the Mother was suddenly attracted by a beautiful toilet-case, inlaid with gold and lapis lazuli, which was displayed in one of the Museum cases. An attendant noticed her great interest and explained to her that the toilet-case had once belonged to the Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut. He also showed her a fine portrait of the Queen as a young girl and smilingly remarked that she had a striking resemblance to that ancient Queen. The toilet-case, and particularly the comb, appeared to be strangely familiar to the Mother.
About 2300 years ago, Queen Hatshepsut ascended the throne of Egypt at a time when the word 'Queen' did not exist. She was the first woman to rule over Egypt. In the hieroglyphic inscriptions she was designated as 'the King' and called 'Female Horus'. The word 'majesty' was put in feminine form for the first time. On solemn occasions she had to wear a pointed beard, the executive sign of royalty of the Pharaohs. Beautiful and talented, she became famous for her extensive building activities; an entirely new style of architecture was developed during her reign. The imposing rock temple of Hatshepsut, now known as Der-el-Bahri, was built by her; the energetic Queen sent to the ends of the known world expeditions for fruit trees and flowers to be planted on the terraces of that temple of God. The gigantic shaft of her Karnak obelisk stands even today as a monument to her greatness.
I read a memorable and vivid description of Queen Hatshepsut in the book The Splendour that was Egypt, by M.A. Murray:
She was a woman of great force of character, and if her portraits speak true, she was endowed with beauty and charm as well. Her reign is characterized by the great expansion of trade, and by her passionate devotion to her religion, which showed itself in the erection of one of the finest temples that even Egypt can boast of, and by the decoration of other temples as well. Her magnificent temple at Deir-el-Bahri is renowned not merely for its beauty but for the interest of many of the inscriptions on its walls. These inscriptions are illustrated by sculptures, and recount among other things the story of her divine birth....
Hatshepsut means Chief of Noble Women....
Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled as King, puts her position in plain language: 'I am God, the beginning of Existence.'—(Naville, temple of Deir-el-Bahri, pl. IXXXVI, line 7).
In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. II, ed. 1960, p. 250, this description has been given:
Hatshepsut or Hatasu (fl. 1500 B.C.), Egyptian queen, daughter of Thotmes I, sister and queen of the short-reigned Thotmes II, after whose death she secured the crown in spite of opposition from the future Thotmes III, who was the son either of Thotmes I or of Thotmes II. She acquired fame by her magnificent terrace temple at Deir-el-Bahri and by her Obelisks at Thebes, the expenses of which were partly met by the treasure-hunting expeditions which she sent to South Arabia. The long military inactivity of her reign, during which state affairs were in the hands of her partisans, shook Egyptian power in Asia. In 1841 her tomb was discovered on a cliff behind the valley of the King's tombs. Her successor, Thotmes III, had her name and figure cut off from the sculptures in her temple and treated the remains of partisans in a similar manner.
The colossal Karnak obelisk stands even today reminding us of the monumental creation of this mighty Queen.
Here is a picture of Hatshepsut's sculptured bust and hers is indeed a face both majestic and ethereal, with a touch of our Mother's loveliness.
I feel that the Matrimandir in Auroville is the final temple the Mother wanted on earth to fulfil her vision of the Supreme Truth and Love in her New World.
In 1952, on our way to England, one of my brothers and his wife and I stayed in Cairo for two or three days. It was the night of the 23rd July, when King Farouk went into exile after General Mohammed Naguib seized power in Egypt. The very night our plane touched down in Cairo the King was leaving. At the airport everyone seemed to be excited and talking about the King.
During our stay in Cairo, I found everything familiar. I did not know why, I was entranced by the gigantic Pyramids and the famous Sphinx. While looking at the photographs which were taken there by us, I am reminded of one of the Mother's writings:
O serene and immobile Consciousness, Thou watchest on the boundaries of the world like a sphinx of eternity. And yet to some Thou givest out Thy secret. They can become Thy soverign Will which chooses without preference and executes without desire.
This is a very beautiful passage written by the Mother:
This immobile Consciousness is the "Mother of Dreams", you may say that it is the creative consciousness, the origin of the Universe, the Universal Mother; the Creative Power—the sphinx of eternity who keeps vigil on the confines of the world like an enigma to be solved. This enigma is the problem of our life, the very raison d'être of the Universe. The problem of our life is to realise the Divine or rather to become once again aware of the Divine who is the Universe, the Origin, cause and goal of life. Those who find the secret of the Sphinx of Eternity become that active and Creative Power.
The Mother, Questions and Answers (1950 - 1951): 21 December 1950
On 14-4-1970 the Mother explained about her blessing-packet:
I am going to give each of you a packet. These are some petals, flower petals inside, but they are charged with force, and if you keep them upon you, the contact with me is kept. So, if you withdraw within and refer inside, you can re-establish the contact and have even an answer to a question.
During this period, the Mother gave the following message regarding lands to people concerned:
May 1970
The lands for Auroville are to be bought and can be bought. The money is needed.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Finance
Nothing was concretely done despite the Mother's message about the lands.
Now after many years the people concerned keep on sending folders and appeals on the letterhead—Auroville Land Fund.
I have received the letters and folders. I could not help except that I pray to the Supreme Lord to set everything right in Auroville.
My memory winged back to the year 1965 when the Mother told me and the people concerned to buy lands for Auroville as quickly as possible since the price would increase day by day. Unfortunately none paid heed to the Mother's warning. I felt very sorry and helpless, because I was not running the show! I did convey the message to them. But...
In the beginning there was a lot of money, because quite a number of people gave considerable amounts of money to Sri Aurobindo Society to buy lands for themselves and for the development of Auroville. But instead of this, the people concerned spent enormous amount of money in experimenting indiscriminately in building and breaking houses and other things without any precise result. It was a sheer waste of money, time, energy and consciousness.
The Mother always put stress on practicality and simplicity.
The following message form the Mother is quite appropriate:
For Those Who Have Some Land To Sell
There is a Supreme Divinity Witness of all our actions and the day of the consequence will come soon.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Circumstances: Results of Past Actions
I read somewhere this humorous story of Four People:
This is the story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody would not do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody, when actually Nobody accused Anybody.
From this story anybody can draw a conclusion regarding the important work!
The Mother has written correctly in her message:
All fancies are vital movements and most undesirable.
Liberty does not mean to follow one's desires but on the contrary to be free from them.
Blessings.
On 14th August 1970 people from Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram gathered for a first invocation of the Matrimandir near the Banyan Tree. The Mother's message was:
The Matrimandir wants to be the symbol of the Divine answer to men's aspiration for perfection.
Union with the Divine manifesting in a progressive human Unity.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Matrimandir
In September the Mother gave another message:
The Matrimandir wants to be the symbol of the Universal Mother according to Sri Aurobindo's teaching.
The Mother's message of 15.11.70 touched me very much:
The Matrimandir will be the soul of Auroville.
The sooner the soul is there, the better it will be for everybody, and especially for Aurovilians.
Here I should like to quote from the book, A House for the Third Millennium by Ruud Lohman:
Matrimandir is related to a much higher principle, to the soul of Auroville first, but undoubtedly to the Universal soul as well.
Towards the end of the year, the Mother said to me enthusiastically:
Child, your tiny house will be very close to the Matrimandir.
I will arrange everything for you. Leave everything to me. I will see to everything.
I took her hands into mine and said:
Oh! But Mother, I have left everything to you, and truly I am not at all anxious about my house; but I am anxious about the Matrimandir.
She smiled and nodded.
On 15.12.1970 the Mother gave the following message when Aspiration School was opened:
A sincere will to know and to progress.
The Mother's view about Teaching was:
The school should be an opportunity for progress for the teacher as well as for the student. Each one should have the freedom to develop freely.
A method is never so well applied as when one has discovered it oneself Otherwise it is boring for the teacher as for the student.
The Mother, On Education: Teaching
These messages were given by the Mother when she declared open the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education on 6.1.1952. These apply to schools of Auroville also.
There is an ascending evolution in nature which goes from the stone to the plant, from the plant to the animal, from the animal to man. Because man is, for the moment, the last rung at the summit of the ascending evolution, he considers himself as the final stage in this ascension and believes there can be nothing on earth superior to him. In that he is mistaken. In his physical nature he is yet almost wholly an animal, a thinking and speaking animal, but still an animal in his material habits and instincts. Undoubtedly, nature cannot be satisfied with such an imperfect result; she endeavours to bring out a being who will be to man what man is to the animal, a being who will remain a man in its external form, and yet whose consciousness will rise far above the mental and its slavery to ignorance.
Sri Aurobindo came upon earth to teach this truth to men. He told them that man is only a transitional being living in a mental consciousness, but with the possibility of acquiring a new consciousness, the Truth-consciousness, and capable of living a life perfectly harmonious, good and beautiful, happy and fully conscious. During the whole of his life upon earth, Sri Aurobindo gave all his time to establish in himself this consciousness he called supramental, and to help those gathered around him to realise it.
You have the immense privilege of having come quite young to the Ashram, that is to say, still plastic and capable of being moulded according to this new ideal and thus become the representatives of the new race. Here, in the Ashram, you are in the most favourable conditions with regard to the environment, the influence, the teaching and the example, to awaken in you this supramental consciousness and to grow according to its law.
Now, all depends on your will and your sincerity. If you have the will no more to belong to ordinary humanity, no more to be merely evolved animals; if your will is to become men of the new race realising Sri Aurobindo's supra-mental ideal, living a new and higher life upon a new earth, you will find here all the necessary help to achieve your purpose; you will profit fully by your stay in the Ashram and eventually become living examples for the world.
The Mother, On Education: Aims
Sri Aurobindo is present in our midst, and with all the power of his creative genius he presides over the formation of the University Centre which for years he considered as one of the best means of preparing the future humanity to receive the supramental light that will transform the elite of today into a new race manifesting upon earth the new light and force and life.
The Mother, On Education: Inaugural Message for the Sri Aurobindo Memorial Convention
Student's Prayer
Make of us the hero warriors we aspire to become. May we fight successfully the great battle of the future that is to be born, against the past that seeks to endure; so that the new things may manifest and we be ready to receive them.
The Mother, On Education: Students Prayer
The year 1971 arrived. The Mother's message for the New Year was:
A Sweet Year.
Blessed are those who take a leap towards the Future.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: New Year Messages
That day the Mother saw hundreds of people. They all went to her in a queue. Her handwritten message was distributed.
I saw her sitting in a low chair, mostly in trance with half closed eyes. Nobody was allowed to stay in front of her more than half a second.
For quite some time the Mother had been unwell, but now her health started improving gradually. Neverthless she was unable to take up the regular work except for signing some important papers and cheques.
On 12.2.1971 Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, visited Sri Aurobindo Ashram and saw the Mother. She also went to Auroville.
It was the Mother's 93rd birthday on 21.2.1971. The following message was given to all:
A life consecrated to union with the Divine is the only life worth living.
Hundreds of people witnessed the laying of the foundation-stone of the Matrimandir on this day. Nolini Kanta Gupta brought a small box with blessing-packets given by the Mother, to place in a recess between the site of the Matrimandir and the Banyan Tree.
The holy fire, the symbol of man's aspiration, was lit. At sunrise a recording of the Mother's reading of her message in French and in English was played, along with the music composed by Sunil for the occasion. The atmosphere was enchanting.
The Mother's message ran:
Let the Matrimandir be the living symbol of Auroville's aspiration for the Divine.
On 14.3.1971, excavation of the foundations of the Matrimandir was started by Aurovilians and Ashramites. The Mother encouraged them by giving this message:
The fraternity of collaboration
The aspiration towards Unity In Joy and Light.
During this time the team of the Matrimandir Nursery asked the Mother whether they should postpone growing flowers and plants in order to join in the work of digging the excavation for the Matrimandir. The Mother answered:
No, the gardens are as important as the Matrimandir itself.
The Mother's compassionate care and concern shows in this message of hers:
An absolute cleanliness is indispensable in this country and climate to avoid illness. Great precautions must be taken.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Community Affairs
Richard Eggenberger and his colleagues were also busy taking the slides of the Savitri paintings.
The Mother wrote to me on 24.3.1971:
Huta,
Here is the copy of what I have written to Richard. Do not worry, things will surely be well arranged and well done.
With all my love and blessings.
Richard,
If it is possible for you to keep either one day a week or one or two hours a day to do the work of Savitri, I would be very happy because I am sure you can make a success of it. See how you can arrange and let me know for the final arrangement.
Love and blessings.
The Mother wanted these slides to be shown in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Theatre during Sri Aurobindo's Birth Centenary Year 1972. Her will was fulfilled. Richard Eggenberger and his assistants finished taking slides of all of the Savitri paintings on 27.9.1971.
On 27.3.71 the Mother wrote this message:
27.3.71
To work for Auroville is to hasten the advent of a more harmonious Future.
On 24.8.1971 the Mother saw and approved the design of the symbol of Auroville based on her own sketch of 16.8.1971:
Auroville Symbol
She explained the significance of it:
The dot at the centre represents Unity, the Supreme; the inner circle represents the creation, the Conception of the City; the petals represent the power of expression, realisation.
The Mother wrote the following message on 26.9.71
26.9.71
Our life ought to be governed by the Love for Truth and the thirst for Light.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Miscellaneous Messages
The Mother gave this message to all:
Sri Aurobindo is always present. Be sincere and faithful. This is the first condition.
Yet another message from the Mother:
For each problem there is a solution that can give satisfaction to everybody, but for finding this ideal solution each one must want it instead of meeting the others with the will to enforce one's own preference.
Enlarge your consciousness and aspire for the satisfaction of all.
On 5.10.1971 the Mother wrote:
There is only one Matrimandir, the Matrimandir of Auroville. The others must have another name.
The Matrimandir is directly under the influence of the Divine and certainly He arranges things better than we could do ourselves.
Directly and indirectly the Mother kept on telling the people concerned not to insert their own ideas and fancies! But...
On 6.10.71 the Mother gave the following messages to the Last School:
The future belongs to those who want to progress. Blessings to those whose motto is: "Always better".
In the physical the Divine manifests as Beauty.
The Mother has written in Vol. 12,[p. 9] about Education:
Education to be complete must have five principal aspects corresponding to the five principal activities of the human being: the physical, the vital, the mental, the psychic and the spiritual. Usually, these phases of education follow chronologically the growth of the individual; this, however, does not mean that one of them should replace another, but that all must continue, completing one another until the end of his life.
The Mother, On Education: Education
The Mother told me several times:
Child, our work is the work of tomorrow—the work of the Future. We are preparing it for the younger generations who will be the builders of the New World.
The Mother wrote this impressive message:
The ideal of the Aurovilians must be to become egoless—not at all to satisfy the ego. If they follow the old human way of selfish claim how can they hope the world to change?
Here is another message in connection with the Matrimandir, which the Mother wrote on 3.11.1971:
Strength, safety, durability, harmonious balance. The foundations are especially important and should be done by experts. There is room for everybody of goodwill, and for those who in all sincerity and simplicity want to give their work, there is enough to keep them usefully occupied.
On 5.11.71 the Mother gave this message to the Matrimandir Nursery:
The flowers are the prayers of the vegetal world. The plants offer their beauty to the Supreme.
I was told by some people that on 6.11.71, 800 trees were planted at Fertile. By now so many trees must have been planted everywhere only to get cut once again making deserts! This is the great tragedy. Building and breaking means sheer waste of time, money, energy and above all consciousness... All this leads us to confusion, chaos and catastrophe.
The Mother has written correctly:
Life could be quite simple and easy if man's mind did not introduce in it so many useless complications.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: The Mind
Here are Sri Aurobindo's brilliant words:
This erring race of human beings dreams always of perfecting their environment by the machinery of government and society but it is only by the perfection of the soul within that the outer environment can be perfected. What thou art within, that outside thee thou shalt enjoy; no machinery can rescue thee from the law of thy being.
This message from the Mother applies to all:
Those who are ready for the transformation can do it anywhere and those who are not ready cannot do it wherever they are.
One more message given by the Mother on 5.12.71
Be sincere in your consecration.
Throughout the whole year of 1971 the labourers continued the digging. In November the number of diggers was increased in order to expedite the work.
The Mother's message of 25.12.71 was memorable:
The time has come for the rule of falsehood to end.
In the Truth alone is Salvation.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Christmas Messages
Time passed rapidly. The special year of 1972 started with the Mother's message:
Let us all try to be worthy of Sri Aurobindo's Centenary.
Sri Aurobindo's Birth Centenary was on 15th August 1972. This also happened to be the Silver Jubilee of the Independence of India. It was significant, because for India Sri Aurobindo's birth was the beginning of a New Age. India got her independence on Sri Aurobindo's 75th birthday.
About India, Sri Aurobindo has written:
The old forms and methods are no longer sufficient for the purpose of the Time Spirit. India can no longer fulfil herself on lines that are too narrow for the great steps she has to take in future.
Sri Aurobindo, Essays in Philosophy and Yoga: Ourselves
Here are the Mother's words on India:
India has become the symbolic representation of all the difficulties of modern mankind. India will be the land of its resurrection—the resurrection to a higher and truer life.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: India
The following message the Mother gave in February 1954 about India is quite apt:
The future of India is very clear. India is the Guru of the world. The future structure of the world depends on India. India is the living soul. India is incarnating the spiritual knowledge in the world. The Government of India ought to recognise the significance of India in this sphere and plan their action accordingly.
One more message from the Mother about India:
India has or rather had the knowledge of the Spirit, but she neglected matter and suffered for it. The West has knowledge of matter but rejected the Spirit and suffers badly for it. An integral education which could, with some variations, be adopted to all nations of the world, must bring back the legitimate authority of the Spirit over a matter fully developed and utilised.
I was very much impressed to read in The Illustrated Weekly of India, January 26, 1964, The State of the Nation. There were questions by the Editor and the Mother's answers for which she won the first prize!
"If you were asked to sum up, just in one sentence, your vision of India, what would be your answer?
India's true destiny is to be the Guru of the world.
Similarly, if you were asked to comment on the reality as you see it, how would you do so in one sentence?
The present reality is a big falsehood—hiding an eternal truth.
What, according to you, are the three main barriers that stand between the vision and the reality?
(a) Ignorance; (b) fear; (c) falsehood.
Are you satisfied with the over-all progress India has made since Independence?
No.
What is our most outstanding achievement in recent times? Why do you consider it so important?
Waking up of the yearning for Truth. Because without truth there is no real liberty.
Likewise, can you name our saddest failure? On what grounds do you regard it as so tragic?
Insincerity. Because insincerity leads to ruin.
Mother has explained regarding diplomacy:
If diplomacy could become the instrument of the Truth and Divine Grace, instead of being based on duplicity and falsehood, a big step would be taken towards human unity and harmony.
On 1st January 1972 Aurovilians, Ashramites and visitors gathered in the Matrimandir excavation for an early morning meditation.
The Mother wrote the following passage on 30.1.72:
Sri Aurobindo came upon earth to announce the manifestation of the supra-mental world and not merely did he announce this manifestation but embodied also in part the supramental force and showed by example what one must do to prepare oneself for manifesting it. The last thing we can do is to study all that he has told us and endeavour to follow his example and prepare our-selves for the new manifestation.
This gives life its real sense and will help us to overcome all obstacles. Let us live for the New Creation and we shall grow stronger and stronger by remaining young and progressive.
This is the message for UNESCO given by the Mother on 1.2.1972:
Auroville is meant to hasten the advent of Supramental Reality upon earth. The help of all those who find the world is not as it ought to be is welcome. Each one must know if he wants to associate with an old world ready for death, or to work for a new and better world preparing to be born.
The Mother's birthday on 21.2.1972 was indeed significant. For on that day the first stone of the Matrimandir construction was laid at dawn.
The Mother wrote with a felt pen the date: 21.2.72, OM, her blessings and signature, on a polished piece of fossilised wood—wood turned into stone.
This stone was installed in the base of the eastern pillar of Matrimandir (Mahalakshmi). As Sunil Bhattacharya's composition, The Hour of God, with the Mother's reading, was played, 2000 people or more one by one placed blue metal chip in the concrete mixer. I too put one.
This was the commencement of the next stage of the building of the Matrimandir: the construction of the four pillars. The atmosphere was full of Peace and the Mother's Presence. There was display of the model of the Matrimandir and its gardens under the Banyan Tree.
These verses of Savitri flashed into my mind:
The voice that chants to the creator Fire, The symboled OM, the great assenting Word. ||80.9||
Nolini Kanta Gupta read out the following message given by the Mother.
Let Auroville be the symbol of a progressive Unity. And the best way to realise this is a unity of aspiration towards the Divine Perfection in work and in feeling, in a consecration of the entire life.
Unhappily, the entire land for the Matrimandir had not yet been bought at that time.
The Mother also gave this message on her 94th birth anniversary:
The complete unification of the whole being around the psychic centre is the essential condition to realise a perfect sincerity.
The Mother, Notes on the Way: 9 February 1972
In the evening the All India Radio, Pondicherry broadcast a talk on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother arranged by Madhav Pandit.
The Mother has revealed about OM:
With the help of OM one can realise the Divine. OM has a transforming power. OM represents the Divine. If anything goes wrong repeat OM, all will go well. OM is the signature of the Lord.
Sri Aurobindo writes:
To the earth the Rigveda leads, to the skies the Yajur, but the Sama to that of which the sages know. Thither the wise man by resting on OM the syllable attains, even to the Supreme Quietude where age is not and fear is cast out by immortality.
Sri Aurobindo, Kena and Other Upanishads: The Prusna Upanishad of the Athurvaveda
By now, the slide-shows of the Savitri paintings were ready: Meditations on Savitri along with the Mother's recitations of selected passages from Savitri corresponding with the paintings, accompanied by her own organ music. The Mother wished to know the exact date and time of the first show in the Ashram theatre, so that she would put her special Force and Light during the programme.
On Friday, 25.2.72 Kireet Joshi, who is now the Chairman of the Auroville Foundation and was then the Registrar of the Ashram school, came to my house in the morning and asked me to pray to the Mother to give eight blessing packets for all those participating in showing the slides at 8.30 p.m. in the evening. He was in charge of the shows. Since it was my day of working with the Mother, I did as I was asked. She gave the blessing-packets after a few minutes' concentration. I showed her a big tin of sweets which would be distributed by Kireet to the collaborators. The Mother touched the tin with a smile I prayed to the Mother for her Victory, because everything was arranged by her in the occasion of the forthcoming Birth Centenary of Sri Aurobindo. Richard Eggenburger and his colleagues were performing the shows with the Mother's special blessings.
Everyone enjoyed the slide-shows of the Savitri paintings. The Mother did not want me to attend the shows. I obeyed her.
On 29th February 1972 was held the fourth celebration of the Golden Day, the day of the Supramental Manifestation.
The Mother's message for the day was:
It is only when the Supramental manifests in the body-mind that its presence can be permanent.
The work at the Matrimandir seemed quickened. By the middle of February the excavation, 10.50 meters deep and 50 meters across at ground level, was completed. So the concreting of the first layer of the foundation, 30 centimetres high, was begun on 29.2.72.
These are the Mother's words:
Perfection in work and feeling in a consecration of the entire life.
But all was not well in Auroville.
The Mother always spoke of Union. Here is a message which she wrote on 12.3.72:
We speak of Union and say we are working for it. But the spirit of quarrelling is in our midst. Shall we not conquer this insincerity? I am here to ask you to do it. And the best way is to join in the service of the Divine.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Quarrels
Here are some extracts from a conversation of the Mother with people concerned with Auroville on March 30, 1972:
Since we have set aside all conventions, immediately everybody thinks: "Ah, a nice place to fulfil our desires". Voilà. And almost all come with that intention. And because I made a maternity clinic for the children of those people that I was obliged to send away from the Ashram, so that they could have a place to have their child, people think that the maternity clinic is established for all children born in an illegal way. Voilà.
I don't care for legality. I don't care for law, I don't care for convention, but what I want is a divine life and not an animal life.
And they use the liberty for licence, for the satisfaction of desires, and all these things that we truly have worked all our life to master, they indulge in dissipation. I am absolutely disgusted.
We are here to give up all desires and to turn towards the Divine and to become conscious of the Divine. The Divine we seek is not far away and inaccessible. He is in the very core of the creation itself and what this requires of us is that we find Him, and by transforming ourselves personally become capable of knowing Him, unite with Him, and in the end, we manifest Him consciously.
It is to that that we should consecrate ourselves, that is our true reason for existence. And the very first step towards this sublime realisation is the manifestation of the Supramental Consciousness.
To realise and manifest the Divine in our life is the way, not to become animals, living like cats and dogs. Exactly the opposite. The majority of the population at Auroville is an infra-humanity and not a supra-humanity. So it is high time all that must end.
There are people who have just dropped here and now when I tell them, "All that won't do at all", they answer: "We didn't come here for this". That is how it stands. How I would like to go and tell them, to everyone of them, to their face that they are mistaken, things are not like that. But I suppose now is the occasion to write it down in black and white.
How petty it is, a very petty humanity.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Talk of 30 March 1972
Hostile forces played their cards to upset the sacred things.
Richard Eggenberger took suddenly ill. It was he who was projecting the series of Savitri slide-shows. The Mother was informed on 2.4.72. She sent her photographs and blessing packets, which I handed over to his wife Annie for him. The next day he performed the show! He wrote to me:
Dear Huta,
I have received both your letters and the treasured blessing packet which I shall indeed keep with me while projecting the slides. Actually, though, it is I who must be ever grateful to you for being the one through whom Mother gave me this sacred work and has since poured in many countless blessings upon me.
All my being rises to her in gratitude and I shall also never forget your selfless love and generosity.
With love,
At Her Feet,
Richard
The Mother also wished the slides of our paintings inspired by Sri Aurobindo's poems to be shown. During this period her voice was not up to the mark. So, according to her wish, late at night I recited and tape-recorded the poems of Sri Aurobindo which would accompany the slides of my paintings of the poems.
The Mother heard the first part of my recitations, along with Sunil's music. He was present. The Mother remarked:
It is good—all right. You have done better than I expected.
I received a letter from Richard Eggenberger dated 23.3.72:
Dear Huta
I read your note again and again.
Could you tell me how Mother's voice sounded when she said: "He can't afford to be sick"? The words she spoke gave me the strength the other night. The Force was so strong.
Huta, the other night Kireet missed mentioning that it was to be a Meditation and I personally felt that people were too noisy, chattering until the last moment.
I have written something which I cannot put into words or into elegant phrases, it goes in a simple silence to them.
I often have had secret things about Savitri and as we have been brought by the Mother into intimate collaboration, I shall share one or two of them with you.
Always I have watched the Western disciples around me and have seen them receive new names from the Mother. I have never asked for a name because I have always felt if some day all in me might be purified I could then perhaps ask the Mother for the one name that always occurs to me:
He who sings Savitri.
Another secret is that I have often sung the part where Narad comes down to earth and during the last six months of 1969 I memorized completely the first two Cantos and was beginning the third when the Mother called me here. My hope still is to memorize the whole of Savitri one day.
I know you must have experienced something of the Force of the first programme last night. As Neel said, Mother's own music seemed to be com-posed especially for the passages she read. The paintings, expressing the inner truth she has poured through you, leaped from the screen, all sat in meditative silence and Mother's Voice resounded through the theatre with an indescribable power.
I too am so grateful for our collaboration.
In their Light
Shraddhavan gave me a booklet, Invocation published by Savitri Bhavan Auroville, in it I read the wonderful words of the Mother:
Savitri is a Mantra for the Transformation of the World.
The work at the Matrimandir was progressing. The Mother's encouraging words were:
3.5.72
Let us all work with a growing sincerity for the manifestation of the Divine Truth.
With my blessings.
I received a letter dated 5.5.72 from Richard Eggenberger:
I somehow wish to convey to you how great a moment I have experienced during this evening's showing of Savitri.
My words are quite inadequate to the task but I felt everything in a new way. For example I didn't feel as if I am helping to project the slides but rather that I was among those totally absorbed in the experience. The slides seemed to me, again and again, to touch a high realm of inner vision and perfection. You would not believe some of the colours, the life of Ashwapathy and so many other experiences.
And of course there was that one incredible line that sounds again and again in my soul:
To the source of all things human and divine. ||77.15||
Well, I see that I have not been able to convey much but I hope you will feel my joy and my gratitude to be one of those chosen to play a small part in the showing of Savitri in this great year 1972.
On 12.5.72 the Mother heard the recorded second part of my recitations of Sri Aurobindo's poems. She said:
It is very good—you have progressed.
Sunil and Victor were there because I took Sunil's music as background music. The Mother gave them her photographs and red roses. In fact, I was not satisfied with my recitations.
However, the performances of the slides of the Savitri paintings and the paintings of Sri Aurobindo's Poems were a great success by The Mother's Grace.
In the beginning of June 1972 the foundations of the Matrimandir pillars were completed. The construction of the actual pillars was to start.
On 4.7.72 I wrote a letter to the Mother:
Aurovilians have expressed their wish to see the Savitri slides. They could not attend the shows at the Ashram Theatre because of the long distance.
Happily, I have an extra set of the Savitri slides which I will offer to you on the 7th, Friday, for Auroville. I have already spoken to Shyamsunder about this. He says that he will keep the set in the Auroville Office, Pondicherry and it will be safe. Also, he will do the needful about arranging the shows at Auroville.
Shyamsunder added that when there would be a proper place in Auroville, the set will be transferred over there. Meanwhile he will take the charge. I am thankful to him.
Mother, I am grateful to you for setting everything right.
With love and kisses,
On 7.7.72 I went to the Mother, and offered her a set of the Savitri slides for Auroville. She kept the boxes on her lap one by one, opened each of them, touched the slides and exclaimed:
Oh, they are magnificent.
The slides were shown in Auroville. After that the boxes were kept in the Auroville Office in Pondicherry. But I did not feel like keeping them there for certain reasons. So I took the boxes back. In 1996 or so I gave them to Shraddhavan for the Savitri Bhavan and she is making the best use of them.
The following message was written by the Mother on 10.7.72
10.7.72
To follow all the impulses of the lower nature is surely not the supramental way and has no place here. What we want is to hasten the advent of the supra-mental, not at all to fall in the ugly condition of a humanity subject to desires and lower impulses.
One more message given by the Mother on 13.7.72:
So long as we go on telling lies we go on pushing the happy Future far from us.
The Mother never wanted Religion to be established either in Auroville or in the Ashram. She always put stress on Spirituality.
She has written:
Spirituality is supreme simplicity.
The Mother describes on 12.7.1972:
One must not confuse a religious teaching with spiritual teaching. Religious teaching belongs to the past and halts progress. Spiritual teaching is the teaching of the future; it enlightens the consciousness and prepares it for future realisation.
Spiritual teaching is above religions and strives for a total Truth. It teaches us to enter into direct contact with the Divine.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Religion
The Mother wrote in Vol. 15, [p. 32] about religion:
Why do men cling to a religion? Religions are based on creeds which are spiritual experiences brought down to a level where they become more easy to grasp, but at the cost of their integral purity and truth.
The time of religions is over.
We have entered the age of universal spirituality, of spiritual experience in its initial purity.
Sri Aurobindo has explained about the religions:
The Ashram has nothing to do with Hindu religion or culture or any religion or nationality. The Truth of the Divine which is the spiritual reality behind all religions and the descent of the supramental which is not known to any religion are the sole things which will be the foundation of the work of the future.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Himself and the Ashram: Islam, Hinduism, and the Integral Yoga
The Mother has explained:
Jesus is one of the many forms which the Divine has assumed to enter into relationship with the earth. But there are and there will be many others; and the children of Auroville should replace the exclusiveness of one religion by the wide faith of knowledge.
The Mother also says:
All religions must unite with a higher knowledge.
The Yoga for tomorrow is to find the Divine in work and in relation with the world.
Sri Aurobindo's view:
Our Yoga is not a retreading of old walks but a spiritual adventure.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - II: Transformation in the Integral Yoga
He also says:
My truth is one that rejects ignorance and falsehood and moves to the knowledge, rejects darkness and moves to the light, rejects egoism and moves to the Divine Self rejects imperfections and moves to perfections. My truth is not only the truth of Bhakti or of psychic development but also of knowledge, purity, divine strength and calm and of the raising of all these things from their mental, emotional and vital forms to their supramental reality.
Sri Aurobindo, Autobiographical Notes and Other Writings of Historical Interest: To Krishnashashi
Piero Cicionesi, the chief engineer of the Matrimandir and his wife Gloria have been very good friends of mine since 1968. When we met we talked about the Matrimandir and its progress.
They informed me that the foundations of the Matrimandir were now completed, and the second pillar had come up to two metres. Soon they would take up the third one. All the pillar footings, 11 X 9 metres at the base and 1.20 metres high, had been cast. The pillars were to be finished in four stages.
On 17.7.1972 the Mother gave names to the four pillars of the Matrimandir as follows:
Mahakali — North Maheshwari — South Mahalaksmi — East Mahasaraswa — West
Each pillar represents one of the four powers of the Supreme Mother, Aditi.
Sri Aurobindo has written in his book The Mother:
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 dealing with the terrestrial play.
(Mahakali — North)
Another embodies her power of splendid strength and irresistible passion, her warrior mood, her overwhelming will, her impetuous swiftness and world-shaking force.
(Maheshwari — South)
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.
(Mahalakshmi — East)
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)
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.
Wisdom, Strength, Harmony, Perfection are their several attributes and it is these powers that they bring with them into the world..."
Sri Aurobindo, The Mother with Letters on The Mother: The Mother - VI
Sri Aurobindo has also stated:
The four Powers of the Mother are four of her outstanding Personalities, portions and embodiments of her divinity through whom she acts on her creatures, orders and harmonises her creations in the worlds and directs the working out of her thousand forces. For the Mother is one but she comes before us with differing aspects; many are her powers and personalities, many her emanations and Vibhutis that do her work in the universe. The One whom we adore as the Mother is the divine Conscious Force that dominates all existence, one and yet so many-sided that to follow her movement is impossible even for the quickest mind and for the freest and most vast intelligence. The Mother is the consciousness and force of the Supreme and far above all she creates. But something of her ways can be seen and felt through her embodiments and the more seizable because more defined and limited temperament and action of the goddess forms in whom she consents to be manifest to her creatures.
Further Sri Aurobindo clarified in Vol. 25, p. 63:
These four Powers are the Mother's cosmic Godheads, permanent in the world-play; they stand among the greater cosmic Godheads to whom allusion is made when it is said that the Mother as the Mahashakti of this triple world `stands there (in the Overmind plane) above the Gods'.
Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Himself and the Ashram: A Note on the Terminology of The Mother
Sri Aurobindo has also revealed about Mahashakti and Her Emanations:
In a sense the four Powers of the Mother may be called, because of their origin, her Emanations, just as the Gods may be called Emanations of the Divine, but they have a more permanent and fixed character; they are at once the Mother, the Mahashakti, and she can always either manifest through them as separate beings or draw them together as her own various Personalities and hold them in herself, sometimes kept back, sometimes at play, according to her will. In the supramental plane they are always in her and do not act independently but as intimate portions of the supramental Mahashakti and in close union and harmony with each other.
Here once again Sri Aurobindo explains about the Emanations:
An Emanation of the Mother is something of her consciousness and power put forth from her which, so long as it is in play, is held in close connection with her and, when its play is no longer required, is withdrawn back into its source, but can always be put out and brought into play once more. But also the detaining thread of connection can be severed or loosened and that which came forth as an emanation can proceed on its way as an independent divine being with its own play in the world. All the Gods can put forth such emanations from their being, identical with them in essence of consciousness and power though not commensurate. In a certain sense the Universe itself can be said to be an emanation from the Supreme. In the consciousness of the Sadhak an emanation of the Mother will ordinarily wear the appearance, form and characteristics with which he is familiar.
Further Sri Aurobindo discloses in Vol. 25, pp. 62, 64:
...Shaktis, manifestations of different powers of the Supreme Consciousness and Force, the Divine Mother; by which she rules or acts in the universe. And they are at the same time divine personalities; for each is a being who manifests different qualities and personal consciousness forms of the Godhead....
They are not impersonal entities but cosmic Personalities, although they can and do ordinarily veil themselves behind the movement of impersonal forces.
I came across the following passage in SABCL Vol. 21, pp. 752-3:
There is nothing that is impossible to her who is the conscious Power and universal Goddess all-creative from eternity and armed with the Spirit's omnipotence. All knowledge, all strengths, all triumph and victory, all skill and works are in her hands and they are full of the treasures of the Spirit and of all perfections and siddhis. She is Maheshwari, goddess of the supreme knowledge, and brings to us her vision for all kinds and widenesses of truth, her rectitude of the spiritual will, the calm and passion of her supramental largeness, her felicity of illumination; she is Mahakali, goddess of the supreme strength, and with her are all mights and spiritual force and severest austerity of Tapas and swiftness to the battle and the victory and the laughter, the attahasya, that makes light of defeat and death and the powers of the ignorance: she is Mahalakshmi, the goddess of the supreme love and delight, and her gifts are the spirit's grace and the charm and beauty of the Ananda and protection and every divine and human blessing: she is Mahasaraswati, the goddess of divine skill and of the works of the Spirit, and hers is the Yoga that is skill in works, yogah karmasu kaus'alam, and the utilities of divine knowledge and the self-application of the spirit to life and the happiness of its harmonies. And in all her powers and forms she carries with her the supreme sense of the masteries of the eternal Ishwari, a rapid and divine capacity for all kinds of action that may be demanded from the instrument, oneness, a participating sympathy, a free identity, with all energies in all beings and therefore a spontaneous and fruitful harmony with all the divine will in the universe.
Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga - II: Faith and Shakti
On 21.7.72 was the last show in the Ashram theatre of the slides of the Savitri paintings along with the Mother's recitations tape-recorded by me; her own organ-music served as a background music. People enjoyed the shows.
I wrote a letter to the Mother on 25.7.72:
A few months back Richard Eggenberger wrote to me this:
"Always I have watched the western disciples around me and have seen them receive new names from the Mother. I have never asked for a name because I have always felt that if some day all in me might be purified I could then perhaps ask the Mother for the one name that always occurs to me: "NARADA—He who sings Savitri".
Mother, his birthday is on the 29th of this month. Since he has wished for this particular name, I pray to you to give him this name if you find it proper.
Indeed, Richard has collaborated wonderfully in the work of the Savitri slides. Also, it is he who will project the slides in Auroville when Shyamsunder will arrange the shows of the Savitri slides there.
I pray for Your Victory...
With much love and kisses
I received a letter dated 26.7.72 from Richard Eggenberger, about the first show of the slides of the paintings inspired by Sri Aurobindo's poems:
It was for me an experience of moving from light to more light. The brilliance of the colours, the depth and power and revelation of each painting together with your clear and sensitive reading, ever profound, calm and yet intense, made a remarkable end to this first showing and I hope for all an-other beginning to Sri Aurobindo's poetry.
With love in Her Light,
The Mother met me in her living room on 27.7.72. She saw a box of slides of the paintings of Sri Aurobindo's poems. She put the box on her lap, opened it, touched the slides and went into a trance. I felt waves of warmth and coolness in my heart. She opened her eyes and smiled.
I informed her about the last slide show of Sri Aurobindo's poems. I was grateful to her for everything. She held my hands and expressed her happiness and then said:
A few days back I told Roger to build a small house on the island near the Matrimandir. It must be simple: one sitting room, a sleeping room and a bathroom.
On 29th July it was Richard's birthday. The Mother gave him a beautiful card. In it she wrote:
29.7.72
To Richard NARAD with LOVE Bonne fete Blessings.
So now we call him "Narad'
There was a grand celebration on the occasion of Sri Aurobindo's one hundredth birthday, August 15, 1972.
That day I went to the Mother in the morning. She said with a smile:
Bonjour.
Then she gave me a golden-coloured folder. On one side there was Sri Aurobindo's photograph and on the other her message:
One step more towards Eternity
The prayer from my heart reached her: "Your Victory—the Victory of the Truth."
She nodded. Then I went into Sri Aurobindo's room as thousands of people did. His Presence was concretely felt. At 5.30 p.m. the Mother gave Darshan to people from her balcony.
Here are the beautiful words from the Mother:
This year, let us offer all the activities of our body in consecration to Sri Aurobindo.
The Mother, On Education: Messages for Competitions
On 14.9.72 they completed the foundations of one pillar of Matrimandir, on 2.10.72 the second pillar, and on 20.10.72 the third pillar-foundation was completed.
This message was given by the Mother to Aurovilians:
Eat for living but do not live for eating.
During that time Dyuman the Trustee of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram got this message copied and put in the Ashram Dining Room.
The Mother gave this message on 24-10-72:
The true spirit of Auroville is Collaboration and must be more and more so.
True collaboration paves the way to divinity.
On 30.10.72 the Mother has written:
Au service de la Vérité
At the service of Truth
Truth.
On 31.10.72 the Mother gave a message to the Matrimandir workers, along with a blessing packet, for the concreting of the four pillars up to ground level:
Harmony, Good will, discipline, Truth.
I can work with you only if you do not say a lie and are at the service of Truth.
During this time Auroville Designs got a new contract through Mr. Talwar the then Chairman of the State Bank of India in Bombay.
Later I came to know that Auroville Designs took assignments from various places in India specially in Punjab through Mr. Prem Malik.
Shyamsunder asked me whether the Mother had told me and written to me about Auroville and the Matrimandir. I said that she had, but that I could not give the matter to him until and unless the Mother approved.
On 3.11.72 I went to the Mother and informed her about the manuscripts. She said:
Yes, I approve fully. But you must not give him my original letters and our conversations corrected by me. Make copies of them, put them in a file and then give it to him.
Before giving the file to Shyamsunder, I showed it to the Mother on 6.11.72. She kept it on her lap and went into a trance for a few moments. When she awoke, she nodded her head approvingly.
Later the file was shown and given to Roger by Shyamsunder. After the Mother left her body, the file came back to me with these words: "All these are old, past and out-dated."
On 4.11.72 the Mother spoke to Shyamsunder, as she had done several times before, about the plan of my house near the Matrimandir. She told him:
Huta will be the guardian of the Matrimandir. Her residence is to be built in one of the twelve gardens. She has given money for it. She must have a kitchenette also.
Then Shyamsunder said to the Mother, "When Roger comes back from France I will speak to him about it and get it settled." This was informed to me by Shyamsunder. I was surprised, because I had never mentioned to the Mother anything about my house or a kichenette. Nevertheless I was grateful to her for everything.
Here I recall vividly the occasion when the Mother came in 1956 along with some people to arrange an apartment for me upstairs in Huta House—the name given by the Mother—where I stayed for 37 years until I was compelled to leave that flat in January 1995. The Mother said to the people who were going to get the apartment repaired and renovated, that I must have a green bathroom like hers. I went very close to her and whispered that I did not really need such luxuries. She smiled and whispered back:
It does not matter. This is my house. You are only the guardian here.
Yes, later I had to guard her priceless spiritual treasures which she gave for the whole of humanity.
The Mother also arranged the rest of the things in the apartment. Laljibhai was present there. That evening when I met the Mother once again in her room at the Playground I expressed my gratitude. Holding my hand, she said:
You are my adopted child—I have adopted you, and I like to take care of you.
Tears of relief and happiness welled up in my eyes. I was quite aware within me that material things would never bring me everlasting peace and happiness. I could only obtain these when I would realise and unite with the Supreme Lord. I expressed my feeling to the Mother and thanked her once again for taking so much care of me. She answered on 23.10.56:
Bonjour
To my dear little child,
To my sweet Huta,
I have read your very nice letter and listened to your sincere prayer.
The Grace always grants the sincere prayers—so be quite sure that you will reach your goal.
I am happy to take care of you and do it always with all my love and blessings.
On 14.11.72 I wrote a letter to the Mother:
Sometimes some beings throw their falsehood at me. But I am not in favour of their falsehood.
I request You to protect me constantly.
Also, I wish You to dispel all the obstacles which are in my way and which prevent me from realising my soul. And, truly I feel strongly that now my soul must take the entire lead of my whole being.
Mother, didn't I pray to You in 1965 when You appointed me the guardian of the Matrimandir that I would not step into the Sacred Temple until and unless I would become perfectly pure and worthy? And, with a smile, You said, "You will be..." And I was relieved. Now it is high time that my whole being were purified thoroughly and influenced by my soul and its aspiration. Then and then only I shall deserve to serve the Truth integrally.
Please fulfil my aspiration. And I know that nothing is impossible for Your Grace... And You know very well what I really aspire for...
With all my love and kisses.
Ever yours
The Mother answered on the same letter:
Yes, have faith love and blessings.
I like very much the Mother's message, distributed to all: on 24.11.1972:
Beyond all preferences and limitations, there is a ground of mutual understanding where all can meet and find their harmony. It is the aspiration for a divine consciousness.
On 26.11.72 I wrote to the Mother:
Last year on 25th December You gave this message:
"The time has come for the rule of falsehood to end.
In the Truth alone is salvation."
But at present the falsehood is in full swing. While observing and seeing things all around, one feels that nothing is happening because everything goes wrong all the time and the falsehood always wins!
No doubt, the Lord's Action is very powerful and it compels everybody to change their consciousness. At least I feel it myself and it is a great help to know each time what is wrong and what is right. Some people must be feeling the same as I do. But the majority of people here believe that the Lord's Action is an imagination. They think that life in the Ashram is very easy and they take liberty for licence. As a matter of fact, they find everything natural and passable. They also think that the Mother does not bother about what is going on in the Ashram, because She cannot hear, cannot speak, cannot write, She is old and invalid, She does not know anything and She cannot do anything. And Your messages are disregarded.
Mother, it is very strange that these people live very happily without any struggle and they enjoy themselves without fear and care. Also it is really amazing that not a single blow falls on them—on the contrary, the favourable situations are created for them by the falsehood in order to encourage them to do all sorts of things which are not allowed in the Ashram.
I truly wonder what will be the situation of the true aspirants who have come here only for the Divine? At the moment they are really crushed by the falsehoods of these people.
Mother, there is nothing unknown to You. And I feel that the Ashram is the foundation of the Future World—Auroville. I am sure that You and the Lord will certainly make the Truth win.
Finally, I pray to You on my behalf and on behalf of true people: "Let Your Victory come soon and let Your Truth and Love reign in this world for ever..."
With love and kisses.
Yours
This letter was read out to the Mother by Shyamsunder.
In answer to it, the photostat copy was sent to me instead of the Mother original letter. I wonder why?
The Mother's reply was:
Before dying falsehood rises in full swing.
Still people understand only the lesson of catastrophe. Will it have to come before they open their eyes to the truth?
I ask an effort from all so that it has not to be.
It is only the Truth that can save us; truth in words, truth in action, truth in will, truth in feelings. It is a choice between serving the Truth or being destroyed.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Falsehood and Truth
Here is the striking message given by the Mother on 1.12.72:
Auroville has been created for a progressive superhumanity, not for an infra-humanity governed by its instincts and dominated by its desires. Those who belong to the infra-humanity, the animal humanity, have no place here.
Auroville is for those who aspire for the supramental and make an effort to reach there.
A few days later there was a terrible cyclone in Pondicherry. Auroville was badly affected by it. Many things were destroyed. The Mother sent a message to the Aurovilians on 7.12.72:
It is a warning that Nature is giving, that those who do not have the true spirit of Auroville will have to go if they do not want to change.
This cyclone reminds me of one of the Mother's letters to me dated 8.3.1965:
Behind all destructions—the big destructions of Nature—earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, etc.... or the human destructions—wars, revolutions, riots—there is always Kali's Power and upon earth Kali works for the hastening of the terrestrial progress.
Whatever is Divine not only in its essence but also in its realisation is above these destructions and cannot be touched by them.
In all cases the extent of the damage gives the measure of the imperfection and must be taken as a lesson for indispensable progress.
The Mother, Mother's Agenda — 1965: March 10, 1965
The following message was given by the Mother:
19. 12.1972
To all those who are telling lies.
By the simple fact that you are telling lies you prove that you do not wish to be true Aurovilians.
If you wish to remain in Auroville you must stop lying.
In reply to a letter from Mary Helen about the Japanese Garden, the Mother wrote on 22.12.72:
It is to be naturally in the Japanese way.
On 28.12.72 the Mother inscribed the following message:
Auroville has been created for those who want to progress, their own progress.
This is written for each one: each one is concerned with himself first.
The New Year 1973 started.
The Mother's message of 1.1.73 was:
When you are conscious of the whole world at the same time, then you can become conscious of the Divine.
I wrote to the Mother as follows:
For the New Year I pray for your constant Victory.
It is really sad that the work of Matrimandir is going on very slowly because there is no money and harmony.
I feel that building and breaking things cannot lead to the goal. It is a sheer waste of time, energy and money, and moreover it is a waste of your Consciousness and Force.
It was decided that the gardens around the Matrimandir should be grown along with the construction of the Matrimandir so that everything can take shape together and the whole thing can be done before your Birth Centenary which is not very far.
So far I have never said anything about having a secret chamber for you in the Shrine. Do you remember, Mother, several times you expressed your feeling about having the carved marble seats with satin and velvet cushions so that you can sit there? I feel that you must have your secret chamber in the Shrine. The Lord also will come—where will he sit?
This I am expressing from the occult and the spiritual point of view because the Supreme Truth will manifest there. The whole thing can be mysterious and occult. Mere outer appearance or a piece of art and architecture has no meaning and value. What has to be done must be done exactly according to the Lord's "Dream".
Mother, I have no right to suggest all this but since you had revealed so many things about the Matrimandir, I can dare to write knowing that you will understand me.
Mother, I am neither an Ashramite nor an Aurovilian but a child of yours and a lover of the Divine Beauty, Divine Love, Divine Peace and the Supreme Truth.
I am here because of you, your work and your Love.
I remain your child in all Truth and Love.
The Mother who knew everything, what could she answer except this?:
My love is always with you for ever
The Mother saw me in the morning on 19.1.73. After our meditation, I prayed to her as always for her Victory. Then I asked her whether the Matrimandir would be built according to her wish. She pressed my hand and twice said:
Yes, yes.
I was happy, because I knew how much the Matrimandir meant to her.
But I came to know from an authentic source that on 22.1.73 some engineers and other people concerned arrived from Madras to work on the architectural design of the Matrimandir. They questioned, "What is the assurance that there will be no further changes in the plan of Matrimandir?" The Mother remarked, after knowing the situation:
I do not know. Roger has not talked to me or informed me of the changes.
I personally think that many things might have been done without the Mother knowledge and approval.
Shyamsunder's note dated 12.2.73:
To the Mother
I have to remind Roger about the living place for Huta
Nothing was done!
Narad showed me a note dated 13.2.73 written by Shyamsunder:
Narad,
I have read your letter of 10th to Mother. Mother says that the Matrimandir Gardens' execution has been already told in detail to Roger. That is what is to be done.
Nothing was done in this regard.
Here is the letter written by Alain Grandcolas and Ruud Lohmann to the Mother on 15.2.73:
Divine Mother,
Roger asked us to go to Huta to discuss certain things regarding her house near the Matrimandir as to how she wishes to have it built. She said that everything should be done exactly according to the Mother's wish. We asked her what was the Mother's wish. Then she said that the Mother wished her to be the guardian of the Matrimandir and her house is to be built between the Matrimandir and the banyan tree—on the island; it must be a tiny and simple house. The Mother has already explained the plan to Roger and Shyamsunder. And for the rest, Huta said that everything is explained, including the copies of the Mother's letters regarding the Matrimandir and Auroville, in the file which is given to Shyamsunder according to the Mother's wish and approval. Now Shyamsunder has given the file to Roger to study.
Now in the present plans of the Matrimandir we can easily include Huta's house in one of the 12 huge petals which are surrounding the Matrimandir, over one of the meditation rooms, so that she can enter the Matrimandir whenever she wants to check one thing or another—and this is exactly between the Matrimandir and the banyan as You have wished. Now shall we go ahead with this plan? We wish to have Your approval and guidance.
Also, Huta spoke firmly and insisted to have two secret chambers inside the Matrimandir itself—one for the Mother and the other one for the Lord —with carved marble seats with velvet and satin cushions. In the present plans these chambers are not shown but while looking at the brochure of the Matrimandir, we can say they can easily be built—facing each other on the top floor of the Matrimandir and this will look really wonderful. When we showed the plans and spoke to Huta about this possibility, she was extremely happy and satisfied.
Huta also said how practical the Mother is: when She did the sketch of the Matrimandir, She did not forget to show in Her drawing the small boxroom to keep dusters and things like that to clean the Matrimandir. So Huta said that these minor things are also to be considered. And we found that there is a place for this small room also. Like this everything can be done easily.
Mother, please guide us as to how You wish Your rooms to be built and how the marble seats are to be carved and arranged in the rooms, so that Roger and we can do accordingly.
We await Your kind blessings and Force to make this plan and project materialised exactly according to Your Vision and Will in all Truth and Love.
your children
Alain, Ruud.
The Mother's message dated 15.2.73 was remarkable:
Auroville is not a place for politics; no politics must be done in Auroville and in the offices of Auroville.
Things happened quite contrary to the Mother's message!
I wrote to Roger Anger on 16.2.73:
Dear Roger,
It is very nice of you to have asked Alain and Ruud to come to me yesterday evening to discuss my house near the Matrimandir. I have explained to them all that the Mother wished and decided. Moreover, everything is stated in the file which Shyamsunder has given to you.
Alain and Ruud wrote a letter to the Mother which I hope you read to her. Frankly speaking, I have no will of my own—whatever she has decided for me and whatever she wants me to be I will be. She has appointed me the guardian of the Matrimandir and repeatedly told me about my having a house very close to the Matrimandir so that I can look after the Matrimandir according to her wish and command. She told me that she had already explained the plan of my house to you in July last year. She also spoke three times to Shyamsunder about the same thing. So I have nothing more to say regarding the matter except that I leave it to the Mother and to you to do the best.
But I am very particular and feeling strongly all that the Mother told me about her rooms in the Matrimandir itself on the top floor, which I may call the "secret chambers". She must have her rooms—for she will surely go there one day.
I trust you and I feel sure that you will organise and plan out everything wonderfully, exactly according to the Mother's Will—in an occult and mysterious way. And we all pray for the Victory of the Truth.
Thank you ever so much
With kindest regards,
yours sincerely
Underneath my letter Roger wrote:
C' etait it y a longtemps, au debut. L' important c' est de prevoir une piece pour elle dans les jardins.
Mère
le 15 mars 1973
That was long ago, at the beginning. The important thing is to plan a room for her in the gardens.
The Mother
15 March 1973
On 16.2.73 Shyamsunder informed me that the Mother had reminded him once again whether he had told Roger about my house at the Matrimandir. So he gave the file to Roger—the same file that was given to Shyamsunder by me with the Mother's full approval on 6.11.72.
On 4.3.73 I showed the Mother 6 big packets of incense sticks which were going to be burnt in the Centre of Auroville during the slide-shows of the Savitri paintings. She gave blessing-packets for the people who were organising the shows and projecting the slides.
I received a note from Shyamsunder dated 17.3.1973:
Roger has spoken to the Mother about Matrimandir and is preparing a note. I will show it to you after it is read to the Mother by him and approved by her.
I like the following message given by the Mother on 18.3.1973:
Auroville will become what it must be only if and when the people living there will stop lying.
Later, Roger Anger sent me a copy of his following note through Shyamsunder.
March 26, 1973
Further to the letter of Huta and the different questions asked by a few Aurovilians concerning the Matrimandir, particularly on the subject of the secret chambers, the Mother has said that these were envisaged at one time but are not to be retained in the actual project.
The Mother has confirmed that the sole important thing is the lodging foreseen for the guardian within the framework of the gardens around Matrimandir.
Roger
In connection with the Secret Chambers, The Matrimandir Newsletter No. 10 of February 1985, stated:
Secret Chambers
"This month it will be fourteen years since the construction started. So many tough, nice, beautiful, funny things, so many persons giving it a try, so many psychological processes, so many aspirations and discoveries. So many people involved in shaping the events, especially in the early years. There was Huta, the "gardienne", who shocked us one day with the story of the "secret chambers". Things were already far advanced in the formative stage when she suddenly came out with it: Mother told her often, she reported one day, that inside Matrimandir two chambers should be built, one for Herself and "one for the Supreme Lord". For the interior designing a carved marble couch was indicated, with velvet cushions for when Mother comes to withdraw and recline a while. Hearing this, we hastened to see Roger, then still in the designing process. He did not seem to know about these "secret chambers". If they would still have to come, it would be very urgent to get them somewhere into the designs, he thought, and looking at it we thought they might come in between the ribs at those ends of the Upper Chambers where there are no ramps coming up. But first he went to Mother and asked Her about it and then he put up a notice to be published around: "Mother says that these secret chambers had been envisaged in an earlier period and that they were not to be maintained in the present project."
(26.3.73)
What an uproar!
On 27.3.73 the Mother wrote this message for Aurovilians. It turned out to be her last written message about Auroville.
Auroville is created to realise the ideal of Sri Aurobindo who taught us the Karma Yoga. Auroville is for those who want to do the Yoga of work. To live in Auroville means to do the Yoga of work. So all Aurovilians must take up a work and do it as Yoga.
On 28.3.1973 I sent to the Mother the note I had received from Roger, along with this letter:
I have received this note from Roger through Shyamsunder. First point: Whatever You have decided for the Matrimandir is absolutely right because You know much more about the matter than anybody else does.
Second point: You had appointed me the guardian of the Matrimandir in 1965—and I am grateful to You for that—but now I truly pray to You to release me from this appointment because I do not really deserve anything, and I do not know what work I have to do there, also there are many reasons and complications which prevent me from going there.
For some time I had been feeling to write to You all this before I received this note. I am really sorry that I shall not be able to be the guardian—I am helpless and hopeless. Please do forgive me. There are many capable people who can carry out this wonderful mission according to Your will.
Finally, I pray to You to get arranged and restored my present house by Udar or Phany. There are white ants and it needs repairs and whitewash which has not been done for quite a number of years.
I will do Your work, which is quite a lot, in my apartment, and my temple is my heart where the Divine can be realised by His Grace.
Mother, I love You and I trust You, knowing that You will surely lead me to my goal by fulfilling my soul's aspiration.
Ever Yours
Vasudha, the Mother's personal attendant, read out this letter of mine to her. She remained in trance and said nothing except that she sent a blessing-packet through Vasudha.
One month later, on 28.4.73, I wrote to the Mother again about this matter:
28.4.73
I have been always frank with You because You are my true Mother and I know that You understand me perfectly well. What You have said about the secret chambers in the Matrimandir, is perfectly right. I myself feel within me that the Supreme Lord and the Supreme Mother do not need any human devices. So it is all right. But I hope that the beautiful gardens, rockeries, small waterfalls and tall trees will be retained.
You have confirmed to build my house in the framework of the gardens. But let me inform you and clear this matter, that two months back or so Alain and Ruud came to me according to Roger's instructions. They showed me the plan and spoke to me that Roger had told them that somehow Roger and these people would accommodate me in one of the rooms of the Reception Building which would be quite far from the Matrimandir—at the end of the garden. If Roger explained to you this framework of the gardens, then he means exactly that, and perhaps from his point of view I am supposed to be a receptionist and not the guardian of the Matrimandir.
You have appointed me a guardian of the Matrimandir, and You told me and wrote to me several times that my tiny house would be very close to the Matrimandir. How can I remain very far if I have to look after the Shrine? And I cannot be a receptionist because I do not know the job.
It is understood from within that it is out of the question to have my house in one of the petals of the Matrimandir, because the Truth must stand by itself—above everything and everyone. But to be reasonable, isn't it proper to have a very small house surrounded by trees and flowers somewhere near the Matrimandir? With all my heart and soul I do aspire to remain near the Shrine and serve the Truth and do the work whatever You command, but please don't send me far.
I am sure You will plan out everything regarding my life and work. And You will surely fulfil the aspiration of my soul.
With love.
In May 1973 I was asked by Shyamsunder to meet Roger and himself on the Mother's terrace (near the Mother's apartment) in the morning. For Roger wanted to talk to me about my house near the Matrimandir. Shyamsunder served as interpreter, as Roger could not speak English properly and I could not speak French properly.
After the discussion I wrote to the Mother on 6.5.73. The letter was read to her by Vasudha on 10.5.73 before Roger met the Mother.
I had a talk with Roger regarding my house and the Matrimandir. Shyamsunder also was present. Roger is willing to give a location to my residence in the Matrimandir area—nearest the Matrimandir. But Roger is anxious and would like to know clearly and precisely the work I am expected to do by the Divine Mother as the guardian of the Matrimandir. Then and then only Roger can proceed further and can plan out everything accordingly.
Roger said that there are many things which are to be done in the Matrimandir as it is a very huge thing.
1) Control of visitors—(as The Mother has said that the admission will be restricted).
2) Information of the work in the Matrimandir itself when it is ready.
3) Cleaning and maintenance.
4) Priestess of Matrimandir—That is just to watch and see!
Finally, Roger said that everything would be possible for him to arrange once my work as guardian would be decided by the Divine Mother, and he is ready to do exactly according to The Mother's Will.
Roger is going to Paris on Saturday, so it is very important that he should know as soon as possible regarding the matter so that he could do the needful by working out everything according to Your instructions.
Indeed, I too am wondering what work I shall have to do over there. Nevertheless, whatever You have willed for my soul and its aspiration, let it be done. And I will with all my heart carry out Your command in all Truth and Love.
On 10.5.73 Vasudha came to me and informed me:
The Mother said to Roger when I was with her:
"She will keep the keys of the Matrimandir. She will open and close the Matrimandir, and she will also see whether everything is all right in the Matrimandir."
My memory winged back to the year 1957 when the Mother gave me a tiny bunch of silver keys and said with a smile:
Ah! these are the keys of Heaven, take them!
And her laugh had been reflected in her luminous eyes. Everything was so full of meaning.
Roger never approached me or conveyed the Mother's message.
The next day I went to the Mother and expressed my profound gratitude, and prayed to her to make me worthy of the Supreme Truth, in her Light and Love.
She went into a trance for a brief while, then pressed my hands. I took my leave with mixed feelings.
After reaching my apartment, I read all the Mother's letters, and the letters sent by other people. I also reviewed all my letters to the Mother and other people. Still my mind was not clear or at rest. I sat in my meditation room for quite a long time and felt strongly that what I had stated in my previous letter to the Mother, dated 28.3.73, was in tune with my soul's aspiration. I was inspired, and rushed to Vasudha in the evening with a copy of the letter and requested her to reread it to the Mother, because it was a question of life and death—I must know the Mother's final wish.
The letter was read out to the Mother early in the morning when Vasudha went to comb the Mother's hair. Later Vasudha came to my house with the Mother's blessing packet and said:
Huta you know, the Mother cannot see properly and cannot possibly write to you, because she is too weak. She listened attentively to your letter which I read to her loudly. Then she went into a trance for a long time. After that she asked me to give you her blessing packet and convey this message to you:
I know this. Tell her that it is better like that. My love and blessings are always with her.
So, Huta, the Mother has granted your prayer.
My eyes were filled with tears of relief and gratitude. I felt that my whole being was free. The Mother had released me.
Later my apartment got repaired and renovated. Once again I plunged into the ocean of elevating work the Mother had entrusted to me for the whole of Humanity.
In fact, the Mother never wanted me to be a public figure. I never uttered a word of my release to people concerned, my own people and to my friends. I kept absolutely quiet and silent. I watched and waited for the proper time to act.
In 1967, after the display of Savitri paintings in the Ashram Exhibition Hall, when I asked the Mother about making a movie of the Savitri paintings, she held my right hand, shook it with a broad smile and said with enthusiasm:
Yes, my child, we shall collaborate
Years passed. I was wondering about the movie
On 6.7.72 M. André had written to me:
It is the Mother who told me, when I read your letter to her, to inquire from Kireet what his idea exactly was.
Now I have again spoken to her and she said it is very doubtful if Tarachand would take up this job and, besides the pictures would not come out well.
With kind regards
Yours André
Now it seemed that the time had come to get the movie of the Savitri paintings made. On 6.2.1973 it was decided by the Mother that the movie would be made by Michel Klostermann of Germany. When he was in charge of film production in Auroville, the Mother gave the name "Filmaur" for his project. The Mother gave Michel and me beautiful leather-bound folders with Sri Aurobindo's and her own photographs.
She wanted her own organ-music to be played as a background during her recitations of the Savitri passages corresponding to the paintings. She also wished that the movie should be full of liveliness, vibrations and vividness.
On 18.5.73 the Mother saw me in her living room. We meditated for 15 minutes or so. Then she gave me a pink lotus: "Avatar—the Supreme manifested on Earth in a body." She also handed me a bouquet of white flowers of various kinds, and white roses, and looked at me over and over again while pressing my hands.
When I took leave she held my hand tightly as if she did not wish me to go. I had no idea that it was my last meeting with her.
On 19.5.73 I wrote to the Mother:
Michel has already started to make the movie of the Savitri paintings with your blessings. According to your instructions he will surely give to the paintings vividness, vibrations and liveliness while filming.
Your own organ-music and your recitations of the Savitri passages will have stereophonic sound, which will give a superb effect to the movie: Meditations on Savitri.
I pray to you to make everything possible and done by your Force and Grace. Victory to the Supreme!
With love and kisses
Yours ever
In response she sent blessing-packets through M. André.
Years later, while working on the movie, Michel wrote me a nice letter dated 22.9.91:
Thank you so much for your kind and loving letter of 16.8.1991. We are always happy to receive some lines from you and the precious petals and messages.
The work on the Savitri-movie is progressing. At present it is the movie for Savitri Book II Canto 1-5. It will have a projection time of one hour. By now all the scenes for this film have been made and developed. Also the soundtrack is complete, that is to say the sound quality has been improved and some disturbing 'click' noises have been removed. As the next step the final editing now will come and the preparation of the optical soundtrack. When all this work is finished the release print can be made and the transfer on to video. As soon as it is ready you will receive a video tape of the new Savitri-movie.
It is a magnificent masterpiece of Art which has been manifested by the Mother and you. Since I could enter this work too I was always and still am deeply moved by the magnificent profundity and superb mastery of painting and message. It is indeed the wide opening and fundament for the Art of the Future and one would wish that many artists and artistic sensitive men would recognise this great work of Grace. There is up to now no artistic achievement which is nearing the importance and intensity of beauty and consciousness and purity of the Savitri paintings. It is the very essence of the Divinised Art of The Future and it is an unending and ever renewed spring from which every soul can drink with gratitude and every artist could learn without end.
With happiness and gratitude in the Mother's arms we all send you our loving feelings.
Yours sincerely,
Michel
Yet another letter dated 9.8.1995 came from Michel Klostermann:
Thank you so much for your kind letter. The editing of the work-print for Savitri Book V and VI is now completed. Now the original film material has to be edited for the final print and the video-transfer. After that preparation for the next movie will begin.
Now I hope that for you all is going well and I can tell you again that the creation of Savitri is of greatest importance for those in the human race who do not only aspire for the next step of evolution but are actually and practically achieving it. For them the visualisation originated by the Mother is not only a revelation but a progressive lifting of the borders between the human world and a reality-world which is made up of a different substance and mode of being. In this way the Savitri-paintings are not only above anything as yet conceived by art, but are materialisation of an action coming from some future into what we call present, and are not coming from some past. One may even become aware that they are filled with an independent life putting forth in an ever increasing manner emanations of their worlds and beings, helping those on the way of actual transformation and giving light, love and hope to those aspiring for it. These paintings are really an ongoing birth of the Mother coming from the future and bringing always more the vibration of a psychic matter into this dense physical world making it always more plastic and open to something very new and beautiful and tender and strong.
You will also feel and see in the new Savitri-movie how the inspirations and arrangements of the Mother always take up new life and intensity. So you and myself can be ever grateful for participating in this great event in such a world by the miracle which Savitri is.
Sending you all my love,
Your brother
He has fulfilled the Mother's wish by making the movie of all the Savitri paintings from Book One to Book Twelve. He sent video cassettes of the movie to me and to Shraddhavan for Savitri Bhavan in Auroville.
On 20.5.73 the Mother stopped seeing people except her attendants.
The slides of the Savitri paintings were being shown in Auroville
On 26.5.73 Shyamsunder wrote to me:
On 22nd I had gone to see the slide-shows. Is anything arranged for the Poems slide-show on 29.5.73? Have I got to do anything? If so, please let me know.
The architectural tangle about the construction of the Matrimandir is not yet solved. It seems that something will happen soon. I am praying for it.
Shyamsunder
Months passed. Still the Mother was unwell:
On 15.8.73, Sri Aurobindo's 101st birth anniversary, the Mother gave darshan briefly to people from her balcony. This turned out to be her very last public darshan.
Shyamsunder wrote to me on 7.9.73
Yesterday evening we were at the Matrimandir but it was not possible to see your place with Roger. Sorry. Roger is leaving on 10th for three weeks.
Shyamsunder wrote to me again on 22.10.73:
Today I went with Roger to Matrimandir. An architect is working for finding the exact spot for your construction. As soon as it is done I will see it and tell you about it. The design also is starting.
On 17.11.73 the Mother left her body.
The last, West pillar of Matrimandir was completed at 7.25 pm on that day. It was seen that all the four pillars of the Matrimandir had been finished exactly at the time of the Mother's physical withdrawal. This was very significant.
Still the wounds in my heart are not healed. No one—no earthly power—can ever fill the gap. I miss her so. Only the wonderful work she entrusted to me keeps me alive.
The Mother wished me to accomplish her work for the whole world. Slowly but surely I will do so by her Grace and Love. I want to make her happy.
In answer to my letter, M. André wrote to me on 25.11.73:
How right you are!
We all try to fulfil faithfully the work which the Mother has given us.
I am leaving for my annual stay in France on Wednesday the 28th and expect to be back sometime in April.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely
André
In answer to my note regarding the Matrimandir, Roger Anger wrote to me on 10.12.73:
Dear friend,
Thanks for your note.
I was open to the reflections you made and I thank you for having expressed them so spontaneously.
In effect, we all have the task of expressing our potentialities in order to build up the future. We should fight so that that is hastened.
Regards Roger
Here is Satprem's letter to me dated 19.12.73:
I am very touched by your friendly gesture and affectionate thought.
Indeed, it is the time that those who work truly for Her are closely united in Her Love.
Merci
Fraternally
Satprem
Vikas, an English architect working in Auroville, wrote to me on 26.12.73:
Peace, Auroville
26th Dec. 1973
I am sincerely sorry for the breach of courtesy committed by myself and others working at the Matrimandir, in respect of the copying of your correspondence with Mother.
Rudolph Lohman had given me a copy of this correspondence after seeing that I was preparing designs for your house. As I was working, various people came to glance over my shoulder and were curious to see the correspondence. Next thing that happened is that it had disappeared from my work-cupboard. By the time I had tracked it down, many copies had been made.
Willy has collected all the copies, save the original one given to me by Rudolph, and will hand them to you, or dispose of them according to your directions.
At a general meeting of all Matrimandir workers some months ago it was generally agreed that all statements by the Mother about the Matrimandir should be released. Roger Anger and Shyamsunder both approved of this resolution. This possibly explains the discourtesy.
Anyhow, please accept our apology.
Looking to the future, could you kindly give me an appointment to come and see you about the design of your house, the responsibility for which was given to me by Roger. I already have an interesting idea for this which I would like to show you.
At the Service of Truth,
Vikas
I understood from Vikas's letter that Roger Anger and Shyamsunder approved of the resolution that all the statements by the Mother about Matrimandir should be released.
This was not true, because my file consisting of the Mother's letters to me and her talks regarding the Matrimandir and Auroville, approved and blessed by the Mother was totally rejected by Roger Anger with the remark:
Past, old and outdated!!
The rejected file is still with me.
The New Year of 1974 began.
Quite a number of people asked me to publish all that the Mother had told me and written to me about the Matrimandir and Auroville. I informed Nolini Kanta Gupta about it. He approved the idea. So I started writing from the file which had been given to Shyamsunder in November 1972, with the Mother's consent and blessings.
I was often asked by Shyamsunder and others to visit the Centre of Auroville. At that time I excused myself. But later, one night, I felt strongly that I must go to the Matrimandir on the occasion of the Mother's birthday. I expressed my feelings to Nolini-da. On 7.2.74 he answered:
I have communicated your request to Shyamsunder who is in charge of the Matrimandir. I suppose things will be arranged.
Nolinida
In this connection, Shyamsunder wrote to me on 19.2.74
The following is for your approval:
21.2.74
Arrival Matrimandir 5.30 pm.
Piero will explain everything about the Matrimandir and show us around. He is getting a place cleaned for the flowers. There a few minutes meditation, 5.55—6.00, and then you lay the flowers.
Departure 6.10.
6.30—6.40 Meditation at 'Roses' behind Auroson's home.
`Rose’—a rose garden.
Either before 6.30 or after 6.40 you will see where Shyamsunder stays, and then you can return.
Nolini-da came yesterday. He remembers about your programme on 21st.
All arrangements were made for the visit. I felt that I must take the blessing packet with the photo of the Mother's feet on it. But I was told that the Mother had always given Sri Aurobindo's photograph. I said that she was too modest to give her own. If Sri Aurobindo had to give the photograph, he would certainly give the Mother's—for the Matrimandir is the Shrine of the Mother. However I thought that I had better verify with Nolini-da. I asked him whether I should take the Mother's photograph or Sri Aurobindo's, or those of both. He said, "Better take the Mother's feet." I was amazed and was absolutely convinced about the Mother's Force and the feeling of my true being.
Then and there I remembered these lines from Savitri:
But first high Truth must set her feet on earth And man aspire to the Eternal’s light And all his members feel the Spirit’s touch And all his life obey an inner Force. ||155.52||
The Mother's birthday arrived. I felt as if I were going to the Mother. I was very happy. After taking from Nolini-da the blessing-packet and flowers, which were from the Mother's own room, I went to the Matrimandir. It was really strange that twelve people accompanied me. We received a warm welcome from the people over there who showed us around. I was going there after about two years. I noticed certain things which did not correspond with the Mother's Vision.
At 6 pm, after a short meditation, I placed the golden bag containing the Mother's blessing packet, and another bag containing white and red roses, into a recess of 12 cm x 12 cm and 7 cm deep, dug into the pillar of Mahalakshmi.
Later the recess in the pillar was sealed by Shyamsunder and Piero who had been seeing the construction of the Matrimandir.
About this power and personality of the Mother, Sri Aurobindo has written:
...there is no aspect of the Divine Shakti more attractive to the heart of embodied beings.... For she throws the spell of the intoxicating sweetness of the Divine .... Harmony and beauty of mind and soul, harmony and beauty of the thoughts and feelings, harmony and beauty of the life and surroundings, this is the demand of Mahalakshmi.... If she finds herself in men's hearts surrounded with selfishness and hatred and jealousy and malignance and envy and strife, if treachery and greed and ingratitude are mixed in the sacred chalice, if grossness of passion and unrefined desire degrade devotion, in such hearts the gracious and beautiful Goddess will not linger .... Life is turned in her supreme creations into a rich work of celestial art and all existence into a poem of sacred delight; the world's riches are brought together and concerted for a supreme order and even the simplest and commonest things are made wonderful by her intuition of unity and the breath of her spirit.
The atmosphere was packed with the Mother's Presence, Force and Peace. I shall never forget the day, and the kindness and collaboration of the people at Auroville. It was really a unique experience for me. All was the Mother's Grace.
When I came back to the Ashram I offered at the Samadhi the bouquet of white roses which had been given to me, along with my gratitude and love. I was happy because the work the Mother had inspired had been done.
The next morning I went to Nolini-da and informed him that everything had gone beautifully. He was pleased.
On 22.2.74 I received a note from Shyamsunder:
This morning the sunrise was golden. You got a glimpse of the evening sky yesterday. When I went to Matrimandir in the morning I went up to the place of yesterday. It is marked:
OM
And I put the two flowers on that spot, the two you brought yesterday.
Piero and Gloria wrote to me on 22.2.74:
Our dear Huta,
Let us express our gratitude for your visit to Auroville. You have brought here with you something from Mother's tender sweetness the very day of her Birthday. Huta, we have a very strong hope: you should come soon again! Matrimandir is now in good hands of persons working hard in the noise of machines and light of welding sets. But we have the faith that from all this intense atmosphere the Truth and the Beauty will emerge day after day: like yesterday.
Piero and Gloria
Shyamsunder sent me two papers, as follows:
AUROVILLE
28.2.1974
(6th anniversary of Auroville)
At the Banyan Tree in the Garden of Unity, Matrimandir:
6.00 a.m. Meditation—5 minutes.
6.05 a.m. Recitation from Savitri by Narad—10 minutes.
6.15 a.m. Planting of grass seeds under the Banyan tree.
Work in the gardens.
Work in the fields—1 hr.
Those wishing to participate in the work programme are asked to inform Trudy by 26.2.74, to facilitate arrangements.
At Takshinalaya, the wood-working unit of the Industrial Zone:
Some other activities:
The Accounts office will shift from Pondicherry to Auroville.
The tennis court at Auroson's Home gets ready 4.30 pm.
27.2.74
28.2.74
In addition to the earlier announcement dated 21.2.74, there will be the following:-
8.30 a.m.—Planting of creepers around the Matrimandir Garden's Model Dome in the Matrimandir Gardens.
9.00 a.m.—At Bharat Nivas:-start of 4 State Pavilions construction work by Auroville.
9.30 a.m.—"POUR TOUS" at Aspiration will open.
25.2.74
Shyamsunde
Nolini-da gave me two blessing packets for the occasion. The photograph of the Mother's feet was on each of them. Along with the packets I sent a note to Shyamsunder conveying Nolinida's full approval of the names for the Banyan Tree and the Amphitheatre. On that day one blessing packet was placed under the Banyan tree and the other near the urn. And new names were given to these places: `Eternal Bliss' to the area holding the Amphitheatre, and 'The Inner Life' to the Banyan tree. Nolini-da and Shyamsunder had approved of these names. Here they are written in the Mother's own hand:
I thought these Names: "Eternal Bliss" and "Inner Life" could be engraved on white marble slabs and placed in their proper places.
During this time I received a letter from Shyamsunder:
We will try our best for everything and I do not know why the Truth will not prevail.
Unfortunately the Truth did not prevail!
The Mother wanted Matrimandir, the "Sanctuary of Truth", to be a "silent zone". Nothing should disturb the serenity, harmony and peace.
The Amphitheatre was not the Mother's idea or wish. When I asked her about it she made a face and shrugged her shoulders!
A very significant point is that the Amphitheatre gives the impression of old Roman and Greek architecture and culture, which is old and belongs to the past.
The Matrimandir is not just another Roman, Greek or Indian temple. It is the Centre of the Truth-Consciousness, Force and Light.
The Mother always emphasised the New World, the New Creation. Certainly these ancient things are not in keeping with the Mother's "Dream" for the Luminous Future.
Sri Aurobindo has written:
The highest aim of the aesthetic being is to find the Divine through beauty; the highest Art is that which by an inspired use of significant and interpretative form unseals the door of the Spirit.
Sri Aurobindo, The Human Cycle: The Spiritual Aim and Life
It would be a great pity if the whole Vision of the Mother is spoiled by human preconceived notions, so that we have to face the spiritual consequences and then repent.
Lots of money was spent on constructing the Amphitheatre. In fact, instead of the Amphitheatre, the Mother wanted a pool which would be in harmony with varieties of coloured lotuses, lovely lilies, goldfish, swans and water-birds gliding happily. The pool would be surrounded by trees, such as kadamba—Anthocephalus cadamba—whose flower was named by the Mother: "Supramental Sun, we aspire that its rays may enlighten and transform us." Also Flamboyant (Gulmohur), and various other trees including Cherry blossom which the Mother loved immensely, as well as a galaxy of smiling flowers, with different kinds of birds singing merrily. Everywhere there would be quotations of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother engraved on marble slabs. If people wish to meditate quietly they could do so underneath the trees where there would be marble seats, and absorb the atmosphere of the "Eternal Bliss" and realise the Supreme Truth and the Supreme Love.
Nature is nothing but the Will of God in action.
Sri Aurobindo, Essays Divine and Human: The Way of Yoga
Shyamsunder asked me whether I had any coloured blocks of my paintings which could be printed in Auropress, Auroville. I said that I had, and added that many of them were the Mother's visions, related to me by her and painted under her direct guidance. These paintings were specially prepared for the Mother to send to people in India and abroad at Christmas and New Year. She gave meanings to each of them. These were not Savitri paintings.
Shyamsunder wrote to me:
The pictures have been sent to the handmade paper unit for the folders. I have asked Barun to see the blocks. You have to decide which pictures and what matter are to go in the folder. We will get the paintings done in Auropress.
Shyamsundar
Everything was prepared by me, and the folder, consisting of 12 paintings, was published under the title Some Paintings. I was told by Shyamsunder and others at the Matrimandir that these folders were meant to be presented to those who gave donations to the Matrimandir. I was very happy.
During this time Shyamsunder sent me a note:
One copy of Some Paintings has gone to the Mother's room. One is sent to the U.S.A. with a friend going there; two with another friend to Bombay, one for Dhan Palkhiwala and one for Sarala Shah who can, if she so likes, place order for more copies as presentation articles.
After that I lost track of the so-called 'presentations'. I only know that thousands of copies went to VAK, The Spiritual Book Shop, for sale.
I purchased many folders to present to my friends.
About one of the paintings, Seyril, one of the Matrimandir workers, wrote to me:
Matrimandir
"Peace"
Auroville
My dear Huta,
"The Truth is at work. Open your heart and you will feel it." Your painting for this message of the Mother's is always on my desk next to Her photograph. It fills me with love and gratitude. And that too is being whispered to you, with the call to come back home soon again, and often. We love you.
Gratefully
Seyril
On March 6 1974 I wrote to M. André:
Dear M. André,
In my previous letter I had mentioned about my visit to the Matrimandir. I took the flowers and blessing packet from Nolini-da and put them into the pillar of Mahalakshmi on the 21st of February at 6 p.m.
All of them there were nice to me. It had been a very lovely day. I felt the Mother's constant Force and Presence. For I was completely blank and with-drawn. It was a unique experience for me. All was Her Grace and I am eternally grateful to the Mother.
Shyamsunder and other people showed me around, since I was going there after two years. I noticed certain things which were contrary to the Mother's vision.
I would not dare to say anything if the Mother had not written to me about the Matrimandir. She also told me many things personally while doing the sketches.
In 1972 when Shyamsunder asked me about these particulars, I asked the Mother if I could give my file to him. She agreed instantly. Not only that, but she said that I should not give the original letters but copy them. She was really pleased and approved fully. She also saw the file before giving it to Shyamsunder. So the file is not useless. There are so many things there which correspond to the Mother's wish. Otherwise she would never approve of my giving this file to Shyamsunder.
Pourna Prema came to me on the 4th of this month and we had a heart-to-heart talk regarding the Mother's wishes about the Matrimandir. Pourna revealed to me many things, all that the Mother told her. I was amazed to learn from her that the Mother told her about the flame, which is exactly what the Mother told me repeatedly. Pourna also said that the Mother wanted flowers, trees, etc. around the Matrimandir, also that the Matrimandir can be like an open terrace... Oh, but this too the Mother told me, but I kept quiet since the whole plan was changed.
I disclosed to Pourna everything—all that the Mother told me and wrote to me. And Pourna said:
"Huta, all that you have said is exactly what the Mother told me, and it is true. My full support is and will be with you throughout. Now I know that the Truth will win, because somehow the Mother makes her way to work through her instruments. Now I am happy..."
We both felt very strongly the Mother's concrete Presence throughout our conversation.
Now we must all try our best to carry out her Will with perfect sincerity and faithfulness. Now we must not waste time—every moment is precious. I hope everyone will understand the meaning of her Supreme Vision and respect the Mother's wish, and Will to execute the mission given to everyone. Let us all work in perfect harmony and good-will in the Mother's Light and Love.
Loving regards in Her Love
In return I received a letter dated 12.3.74 from M. André, who was in Paris at that time:
Thanks for your letter of the 6th enclosing a copy of your letter of February 24th to Shyamsunder.
What you have written to him checks very well with what Mother told me on the very few instances when she spoke to me of the Matrimandir. As a matter of fact, these few cases were related to your 'appointment' as guardian of the Matrimandir. Of the plans for the building itself she never spoke to me, so that I understood it was a matter between her, Roger and Shyamsunder, and I never asked a question. Usually she saw Roger after me, but I clearly remember the instance when Roger and Gabriel explained to her what could be done for the flame. In spite of the importance of the decision and the interest she had in it, she did not utter a word to me.
I am quite confident that Shyamsunder will give to your letter the consideration which it deserves and that he will take all possible steps to remain within Mother's wishes. I am sending him a copy of this note.
Yours in the Mother's love,
Vikas wrote to me on 15.3.1974:
Roger came, and has accepted Narad's proposal to plant groundcover and grasses instead of concrete and clay tiles in the Matrimandir area. This is a real step forward.
I showed him the model of your house and he liked it. So when you are feeling better, perhaps we could meet again and I will show you the model slightly modified according to our most recent discussions.
I received a note from Narad on 19.3.74:
In a long meeting with Roger and Piero and Shyamsunder, Roger agreed that the 'Petals' of the Matrimandir could be done in a grass or green ground-cover if we can do it. Huta, it will be done by Mother's grace.
My love at the Mother's feet.
Narad
Narad's letter was in connection with the twelve gigantic meditation rooms (60 feet high!) around the Matrimandir, without windows and fully air-conditioned. This idea is impractical and artificial.
a) When electricity fails...
b) Feeling of suffocation from going underground.
c) Diseases are likely to spread from one person to another in a confined space. d) Sheer waste of money, time and energy—for people will not bother to go on meditating in each and every room!
Above all, this is not the Mother's vision or wish. Nevertheless, she named these twelve colossal rooms, because she had to:
Sincerity, Humility, Gratitude, Perseverance, Aspiration, Receptivity, Progress, Courage, Goodness, Generosity, Equality, Peace.
Suggesting something to the Mother and insisting on it, and accepting her own Will are two quite different things. She often had to say 'Yes' to suggestions given to her, because various considerations pressed them upon her attention —technical, financial, legal, political, and so on. But truly speaking, this 'Yes' or ‘With my blessings' do not signify her willingness, vision or wish. So many things happened in this way.
Several times the Mother told me:
Child, do not believe it when people take my name and say 'Mother has said this', 'Mother has said that', and so on. Only believe what I say personally to you and write to you directly.
On another occasion she said:
You know, my child, people only talk. They do not want to do anything—they do not mean anything. They come to me and assure me that they will do exactly according to my wish and instructions. In front of me they say: "yes, yes." But as soon as they go out of my room, they do quite contrary to what I had said, explained and asked for.
So many times the Mother expressed her wish that the Matrimandir must be surrounded by natural beauties, as I have stated earlier.
On 28.3.74 in the afternoon they started concreting the second slab of the Matrimandir.
During this period Vikas wrote to me:
I have searched but been unable to find the drawing of your house. I will try and do it from memory and send it to you.
I know very well that it was just a plan on paper—not in reality! Also I was very much amused because as yet I did not disclose about my resignation of the guardianship to anybody. So there was no question about the house. I do not regret anything. Whatever I have been doing for the Matrimandir and Auroville, it was with goodwill and nothing else.
Shyamsunder wrote me a note as follows:
We are preparing the ground for a talk with Roger this week regarding the Matrimandir.
On 29.3.74 we wish to plant in Auroville at 3.30 pm 60 plants. The Mother saw Sri Aurobindo on 29.3.1914 at 3.30 pm. 60 plants each will be put at more than one place. What do you feel?
And will you please ask Nolinida, what does he feel about it?
On that day Nolini-da gave me a blessing packet and a flower—Couroupita 'Prosperity'—from the samadhi to be sent to Shyamsunder. I did so.
Prosperity—stays constantly only with those who offer it to the Divine.
M. André wrote to me on 7.4.1974:
A few days back Michel Klostermann came to Paris and showed me the film he has made with your paintings of the first canto of Savitri. This is well done and there is quite an atmosphere. Wanda and Janine were there as well as Pierre and Micheline Etevenon, who happened to have lunch with us that very day.
With loving regards from the three of us.
Some people asked me to give the matter regarding the Matrimandir to be published in the Gazette Aurovilienne. So I wrote to Oscar, the editor. He answered on 1.5.74:
After receiving your last note I have come to the conclusion that your article should not appear in the Gazette Aurovilienne. I remind you:
1) That the Mother has said that the Gazette should be bilingual, that means French and English. She even refused to have two separate editions. She wanted French and English in one edition. (The original and the translation should even be side by side, as has been done in all the issues of the Gazette.)
2) That in reply to my question whether everybody could write for the Gazette or only persons approved by the Mother, she replied, "Nobody except the editors can write in the Gazette". I am sure that you agree that it is better to follow the Mother's instructions. If anybody among us had realised the Divine, here, in this world, in this body, it would of course not be necessary to cling so rigidly to Mother's past instructions...
Shyamsunder, with whom I have discussed the content of this letter, has said: If the Editor of the Gazette finds it difficult to publish Huta's article, he can publish it in Sri Aurobindo's Action, if Huta approves.
At the service of truth
Oscar
Meanwhile I received a letter from an American living in Auroville, Roger Toll, saying:
We must find the Truth of this Sanctuary of Truth, how greatly we must give up our egos, burn them in the fire of Mother's love—how far we who are here have to go, how greatly we must strive for the new world, never to be contented in this terrible lack of love and a mixture of so many contending parts of our being. It would seem so simple—seems so very simple in words—Let the psychic come to the front, let the aspiration for the Divine be all—yet what a task, a massive task.
Auroville is going through a very difficult and critical period now, and I can only pray that the Mother be with us at every moment and that She guide all our moments.
The Matrimandir article—is there any chance of our publishing it in Sri Aurobindo's Action? It would be very valuable to us all.
I am preparing a presentation of the Matrimandir I would like to show to you. Perhaps it will be finished in one week.
With my kindest affection
Yours in the Mother
Shyamsunder took an interest in my work and informed me that he would get my booklet printed in Auropress, Auroville. Several people had suggested that since the booklet concerned the Matrimandir, it should be printed in Auroville itself. So the brochure Matrimandir—the Mother's Truth and Love was printed at Auropress. Barun Tagore was in charge of it in those days.
I sent the manuscript to Pourna Prema, the Mother's grand-daughter, because I wanted to know whether the Mother had disclosed to her anything new or similar in this regard.
She answered on 7.5.74:
Here is your manuscript. I read it all last night and felt very happy. I felt as at the beginning of Auroville when Mother was explaining everything—so simply and purely and giving such a clear vision. I felt that that time was coming back in spite of all difficulties.
I am your sister, in her love.
Pourna
Amal Kiran (K.D. Sethna) the Editor of Mother India—Monthly Review of Culture also read the manuscript.
He wrote to me on 7.5.74:
I have the feeling that the publication of your booklet by Auroville Press will somehow be prevented by Aurovilians. Perhaps even the page-proofs won't come back. Better to transcribe into your typescript all the corrections and additions from the page-proofs. Let us hope my feeling proves mistaken. But even if it is right, there is nothing to fear. The Mother is with us! Yours affectionately,
Amal
His feeling was absolutely right. I appreciated and will always appreciate his good will and affection. The persons concerned went to the Auropress late at night in order to retrieve the page-proofs and destroy them. But fortunately they were with me for correction at the time!
I received a letter dated 8.5.74 from Nolinida:
I return herewith your writing. It was placed on the Mother's cot and so it has her blessings.
My lines for your article are enclosed.
Nolinida's lines for my booklet ran:
I invoke the Mother's blessings upon your work. I am sure it will have them.
With affection and greetings,
In answer to my note M. André wrote to me in 8.5.74:
Thanks for your lines of yesterday. I do not believe that many people deliberately tell lies for the purpose of deceiving, though it can happen.
In most cases the view-points are different and as words give only a partial aspect of the idea they are meant to express, it brings in confusion.
After the Mother left her body, she gave me numerous experiences both outwardly and inwardly. I saw quite a number of visions. She also indicated many things in my dreams which came true. Each incident was based on occult and spiritual truth. One of the visions was this: On 12.5.74, early in the morning I had a very powerful dream-vision. I saw a column of white Light descending from above, both the edges of the white Light fringed with a golden tint. The column of Light went down into a dark pit which had a round opening. The white Light gave an impression of an intensity which was at the same time sweet, calm and soothing. The descent continued for a minute or two. When it was over, the pit was filled with white Light, and there hung over it a bright haze which was very beautiful.
The dream-vision was very vivid and concrete. I informed Nolini-da about it. He answered:
It is a true and very beautiful experience. Naturally it is Mother's Presence and the living Action of Her Grace.
I received a letter dated 17.5.74 from Vikas:
17 May 1974
I thought to tell you the more complete story about the trees at Bharat Nivas.
The fact is that it was the architect of Bharat Nivas, Mr. Chakrapani of Madras, who refused to change his design in anyway in order to save some of the trees. Roger was quite happy that the trees might be saved, but he put as his first principle that the architect's word should be law, because Mother had told him to give all the support to this Mr. Chakrapani. Any how, Roger would not force the architect to change his design, so eventually 200 trees will come down. Sad. I find myself still confused about things. Mother once said that we can never be right against anybody, that Truth only exists at a level above oppositions. I truly want Mother's Vision to be realised, because it is beautiful, simple, true, but most of all because it is Mother's Vision, and I love Mother more than anything else in the world. And yet I am told that She Herself changed Her mind.
All I know is that ultimately all of this difficulty will be overpassed, and Truth will triumph in outer things, as it already has in our hearts.
With love, in Truth
Vikas wrote: ..."I am told that She Herself changed Her mind."
The Mother never changed her mind. She was beyond thinking mind. She always acted from Above.
Vikas has also written about 200 trees.
To cut the trees and their branches is against the Mother's wish.
The Mother has explained about trees and flowers:
The movement of love is not limited to human beings and it is perhaps less distorted in other worlds than in the human. Look at the flowers and trees. When the sun sets and all becomes silent, sit down for a moment and put yourself into communion with nature: you will feel rising from the earth, from below the roots of the trees and mounting upward and coursing through their fibres up to the highest outstretching branches, the aspiration of an intense love and longing,—a longing for something that brings light and gives happiness, for the light that is gone and they wish to have back again. There is a yearning so pure and intense that if you can feel the movement in the trees, your own being too will go up in an ardent prayer for the peace and light and love that are unmanifested here.
The Mother, Questions and Answers (1929 - 1931): 2 June 1929
M. André wrote to me on 25.5.74:
Many thanks for your lines of this morning.
Let us hope that something good for Auroville will come out of the visit of the resident representative of the Ford Foundation.
In the Mother's Light
Later, the full details regarding the Ford Foundation will be given.
The Mother had made a sketch depicting the lotus to receive the soil from different nations and the Indian States at the Foundation Ceremony of Auroville. It was given to me by her grand-daughter, Pourna Prema.
The sketch represents the Mother's occult vision. She very much wanted a lotus like this as a foundation structure at the Centre of Auroville for February 28, 1968. The present urn was not what she wanted. It was not her idea or vision. Her sketch indicates a round base showing Sri Aurobindo's and the Mother's symbols combined, and a square pedestal above the base. According to Sri Aurobindo, the square signifies "Supramental Perfection". The height of the structure from the base to the topmost of the petals is marked by the Mother as 1.65 meters, her own height. At the top are four lotus petals, signifying the four Powers of the Supreme Mother, Maheshwari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati. Around these four petals are twelve more signifying the twelve Attributes of the four Powers.
The Mother also indicated the colour of the lotus: "Marbre rose ou blanc" —pink or white marble.
In the centre of the lotus there is a seat of the Supreme Mother.
The Mother wished youngsters to place there a handful of soil from their countries, and from each of the Indian States. She said that when a person went up to the lotus-urn and faced East, the lotus should be in front of him.
Pourna Prema revealed this truth to several prominent people concerned, including Navajata. M. André, the Mother's son, also told me that the present urn was not according to the Mother's idea or vision. Janine, M. André's elder daughter said to me the same.
Vasudha, the Mother's personal attendant told me several facts about the project of the Matrimandir and Auroville, also about talks which took place between the Mother, Roger Anger and others, for during that period Vasudha was mostly present. Quite a number of other people, including Aurovilians, echoed the same view about the lotus-urn. While there has never been any question or mention of breaking the existing urn, I was told that it could be enclosed within a great white Lotus, and remain intact within. To build such a Lotus is not impossible from the architectural point of view, I was assured. The Mother did not mention the dimensions, apart from giving the height in her sketch. So the dimensions can be adjusted so that the Lotus can be in proportion to the size of the surrounding big pool.
Nolini-da too told me that if the existing Urn is kept intact then the proposal of building the Lotus is perfectly all right and we must go ahead. He also suggested that the Lotus should be of white marble.
Sri Aurobindo has written about the white lotus:
It is the Mother's flower, the flower of divine Consciousness.
I received a letter dated 1.6.74 from M. André, who was at that time in Paris:
Thanks for your letter and enclosures.
I had read them just before Roger came to see me. I do not think that the creation of committees is at all the right means to promote harmony. On the contrary I believe that harmony must be there before any committee can work usefully. Otherwise each one sticks to his views for fear of losing face, and strife is the result. What is true is that any Aurovilian ought to be able to explain his views and be given the opportunity of putting them into practice. How to do this without creating anarchy is another question.
Curiously enough he did not say anything about the Matrimandir. Personally I think the idea of hiding the urn behind the lotus is good, providing it is properly done. All this will have to be discussed when I am back in Pondicherry.
With loving regards in the Mother
Piero Cicionesi wrote to me on 3.6.74:
Dear little Huta,
It was very interesting to speak with Pourna. She knows so many things about the origin of Auroville. May be she is there at the origin, as you are at the origin of Matrimandir. I feel more things will come and change may happen in the right direction.
With sincere love
In the Truth
Piero
Despite hostility all around the brochure Matrimandir—the Mother's Truth and Love was published. I included in it the lotus-sketch by the Mother, given to me by Pourna Prema.
I came to know that soil from the Matrimandir was being sold at Senteurs in small earthen pots, by Nata—Alberto Grassi. I wrote a letter about this to Shyamsunder:
To sell the soil of the Matrimandir is equal to selling the Mother's Heart and Soul. It is a sin and a great—a serious—mistake to do so. This is not the way to make money; on the contrary more and more debt will be accumulated, and on top of this we shall have to bear the spiritual consequences. We shall never be able to escape from the grip of our Karma.
From the occult point of view this is a fact and true.
Shyamsunder sent a word to Nata. He replied on 4.6.74:
Cher Shyamsunder,
On n' a jamais vendu la terre du Matrimandir.
On a vendu de petits pots en terre cuite et on a fait le cadeau d'une poignee de terre du Matrimandir—pas vendue, en cadeau.
La terre servait pour remplir le pot et tenir debout les batonnets d'encens. Voilà tout mon crime.
Nata
Evidemment avec votre remarque on a suspendu meme les cadeaux.
Here is a translation of Nata's letter:
Dear Shyamsunder,
We have never sold the soil of Matrimandir.
We have sold small earthen pots and we made a gift of a handful of Matrimandir soil. Not sold—as a gift.
The soil served to fill the pot and hold up the incense sticks. This is all my crime.
Of course, after your remark, we have stopped even the gift.
I went to Senteurs and bought a small pot with the Matrimandir soil in it for Rs. 10. I gave the pot to Shyamsunder and told him that this attitude was not in tune with the Mother's Consciousness. Even if Nata changed the name on the plastic bags, he was still selling the soil. This must be stopped.
And afterwards it was stopped.
Shyamsunder sent a copy of the brochure to Nata. He wrote on 6.6.74:
Merci, merci beaucoup du beau livre de Huta.
Cela m'a fait souvenir de la merveilleuse vision que Mère avait d' Auroville.
Serons nous capable de la réaliser?
Bien à vous avec amitie
Thank you, thank you very much for Huta's beautiful book.
It made me remember the wonderful vision the Mother had for Auroville Will we be able to realise it?
In friendship
I received quite a number of letters from many people appreciating the brochure Here are a few of them:
From P. Counouma, the then Managing Trustee of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust:
6.6.74
Thank you very much for the beautiful book, your "Matrimandir" brings to my memory the history behind it and Mother's long conversations of the sixties about the wonderful project.
With best regards
P. Counouma
From Nolini-da:
Your gift makes me extremely happy. It is such a fine book—even fine to look at.
Nolini-da
On 7.6.74 Piero wrote to me:
The Mother's Truth and Love will be in Matrimandir.
Mother has told you that Matrimandir will be built according to her Vision.
Your booklet is simply full of power. It is a great chance and joy to read it. Thank you.
In the Mother's Love and Truth
Vikas sent me a note dated 10.6.74:
Thank you for the copy of the Matrimandir book. I am happy to see that all people will at last know what the Mother's Vision is.
I pray that the Lord's Will shall be done, and I have faith that it will be.
On 10.6.74 I came to know from an authentic source that Auroville had a terrible set-back and suffered a debt worth Rs. 500000 or more.
The letters regarding "Matrimandir brochure" continued.
Raju and Gerard of Auroville sent me a letter dated 15.6.1974:
Thank you from our hearts for your thoughts of us and for your lovingly published book.
Let Mother's "OM" reverberate through our hearts and be the foundation of all our actions, for it is the foundation of the Matrimandir, our Truth Shrine.
In Mother's eternal love
Raju and Gérard
A letter dated 17.6.74 came from Mr. M.J. Patel of Japan:
Hutaben,
I was delighted to have received your letter since long together with the book on Matrimandir containing originals of Mother's letters to you in connection with your role in it. All know very well that you are a fondled child of Mother and are closely following Her footsteps and I can see you busy with your brush and typewriter enjoying work always to manifest the Truth Consciousness under the guiding force of Mother.
I immediately went through it whole with enthusiasm and remembered your letter informing me that you were to be in charge of keys and it was years before. When are you going to have your house there and take the charge? It means I like to know the progress of Matrimandir and Auroville. Your pictures on the Spirit of Auroville and the Inner Life are quite symbolic. We are now in the manifesting stage of our sadhana and it remains to be seen how far matter associated with human environment can embody the spiritual dynamics in form and how far we are able to consciously manipulate its movements and enjoy the native delight of the Divine and give body to Savitri's lines quoted by you in this context.
In Mother's Light
Sincerely yours,
M.J. Patel
The following letter dated 19.6.1974 I received from Micheline and Pierre Etévenon:
We received at the same time as Barun your beautiful book on the Matrimandir. It is a great joy to read what Mother said, and it makes her presence even more vivid in our hearts. What a large vision is hers and how her outlook synthesises all that we can envisage on different levels!
Thank you so much, dear Huta. We hope to meet you next time we come to Pondy.
In the Mother's love.
Micheline and Pierre
Seyril from Matrimandir wrote to me:
For the booklet "Matrimandir—the Mother's Truth and Love" grateful thanks.
It will help us towards Realisation of the stupendous task and privilege —the Grace given to Matrimandir workers.
At the service of Truth and Love in our Mother's Matrimandir.
In answer to a note from me, Satprem wrote on 23.6.74:
I can understand quite clearly your anxiety to have all the documents concerning Matrimandir so that Mother's Will is not distorted.
Already I have given the most important parts to Roger and Paolo concerning the Matrimandir construction.
I am just now reading over all the Mother's notes, and if I come across something special concerning the Matrimandir, I shall let you know or André at once. It may take a few months before I have finished.
Rest assured of my contribution and cooperation.
In the Mother's love
Madanlal Himatsingka sent me a letter from Zurich on 25.6.74:
Happy to receive "Matrimandir—the Mother's Truth and Love". It has given new inspiration to me for this work of the Divine. It will be a source of inspiration for many others too.
Sincerely
Madanlal
I received from M. André the following letter dated 25.6.74:
Thanks for having sent me a copy of your letter to Satprem, and Satprem's reply. Here they are back.
As a rule I have made a point to have as little appointments as possible but in your case it is somewhat different. What would you say of Thursday at 4.30 pm? If you do not answer I shall understand that it is agreeable to you.
With loving regards
Meanwhile I wrote to Mr. Ambapremi Shah of the Baroda Sri Aurobindo Centre, to find out all about marble, because I had been given an assurance by the people concerned to clothe the existing Urn in a proper lotus shape, according to the Mother's sketch. He sent me a copy of a letter which he had received on 30.6.74 from a company in Makrana, Rajasthan, which supplied marble slabs.
Then a letter dated 2.7.74 came from M. André:
Thanks for your note of yesterday.
Satprem has given me to read the talks he had with the Mother on the Matrimandir. They relate to the inside but say practically nothing of the surroundings and even of the external shape.
I shall soon see Shyamsunder.
With love André
He also sent me the documents. I read them carefully. What he had written to me was true: "the Mother had said practically nothing of the surroundings and even of the external shape."
M. André wrote to me again on 6.7.74:
Thanks for your note of this morning. Here are your papers on your experiences and Nolini's answers.
Yes, I am seeing Shyamsunder tomorrow and hope that there will be no difficulty.
Your sending a copy of The Mother's Truth and Love to Karan Singh through Kireet seems to me quite all right, but I do not know when Karan Singh is coming. From what I heard he wanted to see Roger, so he may postpone his visit until August.
You will certainly be welcome at Golconde during the first week of August any day except Tuesday. Tell me the day you prefer and I shall manage to be free at 4.30 pm.
I received a letter dated 7.7.74 from M. André:
Your letter to Karan Singh is very good and I am sure it will be taken in the right spirit.
In our conversation this morning with Shyamsunder we have come to the conclusion that what is most urgent is to start "clothing" the urn. I have therefore written to Roger informing him of our decision and asking him to cable if he has any objection.
For the other things we are in agreement but it seems nothing concrete can be done until a bore-well is completed for the supply of water to the gardens and to the lake around the urn.
P.S. Here is your copy of your letter to Karan Singh
In answer to a note from me, M. André wrote on 9.7.74:
Thanks for your lines of yesterday.
Yes, you can come to Golconde on Friday 19th. I shall manage to be free at 4.30 pm.
We shall see what is Roger's reaction and I sincerely hope he will readily agree to my proposal. After all, Auroville cannot be built on differences of opinion and Mother has often yielded to somebody's other views knowing that the only consequence would be a further delay in the construction but that Her views would eventually be fulfilled.
On Wednesday July 10th, I sent with Kireet Joshi the brochure and some reproductions of my paintings to Karan Singh, who was at that time Minister of Health and Family Planning. I had never met him or spoken with him. I acted only on somebody's suggestion.
He wrote to me on 14.7.74:
It was nice of you to send me your booket and the paintings. I have looked through them with considerable pleasure.
With good wishes
Karan Singh
After many years I received a letter dated 20.2.1993 from Dr. Karan Singh:
Carlo Schuller met me today and showed me the Mother's letter to you. I will be glad to meet you when I visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram on 25th.
Karan Singh and I met for the first time in my apartment, HUTA HOUSE, in February 1993. I never knew until then that he had become the Chairman of the Auroville Foundation. We exchanged views regarding spiritual and occult truths. I also told him about the spiritual wealth the Mother had entrusted to me for the whole of humanity. We did not speak about Matrimandir or Auroville.
Barun Tagore wrote me from Paris on 17.7.74:
Dear Hutaben,
I hope by now you must have received my postcard.
Your brochure on Matrimandir is simply excellent. I showed it to some of my friends and they like it very much. Someone told me: "At last the truth is coming—it is so simple." So see how the Mother's Force is working. Here too people want to know the Truth. I am sure with your help we can do much more work for Auroville and show to people what exactly the Mother wanted for Auroville. Your paintings too are very much appreciated and loved. One night we had the show of Michel's film on your paintings—to tell you the truth your original paintings are 100 times better. Anyway it was also impressive.
Did you see M. André? What does he think of your brochure?
Here things are moving—people are very much interested in Auroville, but our duty is to show the true Auroville to them—and the sooner the better. I think that the Mother is working very fast. Let us all be faithful instruments of Her.
Did SABDA sell your brochure well?
My leg is getting well and soon I shall be back among you all. Still I have some work to do for our Auropress and publications here at Paris—and I think for this my presence is required.
I hope you are keeping well. Take good care of your health—it is very important—you must be fit (physically) to fight out the Asuric Force who instead of serving the Mother is opposing her. So we pray: Victory to sweet Mother!
Barun
I had written to M. André on 18.7.74:
Thank you so much for your kind letter.
I will come on Friday the 9th August at 4.30 pm.
Since you have received no answer from Roger, it is understood that he is not interested.
Some people whom I did not know came to me asking for prints of the picture "The Spirit of Auroville". I gave the prints along with the Mother's blessing-packets given to me by Nolini. These people and other Aurovilians put the picture everywhere in Auroville, and that is a good sign.
In the Mother's Love
He answered on the same day:
I received this morning a telegram from Roger objecting "totally" to the alteration of the urn.
As you said we shall have to be very firm.
On 19.7.74 I wrote to M. André about the lotus:
I am happy for your full agreement regarding the lotus.
Piero, his wife Gloria, and Vikas are doing the design, as I was told by some people. Once they take the correct measurements, height, width, etc. we shall know how many marble slabs will be required.
I came to know that many people in Auroville are in favour of the Mother's lotus and her vision. They will surely collaborate.
In Mother's Truth
He replied to me on 20.7.74:
I shall check with Shyamsunder just how far Piero and Gloria have gone with their evaluation, as we must have something concrete to show to Roger when he comes back.
Piero wrote to me on 6.8.74:
Do you remember one day I have spoken to you about Paolo Tommasi? He was at the beginning of the actual design of Matrimandir. Do you remember his card with a red point in the blue sky? He is now in Pondy, and after reading your "brochure" has expressed the desire to meet you. I think he will remain 10—15 days more.
It is as you like and feel. Please write me a few lines back. Hopeful that your health is perfect.
Love and truth
I met Paolo according to Piero's request. He did not discuss much about the interior of the Matrimandir, but put stress on finishing the Matrimandir before 1978. He said once the main work is finished then the rest will follow automatically. He is quite right. He also spoke in detail all about the gardens of Matrimandir and the Banyan tree. He did not discuss the Urn because he did not know much about it. Nobody actually knew! But when Paolo met me once more, he told me that he had a long talk with Roger regarding the Urn and the Lotus, and Roger said that the existing Urn was the Mother's vision and was decided by Her. Paolo asked him to show him all the correspondence and the sketches of the Mother of that Urn but Roger gave him elusive answers. Then Paolo told me that eventually Roger said that he was willing and ready to change the Urn into the lotus. I wonder whether Roger has given his word of honour to Paolo!
Paolo told several people, "I saw in Huta a perfect guardian. One can smell the perfume of Matrimandir in her". I appreciated his good will. At the same time I was very much amused about the guardian which I was no more!
I continued to receive quite a number of letters about the brochure.
Balkrishna Poddar of SABDA sent me a copy of a letter received from Jyotipriya of East-West Cultural Centre, U.S.A.:
We have happily received your airmail package of three books—Matrimandir Auroville—on Thursday morning previous to our regular Thursday evening group on Sri Aurobindo's and Mother's teaching for devotees, so we shared many parts of Matrimandir which were very soul-stirring. We should be happy if you could let Huta know how spiritually moved the group of people became on hearing Mother's beautiful answers to her questions.
Jyotipriya
Mary Aldridge wrote to me on 8.8.74:
I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed your book on Matrimandir. I was so enthralled with it that one evening I sat out on my little balcony and read it right through from beginning to end!
That same night I had a really beautiful dream (or was it a vision?) of the Mother! So I am grateful to you for two reasons: giving us such a beautiful book, and giving me such a wonderful dream!
Loretta, who works on the Matrimandir, stayed with me a few days last week (convalescing). I lent her your book and she was amazed to read of your vision of the Spirit of Auroville and to see the painting. She tells me that right down at the bottom of the Matrimandir there is a very wonderful atmosphere. One day she was in meditation there and she had a marvellous vision. She saw a very beautiful woman with flowing red hair, green eyes and all in white. She mentioned it in a poem, and when she showed it to the Editor of Sri Aurobindo's Action, he asked her to take out those lines as they didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the poem. So she substituted two other lines. Now the original ones will be re-inserted. Loretta said she might write and tell you—perhaps she has already. But in case she doesn't I thought I would tell you as I am sure you will be interested.
Hope all is well with you.
In her love
Mary
And here is a letter from Loretta:
I have just read your book on the Matrimandir. I work on the Matrimandir construction. My life is gratefully given to Mother and Sri Aurobindo to receive what they give and to build the Matrimandir. I believe in the vision and purpose of the Matrimandir as you have expressed it, and I pray that it may come to pass.
The painting entitled "The Spirit of Auroville" recalls to my memory an experience which I would like to tell you about: During the first week of June, 1972, I was sitting alone at the bottom of the Matrimandir excavation at night, and inside I heard singing, wonderful singing which seemed to fill the excavation. After listening for some time I asked: let me see who is singing like this; and my inner vision saw a being who, as far as I can tell, looks just like your painting. She was marvellously active, very articulated, and swooping and flying everywhere. I wrote a small poem about it which I would like to give to you. Please accept it with my gratitude for your sincerity and your expression of Mother's ideals.
with love, in Truth
Loretta
Mother makes music In the Matrimandir Red-hair-white-skin-green-eyed Celestial being Transforming us By entering us Was there any choice? I do not know Lo, I have offered up my being
In answer to my letter, Nolinida wrote to me on 11.8.74 about the marble lotus:
I have seen André about the matter.
Now the Lotus became the central issue.
On 11.8.74, I wrote the following letter to M. André.
As regards the brochure, certain people have accused me and remarked
that there was absolutely no need for me to publish it, because Roger was doing exactly according to the Mother's Vision and Wish, and he always stood for the Truth! Also these people have added that they did not believe in facing the spiritual consequences, because spirituality was out of place in this matter and they did not know about spirituality.
I wonder then what we all are here for?
In the Mother's Truth and Love
M. André answered on the same day:
There is no doubt that the Truth will eventually prevail and our faith in the Mother must not waver.
yours
Shyamsunder sent me the following letter dated 12.8.74, which he had received from Prabhat Kumar Poddar:
After reading Huta's brochure on Matrimandir and the suggestion of covering the urn with the lotus structure, as well as hearing from Roger the story behind the realisation of the urn, I have the following observation to make.
It will not be technically possible to make this change because the dimension of the urn is exactly that given in the sketch. Whatever be the outward form one may want to give, one cannot change the dimension which is fixed, increasing it even by a few centimeters will not be exact and will not conform to the Mother's vision. Anything else bigger or smaller not con-forming ultimately to the dimensions given by The Mother will be false and untrue to Her vision.
Hence there are only 2 things that one can do under this circumstance:
1) Leave the urn exactly as it is because it was done in consultation with The Mother, has the proper dimensions as given by Her, and Her force and blessings are there with it.
2) Replace it completely by the other design with the exact dimensions as given.
In the service of truth
Prabhat
Copy to André and Roger.
On 16.8.74, M. André wrote to me:
This morning we had a meeting of Society, and Roger was not present. We have all agreed that the means to restore the Urn to the form which the Mother had originally seen have to be studied and a correct project submit-ted to Roger.
As you see Paolo, Piero and Gloria this afternoon you may discuss the matter with them.
In any case I cannot take "No in principle" as an answer and I hope that Nava has understood my position.
Then I received another letter from M. André dated 19.8.74:
Thanks for your note of this morning.
I have received a letter from Pourna who says that she could not book a seat on a plane before the 17th so she decided to stay in Paris until the end of the month.
I also received a few lines from Prabhat, who is in Paris and who states that it is technically impossible to give to the present Urn the outside shape and dimensions shown in the Mother's sketch, so the only alternatives are either to have the Urn as it is or to remove it altogether.
This of course is absolutely contractictory to what was told me at the beginning and it is essential to know who is right.
If the study has not been made already by someone reliable it is urgent to do it quickly.
I suggest that you ask Paolo, if, as I understood, you are seeing him tomorrow.
And we shall be able to talk of it on Friday.
I met Paolo. He informed me that Roger was willing to change the Urn. But I came to know from an authentic source that Roger was insisting to Navajata to keep the present Urn—so Navajata declared that it was out of the question to alter it, or to give his consent.
The people concerned gave Paolo the impression that the present Urn was the Mother's Vision and wish. Roger told Paolo that he showed the photograph of the Urn to the Mother and she was very pleased with it and approved fully. What could she say or do when the Urn was already made and the photograph taken?
Sundaram, a well-known Gujarati poet and Ashramite, wrote in the magazine Dakshina of February 1968 about the present Urn:
The shape somewhat like Shivalingam was constructed in the middle where the soil of the whole world was deposited.
Even a small child can say that the present Urn is not a lotus. I think Sundaram is absolutely right in describing the present Urn as a Shivalingam.
A letter dated 21.8.74 came from Paris. Yiovne Garry wrote:
Pourna told me about your effort for the lotus urn. I sent 200 Francs to Nata—as I did not know how to forward it to you. Nata should give them to you "for the Lotus".
I asked many questions to Pourna about the Mother, the Yoga, mental silence, etc... I hope she did not mind too much. This is to learn, in the end, that questions are not to carry any more—not even what Mother will want me to do. You know my heart is at the Matrimandir—I have been working on five projects since my return here.
Just one thing you might be interested to know. I may have mentioned to you, at Christmas, that when I arrived in Pondi I became certain I had been here before. Well, two months ago my father told me that when we were sailing towards Indochina in 1931 the boat stopped in Pondi. The officer who was in command happened to be a personal friend of Sri Aurobindo's. He took my father to meet him, I remained on the boat with my mother. I was two year old.
Dear Huta, I wish you full success in your endeavour and hope you will have advanced on the way next time we meet. After Samadhi, my first visit shall be for you. A bientôt!
Many affectionate regards In Mother's Love and Joy
Your sister
Yiovne Garry
Nata gave the 200 Francs to Shyamsunder for the Lotus project.
A letter dated 24.8.74 came from Divakar, a French gentleman who is in Sincerité, Matrimandir:
I am very happy to understand how I was wrong—always when I read your booklet, or when I saw you, I felt that I was brought nearer the Truth.
I have deep love and esteem for your aspiration and offering to Mother.
I was only afraid that, probably unknowingly and unwillingly you could maintain or even feed the division between the people.
But, if I look into this matter, I would better side with you, because of Mother.
Let Her Force work in all of us and bring with itself the true conscious-ness.
Another of Her children.
Divakar
I wrote a letter dated 25.9.74 to M. André.
Good morning. Thank you for returning the script. I will follow the Mother's instructions.
I must let you know that last night when I was with my mother and nephew Suresh he received a phone call from Ramanathan saying that he had been looking for Suresh the whole day because the people concerned wanted the report to the resident representative of the Ford Foundation (it is a Charitable Trust) on the grant for a survey of the Auroville project.
As you know this was quite a big report about 40 pages or so, signed by the Mother as President of the Sri Aurobindo Society.
My nephew answered Ramanathan that all these papers are with Prabhat and Shyamsunder. The people concerned could get the papers from them.
If they would have done exactly according to the Mother's wish and guidance they would not have gone through such a severe crisis as they are in now.
I heard that the copy of the Report has already been given to Navajata.
EXTRACT FROM THE DOCUMENT FOR THE FORD FOUNDATION: THE FIVE POINTS FOR WHICH MOTHER APPROVED THE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPROACH FOR THE BUILDING OF THE TOWN.
Auroville is unique—not only it is a city being constructed from scratch, but it combines the social, economic and physical aspects of the city in a manner designed to enhance the evolutionary process in man.
At Auroville various factors have entered our consideration regarding the decision to apply the systems engineering approach to the planning and implementation of Auroville.
Firstly, the Auroville project is of great proportions requiring a large magnitude of resources for its development. If an efficient method of implementation is not applied, wasteful but avoidable expenditure can easily be committed perhaps necessitating further expenditure to rectify mistakes. It is precisely to achieve maximum results from the least expenditure of resources and time that this planning approach is suitable.
Secondly, the establishment of a completely new city raises a multifaceted group of problems, which require a multidisciplinary approach that this planning approach can provide, while at the same time keeping to the constraints imposed by the ideals of Auroville.
Thirdly, so far the progress at Auroville has been, quite frankly, of a slow nature and unsystematic when compared to the possibilities that exist with the use of the systems engineering approach, which is a highly goal-oriented planning and implementation approach—a process which is efficient and directed. Hence the development of Auroville has reached a stage when the systems engineering approach for the work at hand is a necessity.
Fourthly, the systems engineering approach at the same time helps Auroville discharge its major responsibility of ensuring efficient and effective use of funds donated or granted to it by individuals, industries, charitable and other institutions, and governments.
Fifthly, the systems approach is a relatively new technique employed in the solution of complex problems. In a way at Auroville all the problems of urbanisation will be faced at the very outset, requiring therefore an equally all embracing technique for their solution, since Auroville is yet to be built and peopled. Similarly, over time as industrialisation progresses with the development of the country, urbanisation will also continue increasingly within the country —presenting those complex town planning problems which have to be resolved. It is here that the researches and applications of systems engineering can contribute a wealth of material in solution of problems related to the development of a complete township and partly to the existing towns.
Thursday 13 March 1969
Unfortunately due to the adverse interference this project never materialised.
Since I have many friends in Auroville, one of them sent me Roger Anger's statement dated 8.8.1974 and marked "Only for the information of Aurovilians". It ran:
In the present state of the situation in Auroville, I am led to explain the decision I have taken to withdraw from the existing system of organisation and administration of the township.
I have become convinced, for reasons I have set forth and upheld for long, of the incapacity of this system to carry through successfully the material development of Auroville and to convey through its action the true message of unity and harmony indispensable for the building up of the City of the Future.
The publication of the brochure "Matrimandir—The Mother's Truth and Love" has reaffirmed for me the fact that the absence of a responsible group directive has permitted to make official, in the eyes of the world outside, our lack of unity, has increased confusion in the minds of people, and in addition has put into question the personality of the Mother.
I do not have to reply to criticisms made about my personal interpretation of the wishes of the Mother, whether it concerns the Matrimandir, the Urn, the Amphitheatre, or the growth of Auromodele, because I have brought to the task, during the years of working with her, a complete sincerity and a meticulous will to represent her vision. In this concern, no plan, no detail has been rectified without her full approval, after her having received from me every explanation and precision that she has solicited. This truth suffices to free me from offering a justification which would bring down the discussion to a level where the mind judges in accordance with its limitations.
I leave therefore the entire responsibility of their decisions to those who will suggest or execute the changes they deem necessary.
In spite of a will, sometimes exceptional, on the part of many Aurovilians, of devotion and faith which can stand all tests, there has got settled alongside incoherence, by voluntary absence of the organisation of a community viewpoint and of short and long term planning. This situation, presented and accepted as a necessity of the struggle undertaken, has led us to the present impasse which renders impossible any true and just action.
In this context I cannot continue to collaborate with the present administration of Auroville. But aware of the responsibility that the Mother reposed in me, I remain available for her work, the day when the will—personal and collective—of the Aurovilians, would impose radical changes in orientation on this system which has, in my view, already too much impaired the image of Auroville and seriously threatened its development.
Roger Anger
M. André wrote to me on 5.9.74:
Thanks for your lovely flowers and for your letter of this morning. As regards the lotus I am still expecting the concrete project which Shyamsunder told me he is having studied. I consider Prabhat's statement more of an opinion than as an actual study of the question, but one has to find out how the "clothing" has to be done and what would be the actual dimensions of the modified Urn. It is only on a concrete project that the decision to go ahead can be taken.
Concerning his "resignation" I have pointed out to Roger that it is not in his power to get rid of the responsibility which Mother has placed on him.
After all Roger Anger did not resign!
I wrote him the following letter on 1.10.74:
From many people I have heard of your displeasure regarding my booklet "Matrimandir—The Mother's Truth and Love".
I have kept quiet so far over the various unfriendly remarks made about me. Now I feel that I must clear certain points so that you may not remain any more under a wrong impression.
In November 1972 when Shyamsunder asked me whether I had any in-formation from the Mother about the Matrimandir and Auroville, I said that I had, but that I would not give anything until I had asked the Mother.
So I asked the Mother and instantly she said "Yes". Not only that, but she said that I should not give the originals of her letters but should make copies and give them.
Afterwards I prepared the file. It was blessed by the Mother and then it was given to Shyamsunder. At that time I never thought of publishing the matter, because the Mother was there to deal with and finalise everything.
Also it is understood that the Mother was not a fool to have consented to my giving the file to Shyamsunder. Otherwise she would have told me that it was not necessary since she had explained to you everything and that you were carrying out her wishes. But she felt the need to reveal directly to humanity her Supreme Dream. And she did it.
Since the Mother gave her blessings and since all the letters were written to me, I had every right to publish the booklet without anybody's permission, guidance and support. Nobody except the Divine Mother can ever use me as their instrument.
So once and for all, please remove from your mind the idea that some people have used me as their instrument. For I am not involved in the management, I am independent.
I have been working with the Mother for the last 18 years and have had her direct guidance in every way. If I may not have grasped the whole truth, I have absorbed a little by her Grace. And while publishing the booklet I knew exactly what I was doing, and that what I did was right. I do not regret anything, my conscience is clear.
Everything has its own time, everything happens in its own time. When the time came, the booklet was printed. Almost everything has been taken from the file which the Mother had approved and blessed.
We cannot regard the Mother's Truth and Vision as something "Past and old and outdated"!
Many people have appreciated the booklet. I am sorry you could not appreciate it.
Now the second point is: You have told a number of people that it was I who grabbed the guardianship of the Matrimandir from the Mother and that I was obsessed by my future house near the Matrimandir.
I think that the Mother's letters regarding my guardianship are sufficient proof that it was totally her idea and part of her truth-vision. So I have nothing more to say regarding it. But surely I cannot be said to be obsessed with the prospect of any material possession. I have been brought up in a well-to-do family. The Mother had given me both materially and spiritually. I have entirely left this matter of the guardianship to the Supreme. For She knows best.
But this is certain, that whoever disobeys the Mother's Will has to face the spiritual consequences sooner or later.
Some respectable and reliable people, to whom you had spoken, have told me that you have agreed to have the lotus built around the Urn. I was very happy to hear this news, and I am sure you will stick to your word.
The means to restore the Urn to the form of a lotus which the Mother had originally planned have to be studied and a concrete project submitted to you.
The Amphitheatre was not the Mother's idea and wish. She wanted the Matrimandir to be a completely silent zone. And where there is now the Amphitheatre, the Mother wanted a pool. So the pool should be made.
I am told that you have also agreed to have the gardens made around the Matrimandir. I am really glad to learn this.
With best wishes always
I sent M. André a copy of my letter dated 1.10.74 to Roger. He answered:
Your letter to Roger is quite good. Let us hope that he will read it and grasp its meaning.
This is the answer I received from Roger, dated 4th October 1974:
Yes, you are perfectly at liberty to have your own interpretations and to share them with others; but please let me retain my certitudes.
With this in view, I am not prepared to enter any controversy. I believe we have more important things to do to serve the Mother.
However I specify that I have never given my consent to anyone to modify the Urn, or to have a lake in place of the Amphiteatre, or change, for the time being, the arrangements of the gardens at Matrimandir: this is because I refuse to be a party to decisions which are in contradiction with the arrangements made with full sanction of the Mother.
Affectionate regards
I sent Roger's letter to M. André. He replied to me on 5.10.74:
I send you back Roger's letter. I am sorry to read that he is as stubborn as ever and quite uncooperative.
What he told me is that it is quite easy to clothe the Urn in order to give it the shape of Mother's drawing, but not that he was agreeable to the alteration.
I believe that Mother wants something else to change at Auroville before Roger is allowed to carry on with his projects.
Seyril wrote to me from the Matrimandir Workers' Camp:
The copy of your letter to Roger Anger has been received and is now being circulated among the Aurovilians in the Matrimandir area.
We are always grateful to learn whatever we can about the Matrimandir.
It is very good to know that the Mother's vision about the area was that of a Zone of Silence, for instance.
We remember your visit here with love.
Earlier, when the matter regarding the Lotus was discussed and decided by the authorised people, money started coming for the purpose. I made a list of the people who contributed.
I too gave money to Shyamsunder. He gave me the receipt on 21.2.1975, thus:
Received from Huta D. Hindocha the sum of rupees one thousand only, cash, as offering for Matrimandir (lotus).
For Sri Aurobindo Society
(Secretary)
When Pourna Prema came back from Paris she met Navajata twice and apprised him of the lotus matter. There was no response. On the contrary, he wrote to Roger that whatever he said was right—the Urn would remain as it was, ac-cording to the Mother's Vision. How untrue!
Here is an apt quotation from Albert Einstein:
Only two things are infinite: the Universe and human stupidity. And I am not sure about the former.
Sri Aurobindo's words are true:
An idiot hour destroys what centuries made.
There was a total objection from Roger Anger to modify the present Urn. The Mother's "Dream" would remain unfulfilled. I felt within me that there was no point in arguing any further.
I wrote to Nolini-da about the money given to Shyamsunder in connection with the lotus.
He answered:
I will make an enquiry and let you know about the money matter. I am quite in the dark about it.
With affection and good wishes
I too was in the dark!
I returned 3 gold bangles to Kokilaben and the gold wrist-band to Sharda Vaid of Bombay. I went to Nolini-da and informed him about this. He said nothing about money, or his communication with Shyamsunder.
Days passed by. I sensed that what was going on in Auroville was not in accord with the Mother's ideals. Gradually I withdrew from the scene.
On 12.10.74 I wrote to Shyamsunder:
Dear Shyamsunderji,
Thank you for your kind note. I am still unwell and would like to be alone.
As regards all that as happened, I have done whatever I felt from within I had to do in the cause of the Mother's Truth. I leave everything in her hands. I have NO interest in getting involved in the politics of personal ambition that seems to be at play all around.
With good wishes to you all
In the Mother's Truth and Love,
Some people have the habit, as an English saying goes, running with the hare and hunting with the hound at the same time. Also they know very well which side their bread is buttered! In addition they are like chameleons!
Let me draw the curtain on the high drama of the year 1974 with a piquant joke:
Two friends went for a stroll. On their way they saw a row of scorpions. One of them remarked, "I wonder which of them is the leader?" His friend replied, "It is easy to find out. Put your finger on any one of them, and you will know."
Time passed very rapidly. Now it was the year 1975.
Piero, Gloria and Paolo came to my house and saw the sketches of the Matrimandir and Auroville done by the Mother in 1965. They said that the sketches were exactly what they should be. They borrowed the original sketches from me and made photostat copies of them. After that they returned them to me.
On 17.1.75, Piero wrote to me:
I hope sincerely that your health is all right and it is what we wish for the future!
Paolo has left today and he has told me that he has not met you on Tuesday. He came to Matrimandir twice during the work and was very happy to find a good atmosphere with joy, and people working there for the Mother. He told me, "The only true cement to build the Matrimandir is the love for the Mother."
Thank you very much
I received a letter dated 20.1.75 from M. André who was in Paris:
Many thanks for yours of Dec 9th.
There is no doubt that the Mother will eventually have it her own way and such people who, conscious or not, are working against Her will are only building their own discomfiture.
I quite agree that occasionally they are impossible and that it requires then a good deal of serenity not to follow them in their aggressiveness.
With all good wishes
In Mother's Love,
Seyril wrote to me from Matrimandir:
Your New Year greetings and words of Sri Aurobindo and Mother were received with much gratitude.
In fact, they brought so much inspiration that I feel impelled to write to you to come to Matrimandir to meditate with Aurovilians, especially those concerned with Matrimandir work, regularly. Perhaps Thursday evenings, 8 to 8.30 p.m., if it is convenient for you and according to your feeling about it. I do think it would help us in building of Matrimandir.
In the Mother's Light and Love,
At the service of Truth,
Lovingly,
Seyril.
Dear Seyril,
Thank you so much for your kind letter. I appreciate your good will and your suggestion regarding the meditation.
We all must pray sincerely to the Mother for her help and grace. The rest will follow.
With good wishes,
From Paris I received Mr. André's letter dated 2.2.75:
Your aerogram of the 23rd has crossed with mine of the 20th which I hope you have now received.
As you say the Matrimandir cannot be a target by itself, what is needed is to accomplish is the Mother's Will. All personal views are a deviation and can only boomerang on those concerned.
With best wishes for all of us and with loving regards in the Mother Light.
A letter dated 5.4.75 came from Gloria:
Thank you for sending us the book about Leonardo da Vinci. We have enjoyed reading it.
I also remember your visit of the 21st February and spontaneously the memory came to me, with this deep feeling, so beautiful, expressed in the Book Three, Canto Two of Savitri:
All here shall be one day her sweetness’s home, All contraries prepare her harmony; Towards her our knowledge climbs, our passion gropes, In her miraculous rapture we shall dwell, Her clasp will turn to ecstasy our pain. ||81.25|| Our self shall be one self with all through her. ||81.26||
Huta, if you could see how beautiful and powerful the Matrimandir now looks! The scaffolding is finished and has reached the maximum height, we can see the size of the sphere. The 4th April, Sri Aurobindo's arrival day to Pondicherry, was the day on which four instructions of the Mother and the orientation of Matrimandir had been taken: the axis perfectly in line with the first ray of the sunrise.
I hope your health is well.
Thank you for remembering us.
With sincere love,
Gloria
Gloria wrote to me again on 18.5.75:
This very night I thought of you intensely:
I was on night watch in the Matrimandir, and suddenly I was attracted by the beauty of the Banyan Tree. I went near its root, and the tree was singing and dancing with its leaves in the moonlight and the wind; there was such a joy—full presence of the "inner Life", so that in spite of all the present difficulty and disharmony of Auroville, I felt a hope for the future, and the Mother's smile behind our human game.
I do not remember if I have thanked you for the photograph of us together which you sent. It is nice. It was a beautiful day—21.2.75.
I hope you are well even if you work always too much.
I wrote a letter to Nolini-da on 29.8.75:
Dear Nolini-da,
Good morning to you. I hope you are keeping well. We need your support for everything.
I would like to see you some time next month. I shall let you know about it when you feel perfectly well.
Meanwhile, may I have your advice on one point?
You know already that for the last two years I have been going to Matrimandir on the 21st February and taking there the blessing-packets of the Mother and flowers given by you. You also know that I took the resolution in front of the Mother's body that I would go to the Matrimandir on Her Birthdays.
But unhappily all kinds of disturbances are still there regarding the subject of the Matrimandir. That is why I am asking you whether I should go on the next February—1976. I also ask you for your guidance and for a clear line of action.
Please let me know.
Thanking you always, in the Mother's Light and Love.
His answer was:
I do not see any objection. But all the same you may just consul Shyamsunder.
I also wrote a letter to M. André on 29.8.75:
We all know the situation of Auroville. We can only pray to the Mother to set everything right.
I have heard that Navajata wishes Panditji of Rameshwaram to put "Yantra" in the Matrimandir. Yantra means diagram believed to possess magical or occult powers. The term is derived from Yam, meaning, "to hold, curb or restrain," the Tra denoting the effecting instrument, hence by extension, "fetter, tie, thong, rein" etc. The drawing of Yantra is generally made up of geometric lines that serve to invoke or materialize certain forces.
I felt that I should write to Nolini-da, asking what to do, whether I should go to Matrimandir on 21.2.76 as I had been going for the last two years, to put the Mother's blessing packets in the bases of the pillars. His answer was: "I do not see any objection but all the same you may just consult Shyam-sunder."
Shyamsunder was informed.
M. André, the Mother has given so much and she is still giving in abundance. I do not understand why people seek help from Panditji or anybody else?
Nolini-da has sent two copies of the booklet Matrimandir—The Mother's Truth and Love to C.P.N. Singh, M.P. of Delhi.
Thanking you once again,
Yours, Huta
Gloria wrote to me on 2.10.75:
Thank you for your sweet letter and your love for all of us.
The only reason of our silence is that on the 1st October we have started a new phase of the Matrimandir: the dodecagon of the Mother's Shrine. It was nice and meaningful to receive your letter the same day. Piero has been and still is very busy preparing all the drawings for that and for the last portion of the pillars to reach the top and close the structure with the last ring. This will be the most difficult part to be done, and we enjoy testing ourselves as instruments of the Mother, for Her, Her Victory, in spite of everything as you said.
In this last time several new people of good will have come to work in the Matrimandir building and gardens, but we need more and more, because the work is a lot. Yes, it is very good that at least many trees have been planted. As soon as we are free to visit you, we will let you know.
I wrote to M. André on 15.10.75:
Shyamsunder has asked Narad to see you regarding the lake and the gardens of the Matrimandir.
Narad came to me first in order to get the sketch which the Mother did in 1965. I have already shown it to you and you said that it was correct and you know about it. Pourna also saw it and told me that it was right. I saw in her album a photostat copy, similar to the sketch I have.
In the beginning of this year Piero, Gloria and Paolo came to me and saw the sketch. They were pleased. Piero took the original sketch from me and got the photostat copies made, because they found exactly what they wanted in the sketch.
Also your letter dated 28.7.71 dictated by the Mother about the lake tallies very well.
Kindly do the needful regarding the matter.
Ever thankful to you.
M André's answer was:
Narad brought to me your letter this morning and we had a very interest ing talk. There is no doubt that Mother's Vision will be fulfilled in due course Yours, in the Mother's Light and Love,
Narad wrote to me on 16.10.75:
The meeting with André was an uplifting experience for me and he affirms and assures me that all will be done exactly according to Mother's Will.
To this end I am confident of his cheerful and very positive collaboration. We will open discussions about the lake tomorrow with all concerned parties.
Parichand and some of the Ashram gardeners came to the Nursery yesterday and took many rare flowers to the Samadhi. If you go there today you may still see some. Parichand also was very strong about the lake being there saying, "All the charm will be lost without the lake." Well, I leave you in a happy and quietly positive mood. All moves according to Her Will and Grace and I am ever with you at Their Feet.
I received a note from M. André on 11.11.75:
Thanks for your letter of this morning.
There is no doubt that Mother will eventually have everything done as She wishes it to be. So all we have to do is to be faithful and to take care that we do not interfere with Her Will.
In Mother's Love
Yours, André
Gloria wrote to me on 31.12.75:
Tomorrow, 1st January, we will have the first concreting of the beams of the roof of the Mother's Shrine. May our consciousness grow level by level together with the Matrimandir. We all are awaiting your visit on the 21st February. We will surely come to see you before that.
With our best wishes and love and aspiration for the realization of the New World.
In the Mother's light and love
Gloria and Piero
Now it was the year 1976.
I wrote to Nolini-da on 14.1.76:
Last year you wrote to me that there was no objection of my going to the Matrimandir on 21.2.1976. Yesterday morning you sent a word that the programme was all right and that you approved it fully, and you would give the Mother's special blessing packet touched by her. Also the flowers and camphor to be put in the recess of Mahakali's pillar in the Matrimandir.
You have been giving me the sacred things for the last two years and the effect of their working is marvellous.
We all pray to the Supreme Mother to release Her Force in full, to set everything right in the Ashram, in Auroville and in the whole world.
I am ever thankful to you for your goodwill and support.
With warm regards,
In Sri Aurobindo's light,
In answer to my letter, Nolini-da wrote to me:
I can only invoke Mother's blessing upon you.
I wrote the following letter to Shyamsunder on 20.1.76 and sent a copy to Nolini-da.
It is my duty to inform you that I had a talk with Nolini-da regarding my going to the Matrimandir on 21st February in the way I have been doing in the last two years which you know.
I also invited Nolini-da but owing to his ill health he cannot come. He said that he would give flowers and a special blessing packet touched by the Mother.
All these, along with gold symbol combining the symbols of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, will be put in the pillar of Mahakali on the platform.
Herewith I am enclosing the programme approved by Nolini-da:
ON THE MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY
21st FEBRUARY 1976
4.15 p.m. — Huta will take the Mother's blessing packet and flowers from Nolini-da.
4.45 p.m. — Homage to the Banyan tree.
5.00 p.m. — Meditation for half an hour.
5.45 p.m. — Putting the blessing packet and flowers in the Mahakali Pillar.
We all pray for the Mother's victory in her truth and love...
I shall be hoping that you and your family members will be present on the occasion.
With kindest regards
In answer to my letter, Shyamsunder wrote:
I thank you for your invitation for tomorrow
Kindly excuse my absence.
Your brother,
I was extremely amazed by his reply, and left the matter to the Mother.
Then I received a letter from Piero:
Today concreting in the Kali pillar is going well and we feel very strongly that the symbol of Mother and Her blessing is to be there. Therefore today I will prepare a hole 12x12x12 on top of the pillar, ready for the 21st.
You will from the platform of meditation send up in the crane your small packet, and some of us will receive it and put it in the pillar with cement. That will be very nice and everybody will understand that there is your presence in the construction.
Please write back if it is o.k.
In the Truth,
I answered on 11.2.76:
Dear Piero,
Thank you so much for your letter regarding the matter of placing the Mother's special blessing packet and flowers and the gold symbols in a pillar.
I feel that the alternative you have proposed to place these things in the foundation of the MAHAKALI'S pillar is quite correct. So please do the arrangement accordingly. I feel sure that all of you will do your very best to receive the Mother's things, and I am thankful to you all forever.
Yes, we shall surely meditate down below as you have suggested. I have already given a tape of the Mother's words "The Hour of God" to Christi, so that it will be played throughout the meditation and the ceremony.
After I have put all these things in the recess—12x12x12—the children will cover the recess with cement, and adorn the place with the flowers of "Power" which are the most favourite flowers of Mahakali. Our Divine Mother too loved these flowers. Then all of us will pray sincerely to the Supreme Power to set everything right not only in Auroville and in the Ashram but in the whole world.
Finally I must let you know that a few months back when Shyamsunder came to my house, I showed him the silver box and the gold symbol, which I had shown to you. I also told him that along with these things, Nolini-da will give the Mother's blessing packets—touched by her—and the flowers from Samadhi and from the Mother's room, and all these things will be placed in Mahakali's pillar. He agreed and was pleased.
I also wrote a letter to him repeating the same thing. I could not go personally because of my father's recent death. On my side I have done everything that is to be done with sincerity and goodwill.
I will come there on the 21st Saturday at 4.45.
With kindest thoughts in the Mother's Light and Love.
Actually the sacred things were put by me and some children of Auroville in the foundation of the Mahakali pillar.
Meanwhile I received a letter dated 12.2.76 from Shraddhavan:
I saw Piero and Gloria this morning and they were happy about the decision to put the things in the foundation of Mahakali.
Gloria wanted to come and see you but Piero is not well and she is so busy! But I feel everything is all right now.
Piero tells me that Matrimandir's accounts are now handled by Harikant and Nava.
He suggests that if you do not feel able to give the money to them, perhaps a gift of materials or equipment could be made. I do not know what to advise you about this, perhaps you could ask Nolini.
My own feeling is that if we give truly to the Mother, whoever must handle the money, in the end her purposes must be served—as in the old days people would put their gifts into the fire with the recipient's name.
My very warm love and gratitude to you, dear Huta—I look forward to seeing you on the 18th.
At the service of Truth.
Shraddhavan
Time and again my people, my friends and myself have kept on offering money to the Matrimandir. Up to the present day, I have all the receipts from Shyamsunder and nowadays from Barbara.
When the time came to make the gold symbols of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother combined, I gave to Piero some pieces of gold my mother had given me. Also my fourth brother's wife, Mina Maganbhai, gave some gold for the cause of the Matrimandir.
I wrote the following letter to Nolini-da:
Good morning to you. Hope you are well.
According to your kind advice the true inspiration has worked wonderfully. I feel strongly that all is the Mother's grace.
Now everything regarding my going to the Matrimandir on the 21st is all right. I will put the Mother's blessing packet and flowers given by you in the foundation—down below in the pillar of Mahakali. They have agreed. I constantly pray for the Mother's Victory.
The money which has been collected with me along with the humble offering to Mahakali from me, may I give to Piero and Narad to buy necessary things for the Matrimandir and its gardens?
Will you please let me know whether it is all right.
I am ever thankful to you for your goodwill, help and support. With warm regards in the Mother's Light and Love.
Mother's blessings,
Nolini-da.
A letter dated 19.2.76 came from Piero.
We will start the hole today. Somebody will help.
From the note of the "Ceremony" it was cut off "Nolini has approved" because it seems he has answered to a question: "I have no objection, I have no approval—it is her own affair." But he will still give you the blessing and the flowers, will he not?
Do not worry for the hole.
Time was running out. I was really worried as I never wanted Falsehood to win. So without losing time I sent Piero's letter to Nolini-da along with mine. He remarked on Piero's letter:
The report not true.
Then Nolini-da wrote to me:
There is no question of any disapproval of your programme. On my part you have my full approval. The report is not true. There must have been some wrong understanding.
With my approval and the Mother's blessings.
P.S. See my remark on Piero's note.
I also received a letter dated 19.2.78 from Shraddhavan:
I have just been to see Piero and Gloria. They are going to start work today on digging the hole themselves, and I will go and help them this afternoon and so will Christi.
I feel this is a time to keep very calm and clear and to trust absolutely in the Mother's Grace.
At the service of truth,
Piero wrote to me on 24.2.76:
Thank you for the drawings of the Mother that you have given us in photo, and for your kind letter.
The money you have given (Rs. 1096) will surely be spent for Matrimandir. Thank you—I have felt very much the meditation on the 21st.
I wish to ask you for a promise to come to Matrimandir for the concreting of the top ring, that will close the structure and the form. Will you?
With my best wishes for your health,
In Mother's love
At the same time Gloria wrote to me on 24.2.76:
Thank you very much for your visit to Matrimandir on the Mother's birthday. It was a nice moment to be all together close to Mother and pray to Her to raise up the actual situation. Many people working in Matrimandir wish that you will come more often than once in a year.
The cement over the blessing packet you have put in the Mahakali pillar is now like a stone, and your flowers are still there.
With true love
I also received a letter dated March 1st 1976 from M. André, who was in Paris:
Many thanks for your aerogramme of the 22nd. I am glad that you went to the Matrimandir on the 21st and placed Mother's blessing packet and flowers in the Mahakali pillar. Certainly this will have been quite good in restoring the real meaning of the Matrimandir instead of having it the object of the feud between Nava and Shyamsunder.
I am glad also that the Ashram Trustees are taking over the Matrimandir Fund.
I am now more than ever confident in the Mother's Victory, not only in the Ashram and Auroville, but throughout the whole world.
For the time being I plan coming back to the Ashram in May, but many things can occur which will change my plans.
So à bientôt,
In the Mother's Light,
On 6.2.76 I received a letter from Piero:
I would like to consult you about the following question: Does the legal property of Matrimandir belong to Sri Aurobindo Society?
I hope that your health is well.
With best wishes and love
I answered Piero's letter:
Thank you for your letter of 6.3.76. You wrote: "I would like to consult you about the following question: Does the legal property of Matrimandir belong to Sri Aurobindo Society?"
I am sorry, I am in no position to say anything in a legal context, one way or the other. I am only concerned with what the Mother has said or written in various places at various times. Her statements are with all of us. We have to understand them with our souls by the light each of us has in him or her.
In the Mother's Love,
On 12.3.76 I received a letter from Piero:
Thank you for your kind answer and appreciation in this period of "legal" definitions coming from all the sides.
We will make tomorrow the concreting of the North Rib; it will be also the first rib fully completed after the work started four years ago. Even useless, it remains the hope that you will come, may be only few minutes at the time we will cast the topmost ring. Everybody will be very happy, that I can give to you full assurance, and will see in this a true symbolic meaning.
With best regards,
For the Truth.
Enclosed voucher for Rs. 1096.
Another letter came from Gloria:
In the night between the 28th and the 29th of May, at last, with Mother's grace, we will cast top ring which will conclude the structure of Matrimandir.
The concreting will start at 8 p.m. in the evening and it will end in the dawn. It is such an important phase that we wish you share in your heart this moment with all of us, praying to the Mother for the future of Auroville and Her Victory over all the adverse forces which are so strongly trying to impede the accomplishment of Her Vision.
We thank you for the kind thoughts you send us through Christi. We often think of you. You know we are all very busy.
With love, in a deep aspiration for the Truth,
Remembering you, Piero.
I wrote to Nolini-da on 3.6.76:
As you know I go once a year to the Matrimandir—that is on the Mother's birthday—to put a blessing packet, flowers and a combined gold symbol of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. You have fully and graciously approved of this.
There was a lot of misunderstanding and difficulty before I went to the Matrimandir last February 21st. So, for the next year—1977—I should like to take precautions beforehand so that things may be smoother.
Now two pillars still remain to receive our offerings—those of Maheshwari and Mahasaraswati. I sincerely feel that from the occult and the spiritual point of view these pillars too must receive our offerings. Otherwise there will be no meaning.
1978, the Mother's Birth centenary Year, will have a lot of activities on February 21st. So, if you will kindly consent, then I would very much like to put our offerings into both the pillars at one and the same time next year —1977—in the afternoon—on the Mother's birthday—February 21st.
I shall be very happy and grateful if I can have from you your written approval of this proposal of mine. Will you please give it and also send two of Mother's blessing packets touched by her? I assure you that I will keep them intact in my meditation room along with the Mother's things.
When the time comes, I will take personally as usual the flowers from you, and will surely show you everything which will be taken and to be put into the two pillars—of Maheshwari as well as Mahasaraswati.
I am sure you will understand my feeling—as you always do.
Thank you ever so much for your kind support and help.
With deep regards in the Mother's Light.
Nolini-da replied:
It is all right. There is no objection
Aurevoir
I received a letter dated 28.6.76 from Gloria:
It is from the 29th of May that I wish to write to you to thank you for your beautiful letter and tell you that during the concreting I put the 5 red hibiscus flowers in the Mahakali pillar as you asked me to do, and also to tell you how wonderful was this night in which we have completed the structure of Matrimandir.
We had put up the Mother's flag on the top for the occasion: Her presence was powerful more than ever. The participation of Ashramites and Aurovilians was great. The presence of Champaklal and Nirodbaran contributed to give the feeling a moment of exception—many little children wanted to remain the full night and it was so nice to see them fallen asleep at last, on the sand near each other, in the midst of the work.
The concreting finished at 4 a.m. in the morning, but many of us remained on the top to await in silence the dawn of a new future.
When in the evening of the same day 8 Aurovilians were taken to prison, it was clear for many that was a final strong attack of the hostile forces who try to impede the harmony between the contraries, which the Mother seems to succeed in through the Matrimandir. You cannot imagine how beautiful it has been in this last month with the massive participation of the Ashram in the work of Matrimandir. There was an enormous quantity of work to do, to move and clean the scaffolding before using them for the new phase, i.e., the slab for the floor of the inner Chamber.
Twice a week more than 200 people each time have come from the Ashram in a joyful, concentrated and harmonious atmosphere of collaboration. They have given a big push and accelerated the time of the work. You see how Mother calls her children and how they answer.
For us is a deep joy to have the occasion to work together with many of our friends of the Ashram, to feel the unity around our common love for the Mother. And we know how you also contribute to that with your prayers.
Together in aspiration for new Light,
Piero and Gloria wrote to me again on 13.9.76:
We like to send you a copy of our reply to William, so that at least with the few people with whom we are in touch, what we think will remain more clear.
We hope that your health is good.
With our best wishes,
Here is the text of the letter Piero sent to me:
September 4, 1976
Dear William,
It was on 31.8.76 that we received your cyclostyled letter of 26.8.76. At about 4 p.m. the same day Piero came to your house to invite you to the Matrimandir to see our working model in scale 1:20 of the Room. It is nice that you came so that it was possible to dissipate immediately the doubts you have expressed.
As you noted personally on that day, the following are clearly visible in the model:
a) 12 round columns 9 meters high, 60 centimeters in diameter. (Point iv in your letter.)
b) Flat roof till the walls, without rounded edges. (Point vi in your letter.) c) Mother's symbol plain and flat with 4 symbols of Sri Aurobindo vertically joined at the corners, supporting the 70 cm translucent globe. There is no hole in the floor. (Point vii in your letter.)
d) Moreover, the interior of the Room is to be finished with 2 cm white marble sheets, according to samples we are trying. (Point v in your letter.)
e) Air-conditioning and ventilation plant is already in the process of being studied in consultation with well-known companies. (Point iii in your letter.)
Regarding the dimensions of the Room (your point i), please note that all the dimensions are in keeping with the plan that Mother made according to Her vision in January 1970, drawn up with the help of Udar and given personally to Paolo and Roger. It is correct that there is an apparent discrepancy between the Entretiens and the drawings of Udar, but these drawings are mentioned by Mother several times during the Entretiens as the reference for the measures and even if there were a discrepancy, still Mother has given it to us with Her own hands and with Her Blessing, and we have acted accordingly.
Finally, about the entrance (your point ii), we confirm again that there will be only one entrance from a short underground passage to the sphere and that the symbolic meaning of the descent, ascent and emergence is even exalted in the actual design, in which the Room is situated in the upper portion of the sphere. The Mother made a comment about the stair inside the Room, which you should also consider:
S.: Et les ouvertures pour les sept escaliers?
M.: J' aimerais mieux qu' elles soient en dehors du mur.
Oh! Oui, et l'interieur serait beaucoup plus net. Voir tour ces escaliers ne me plaisait pas. Même un escalier, je n' aimais pas, mais en voir Sept... Tandis que dehors, c' est bien.
(S.: And the openings for the seven stairs?
M.: I would prefer it if they were outside the wall.
Oh! yes, and the interior would be much neater. To see all those stairs did not please me. Even one stairway, I did not like it, but seven... Whereas outside, it is good.)
(Entretiens of Jan. 17, 1970)
So, William, we are grateful for your deep interest in Matrimandir and its details.
You have spoken about Perfection. Let us add one thing: Matrimandir is the Soul of a vaster and more perfect Vision of Auroville. Only if we can see the whole, together, can we make a step toward a more comprehensive and truer harmony between us all.
Fraternally,
Paolo
The year 1977 began.
In the beginning of January Bhakti Shah of Bombay was in Pondicherry. She was inspired to do drawings and paintings of the Matrimandir gardens. Time and again she came to seek information from me in this regard, because the Mother had disclosed to me her wish to create the most beautiful gardens in the world around and beyond the Matrimandir. Bhakti Shah asked me whether she could write "The Garden of Love" in the centre of the Mother's symbol in her drawing. I said that the Mother did not like the name "love" in that particular place. She had explained:
People are likely to distort this word.
The Mother wanted simply.
Matrimandir Gardens.
So Bhakti Shah put that in her book accordingly.
After a deep study, I came to the conclusion that the drawings and paintings in her book: The Mother's Birth Centenary 1878-1978 do not tally with the Mother's original sketches given to me by her in 1965.
Nevertheless, it is a beautiful book. Regarding the Mother's symbol, she wrote to me on 2.12.55:
Here is the correct design of the symbol.
The central circle represents the Supreme Mother, the Mahashakti.
The four central petals are the four aspects of the Mother and the twelve petals, Her twelve attributes.
About this symbol Sri Aurobindo has written on 20.3.1934:
Centre and 4 Powers White, the 12 (petals), all of different colours in three groups, 1 top group red passing through orange towards yellow, 2 next group yellow passing through green towards blue, 3 blue passing through violet towards red. If white is not convenient, the centre may be gold.
Sri Aurobindo, The Mother with Letters on The Mother: The Mother's Symbol
Sri Aurobindo's letter also indicated the meaning of the colours:
Red—Physical Orange—Supramental in the physical Yellow—Thinking Mind Green—Life Blue—Higher Mind Violet—Divine Compassion or Grace White—The Light of the Mother or the Divine Consciousness Gold—Divine Truth
On 3.4.56 the Mother asked me to decorate many idols which were in her private Stores. The Mother wanted to exhibit them on 24.11.56 in the Ashram Exhibition Hall under the name: "Dolls and Idols Exhibition." I was in charge of the idols. During that time the Mother explained to me in detail about the symbols and powers of the Supreme Mother and Her four Aspects—as well as other Gods and Goddesses.
This is what she has revealed to me:
Mahalakshmi: Kindness and Beauty Mahasaraswati: Integral Perfection Maheshwari: All-knowledge and Wisdom Mahakali: Power and Generous Love
They have differently shaped aureoles behind their head depending on what they represent.
Also, the Mother disclosed the colours of their attires:
Mahalakshmi: Pink, green and mauve, all pastel colours Mahasaraswati: White and red Maheshwari: Royal blue and gold Mahakali: Red and gold. Supreme Mother: White and gold
I received a beautiful greeting card from the Matrimandir for New Year 2001. But I regret to say that the description on the back cover of the card is not at all what the Mother explained to me. It is totally out of focus and not the Mother's Vision.
The explanations underneath this card are, I suppose, mental and vital formations—as if everything is being squashed into one single plan!
Narad sent me a copy of a letter he wrote to Shyamsunder in connection with the Matrimandir Gardens:
I am very much working on the plan but it is calling me deeper within. I hope to have caught something of it soon. I am aspiring with all sincerity but nothing definite has come as yet.
Over the following few years the troubles in Auroville continued. Progress on the Matrimandir was slow.
Narad and Mary Helen poured their heart and soul into the work the Mother had given them to create the most exquisite gardens and spectacular sceneries around and beyond the Matrimandir. There were some people who obstructed their work by putting stumbling stones all the time. Then eventually they left for the States. Several other good people—full of goodwill and good intentions—also left Auroville at that time.
I felt extremely sorry. Still I am in contact with some of them.
I wrote to Nolini-da:
Some months back I wrote a letter to you regarding the two pillars of Matrimandir, into which the offerings still remained to be placed. These are the pillars of Mahasaraswati and Maheshwari. You have replied: "It is all right."
The other day I just happened to meet Piero and Gloria near the Ashram. We had a talk about the same matter. They asked me whether you would give the Mother's blessing packets as you had done on three previous occasions.
We shall all be happy if you will kindly give the blessing packets touched by the Mother. This will be the last time of the significant ceremony for the pillars.
I have told Piero and Gloria that it does not matter who puts the offering into the pillars. But they said that it should be I, who have already done so three times in the past. So I shall do the needful in the Mother's name as a purely spiritual act.
You already know that I am not involved in any complications of Auroville and the Ashram.
This practical work I am doing not for myself but because I feel the Mother guiding me to it from within. Besides, the work which she has given to me, I am doing quietly at my house and when the proper time comes I shall publish everything according to her wish.
Finally, I shall be happy and grateful to receive directly from you the blessing packets, the flowers and camphor on the 21st February in the afternoon. With warm regards in the Mother's Love.
Nolini-da answered:
Your proposal is all right.
I received a letter dated 9.2.77 from Gloria:
Last Saturday, many Aurovilians cleaned the mud, accumulated during the monsoon, from the bottom of the Matrimandir, so when you will come on 21st, it will not be dirty. It was a joyful work to clean for the Mother and the Matrimandir.
With love Gloria
Too much criticism, many hindrances, enormous ill will, numerous obstructions took place. Despite this, all the four pillars—Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Maheshwari and Mahasaraswati—received our humble offerings. I felt that it was the Victory of the Supreme Mother.
I received the following notice from Guru Prasad of the Sri Aurobindo Society on 18.5.77:
Friends,
I have been approached by friends from the Ashram and Auroville in regard to the construction of the inner chamber in Matrimandir. May I request the following friends to meet at "Selvam Villa", No. 5 Nehru Street on Friday, 6th May at 9 p.m., to exchange views and help in clearing all doubts which have risen in the minds of many.
Guru Prasad
To,
Huta, K.D. Sethna, Satprem, Udar, Nata, Piero, Shyamsunder, Madanlal, Gloria, Toine, Ruud, Francois, Patrizia, Amita, Robi Gangulee, William Netter, Mona, Manoj Dasgupta, Peter Steiger, Barbara.
I did not go. I sent the paper to M. André. He answered on 19.5.77:
The list of people which Guru Prasad tried to get together to speak of the Matrimandir is rather interesting. But that is all talk, talk and there is no truth in it.
In Mother's love,
The Mother was totally right in stating in the Gazette Auroville of 1971, Vol. I No. 3, pp. 24-25:
“PLUS DE COMITÉS, PLUS DE BAVARDAGES.” “MORE COMMITTEES, MORE OF USELESS TALKS”
“PLUS DE COMITÉS, PLUS DE BAVARDAGES.”
“MORE COMMITTEES, MORE OF USELESS TALKS”
The Mother was not in accord to have more committees.
Around this time Carlo Schuller, a devotee from Switzerland who was very active in raising funds for the Matrimandir, wrote numerous letters to me, to the Trustees of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, to Amal Kiran (K.D. Sethna) the Editor of Mother India and to certain other people concerned, regarding Auroville and my house near the Matrimandir. Few of them answered him—one was Amal.
In June 1977 Amal sent me a copy of Carlo's letter dated 18.6.77:
My dear Amal,
Thank you for your long letter. The Mother has expressed Herself about the essentialities of Auroville in such an unequivocal way that everything would be very smooth if there were not this constant intercession of the egos of Her disciples, including many of the old ones who ought to know better, trying to qualify or explain away Her dispositions in such a way as to twist them to make them conform to their own desires. One of those dispositions is Huta's house at the Matrimandir, which is required to enable her to carry out properly her work of guardianship. To me personally it would seem that the keys to the Matrimandir and those to her own lotus-house could be handed over to Huta at the same time. In that case absolutely nothing has been lost by the delay no matter what may have been its cause, because the Matrimandir work is not sufficiently advanced to warrant starting the work on Huta's house at this early stage. It happened by coincidence that your last letter arrived on the same day on which Piero, the Matrimandir architect, came here to finalize the acquisition of Italian white marble for lining the inner chamber of the Matrimandir.
(See enclosed picture of the quarries; this also is not very far from 5 lakhs when considered from the budgetary angle.)
I showed interest and expressed readiness to do it, but he also spoke of the many undecided factors in the overall planning of the area around Huta's house. For example, there is the question of the surrounding high mounds symbolizing petals, an extravagant idea of Roger which would require more concrete than has been used for the entire Matrimandir, and all the leveling work in connection with it. This by itself is already a sufficient reason not to start with Huta's house, especially as there appears to be some idea of a private passage between the two buildings. Where will the house be, were the passage, at what level, how will it look in the final overall landscape etc. Considering all this one might even argue in favour of a temporary structure for Huta, if necessary, until the final decisions have fallen. But in any case the present stage seems too early to concern oneself with this specific problem. As for Shyamsunder's position it will take a little time as usual before I can give an accurate report. Meanwhile, please extend my cordial greetings to Huta and show her Udar's letter to Nolini-da as well as the latter's reply in the margin.
Affectionately,
Carlo
Carlo sent to Amal a picture of the marble quarry. Underneath he wrote:
Under the supervision of the Matrimandir architect Piero, who has come to Italy for this purpose, 720 square meters of this top quality marble have been ordered for delivery aboard ship by Sept 18, 1977 on which date the import license will expire. The quarries in the above picture are at 2172 meters altitude above sea level in Northern Italy.
Amal wrote to Carlo on 27.6.77:
Dear Carlo,
I thank you for your letter and for the interesting enclosures.
I showed your letter to Huta and this is what she wants me to write to you:
"Huta sends her warm regards to you and she appreciates your understanding and consideration about her guardianship at the Matrimandir. She too feels the same. She says if the Divine Mother wishes her to go there, she will go. In fact, Huta has left everything to the Mother who knows the best, and who is wiser than human beings."
Yours affectionately,
A very long time before this I had met Carlo at Madanlal Himatsingka's place. Now he is no more. I always appreciated his good will. During that time I could not have revealed to him or to anybody that the Mother had set me free from the guardianship of the Matrimandir in 1973 itself!
The year 1978 commenced—the year of the Mother's Birth Centenary!
A card was distributed to people in the Ashram main building. It depicted some beautiful photographs of the Mother, along with quotations written by her in 1967:
May the Truth be your master and your guide.
We aspire for the Truth and its triumph in our being and in our activities.
May the aspiration for the Truth be the dynamism of our efforts.
O Truth, we wanted to be guided by Thee. May Thy reign come upon earth.
There was a grand and memorable celebration in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram on 21.2.78. People were allowed to go into the Mother's Room that day. When I entered Her room, I felt her presence. My mind flew back to those years when the Mother and I worked together in that very room on Savitri. My ardent prayer was:
O Mother may you triumph!
There was a distribution of special messages and a booklet: The Mother.
Months passed by. I received a letter from Shama Prasad Paul on 10. 7.1978:
I am interested in seeing all that the Mother has given you regarding the design of the Matrimandir. Could you please give me an appointment? Incidentally, I am an Aurovilian, and an architect working at Aurofuture with Roger for the last two and a half years and living in Aspiration, Auroville.
Please reply within the enclosed post-card.
Thanking you,
Shama Prasad Paul
I did not see him.
When the Mother was in her body, she was explaining, inspiring, helping and guiding towards her Supreme Vision and Will. Then why people concerned did not respond to her Grace and let go the golden opportunity? Now they are groping in vain, because nothing is set right.
Here I should like to quote what I read in the book, Reincarnation: The Phoenix Fire Mystery, Compiled and Edited by Joseph Head and S.L. Cranston:
"... The evolutionary ascent must some day recommence in a new world, reborn from the old, but at a low stage of human development. Out of such or similar considerations, Eastern thought joins Western religious teaching in placing supreme importance upon the NOW. NOW is the hour for decision. Deluded is he who is always thinking 'tomorrow I will do better.
Buddha once handled the problem of procrastination in a rather startling fashion. It is told that upon meeting King Pasenadi of Kosali, the Buddha asked him this seemingly casual question: 'What have you been doing recently?' The king replied: 'Lord, I am afraid I have been very busy lately. My days have been filled with all kinds of things—none of them very serious or actually important, but I have been busy.' The Buddha however, seeing that 'busyness' tends to serve as an excuse for inaction in important matters, told King Pasenadi the story of the moving mountain.
‘Supposing’, said the Buddha, ‘that an overwhelming catastrophe were to strike the country, perhaps a violent breakup of the earth's crust, causing mighty earthquakes and shifting the dominant mountain range slowly yet inevitably down to the sea, covering the plains and bringing death and destruction to all in its path. Faced with this total, terrible and inescapable disaster, what would you do?
The King's reply was that he would accept the inevitable, have faith, make amends where he could for his past misdeeds and embrace death with a good heart while living righteously in the time he had left.
‘And yet’, said the Buddha, ‘surely all reliable messages carry the news that such a mountain is rolling remorselessly towards us for is not old-age and death approaching, and are not all barriers ineffective?’
Wide-awake now to the reality of life and death, King Pasenadi realised fully the fleeting nature of his existence and saw just how important it was that time should not be wasted in trivial pursuits.... posed with such a stark dilemma and seeing no possibility of escape, King Pasenadi dedicated himself once more to the wholehearted practice of Dharma, certain that joy and peace could be obtained only by the development of wisdom and compassion.
Thus against the background of numerous incarnations, Buddha viewed each life as a precious opportunity, one that could never be duplicated, and depending upon how it is lived, shifted the future up or down, for good or ill. The proverb `opportunity knocks but once' could apply here. It never knocks again exactly the same way; in the same psychological setting; in the same combination of circumstance and people."
I read in Service Letter March 1997 p. 7:
A Sadhak went to the Mother on his birthday. With infinite compassion she asked him: “My child, what would you like to have?” He said: “Mother, I want some more oil.”
Then the Mother asked an attendant to make the appropriate arrangements.
When the Sadhak left the room, she observed with disappointment: “I was prepared to give him everything!”
Here the Mother's words are apt:
Above all the complications of the so-called human wisdom stands the luminous simplicity of the Divine's Grace, ready to act if we allow it to do so.
The Mother has said correctly in Vol. 14, p. 163:
A self-willed man cannot be grateful—because when he gets what he wants he gives all the credit for it to his own will, and when he gets what he does not want he resents it badly and throws all the blame on whomever he considers responsible, God, man or Nature.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Gratitude
The year 1979 arrived.
The New Year card distributed in the Ashram depicted a photograph of the Mother on the balcony. These words from the Mother and Sri Aurobindo followed:
Let this year be a year of progress and transformation—one more step on the way leading to the Divine Realization.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Birthday Messages
Mother Durga! Rider on the lion, giver of all strength, Mother, beloved of Shiva! We, born from Thy parts of Power, we the youth of India, are seated here in Thy temple. Listen, O Mother; descend upon earth, make Thyself manifest in this land of India.
Sri Aurobindo, Writings in Bengali and Sanskrit: Hymn to Durga
Piero wrote to me on 3.4.79:
The work in Matrimandir is proceeding actively and we have now finally started the not-so-simple structure of the sphere. The inner chamber, the Room of the Mother, is quiet, vast, clean, empty; at present we have postponed the building work in order to proceed with the outer structure.
May the light of the Mother guide us.
Piero and Gloria wrote to me again on 7.11.79:
In Matrimandir: the roofs of the stores which were badly leaking have been renewed, order for 10 tons of steel placed, the last lorry of cement of the permit should come in few days and will be enough for at least 2 months, the construction of the new big crane (20 meter wide) suitable for the construction of the sphere is going on in the workshop. In the meanwhile the pre-casting of the beams for the outer cover is going on and the removal of the old wooden towers, used for the construction of the ribs and the meditation room, almost completed. We are also cleaning the whole area and putting properly in order the stores for tools and materials. We have also decided to do some work in the gardens, especilly around the banyan, in order to keep the area clean from all type of grasses, and made a protection around the tree; Narad from his side has fitted new water lines for the watering of the young trees, and is going on in his work.
Huta, I wished to write only few lines, but a full page is now there! Gloria has also written to Saralaben.
With affectionate regards, love from Piero and Gloria.
During the course of one year I received numerous letters from Aurovilians informing me about so many unpleasant things which happened in Auroville. Here is the gist of them:
Blockage of permits to buy materials for the Matrimandir, blockage of funds, suppression and censoring of important letters, cutting of water-pipes, beatings, threats to force people to quit Auroville, quarrels, disputes, clashes, creating problems, disharmony, accusations, all sorts of harassments, throwing stones in the middle of the night, harming people concerned, with strong opposition from the majority of Aurovilians against the hostility of opponents who brought division, disharmony in Auroville—opening the doors to violence—sheer barbarian and inhuman acts.
Aurovilians was not happy with the management and the way things were going on in the Matrimandir and in Auroville.
Let me quote the Mother about Self-control:
The largest number of difficulties that one has, come just from lack of control over one's actions and one's reaction to the actions of others.
According to one's nature and one's weaknesses, one must impose on oneself a discipline which should always be followed. For example, never to argue, never to reply when someone says or does something disagreable, never to discuss when one does not agree, it is well understood that one should never get into a temper when things or people are not the way one would like them to be.
Naturally, when one does not have the habit of controlling oneself it is a hard work to acquire this habit. But this is absolutely indispensable if one wants to make progress. The way is long and that is why one must have patience and a sincerity towards oneself which should never fail.
To be able to live in peace with others, control over oneself is indispensable and should be practised even by those who do not aspire for transformation.
The message of the year 1980 for all was:
Be sure that I am always present among you to guide and help you in your work and your Sadhana.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Relations with Others
The best way to express one's gratitude to the Divine is to feel simply happy.
With my blessings
I could gather from Aurovilians' letters to me that the situation in Auroville seemed to be deteriorating:
I was told that the Matrimandir office had been closed by the police, but still a group of Aurovilians continued their work quietly without intervention of the police. Aurovilians hoped to seek help from the Central Government, Delhi. I heard too about the terrible tussle between Shyamsunder and Aurovilians, so that he could not go to his house near the Matrimandir without escorts, also about the dissatisfaction and disbelief of villagers, and an acute financial crisis.
All these unpleasant things led the people concerned to take recourse to court-cases, legality, police and politics and so on.
The tussle between Aurovilians and the Society still went on. An Aurovilian wrote to me:
Despite many difficulties and setbacks the work in Matrimandir continues and proceeds well, ignoring the order of police, they are doing their duty and we are doing the duty which the Mother entrusted on us.
We are obliged to work in the Matrimandir against the law. But we are following the Higher Law.
I really admired the strong will power of the Aurovilians, and their perseverance.
Somebody suggested to me to send the booklet Matrimandir—The Mother's Truth and Love to Mr. J.R.D. Tata. I did so.
In answer to my letter, Mr. Tata's Executive Assistant, Mrs. M. Howgood wrote to me on 18.2.80:
Dear Miss Hindocha,
Mr J.R.D. Tata has asked me to thank you for your hand-written letter of the 31st January 1980 and to reply to it on his behalf.
Mr. Tata is interested in Auroville, his interest lies not in the spiritual and philosophical aspects of it as a creation of the Mother but in the constructive, and particularly rural uplift work that is being done by its citizens. It is for that reason that Mr. Tata has created a small foundation called AUROMITRA —Friends of Auroville Research Foundation, through which funds can be channelled to rural development work being done in Auroville.
Mr. Tata much appreciated your kind thought in sending him the booklet which he has seen with interest.
Your sincerely,
Mrs. M. Howgood
In this connection, let me quote Sri Aurobindo:
Men labour only after success and if they are fortunate enough to fail, it is because the wisdom and force of Nature overbear their intellectual cleverness. God alone knows when and how to blunder wisely and fail effectively.
I came to know from a reliable source that Dr. Karan Singh was pushing the Government to "take over" Auroville as a "living memorial of Sri Aurobindo". But Kireet Joshi and Mr. C.P.N. Singh were protecting Auroville from such a drastic decision, and hoped for a solution which could leave it in more freedom, in the spirit of a laboratory as the Mother wished.
Gloria wrote to me in November 1980:
On the 10th Nov. during the sunset in the sky appeared two wonderful rainbows one over the other, perfect in their half-circle, with such vivid colours of beauty never seen before, all the landscape was in a clear golden light. For many of us it was like the sign of Mother to announce that the bad times for Auroville were finished and a new age was coming. We did not yet know that on this very day the President had signed the Ordinance for Auroville. In that moment Piero was alone on top of Matrimandir, he felt also that it was a silent gesture of the Universal Mother towards the future. We are very proud to be in India, a country whose Prime Minister has the courage to fight for a true spirituality agaist the corruption which hides itself behind religious excuses. It is not by accident if Indira Gandhi gave a new chance to develop Auroville, now that the danger of a 3rd World War is so acute. Mother was saying in the Agenda in Sept '66, talking about the mis-take of the nations in creating more and more formidable means of destruction, that it was to balance this mistake that she had created Auroville, as an action in the invisible, a seed of Truth. And Sri Aurobindo told Mother that when the governments will come under the Supramental influence they will become more wise (Agenda, May '67).
Dear Huta, we hope now Auroville will become
"At last a place where one will be able to think only of the future."
"The city at the service of the Truth."
We will now very soon have the cement, after one year, and we will do concreting again in Matrimandir.
Is your work in Bombay going on well?
Your encouragement to have an unshakable faith in Mother's Victory has helped us very much to bear many difficulties. Now her Victory is becoming a reality.
In Mother's Light.
Gloria. Piero
Patricia from Auroville wrote to me:
"The Spirit of Auroville" is in front of me now—a call, and a constant reminder of the one thing that all of us here must become—this wonderful little picture with Mother's blessings and all the pertinent and powerful quotations. Your New Year's packets were received with such love and delight.
Truly, one feels them as real help now, as everything is so touched by Mother's Light, in these times of challenge. If ever I become a bit discouraged at the face that Auroville wears at present, I try to remember that sweet Spirit who is the true face of our City of Dawn. Surely, one day She will gaze from all our faces.
Thank you Huta, for giving and sharing as much as you do with your young brothers and sisters of Auroville.
At the service of truth.
Patricia
Bhaga from Auroville took many copies of Matrimandir—The Mother's Truth and Love from me. Some years later she wanted to get a book published in Auro Press, entitled The Spirit of Auroville. Bhaga and Bill Sullivan gave me the following typescript:
The Spirit of Auroville—550 pages. All Mother's messages and conversations about Auroville, arranged chronologically, with some brief introductions about the context of the quotations and a subject-index in the end. A special prepublication subscription at the reduced rate is offered to you at Rs. 100/-, including postage. Kindly transfer the amount by cheque or draft, payable to Auroville Trust, accompanied by a note specifying it for "The Spirit of Auroville" and indicating to which address it is to be sent. Please send it directly to Auroville Trust, Bharat Nivas, 605104 Auroville, Tamil Nadu.
They took blocks of the Mother's facsimiles from me to put in the book. Unfortunately, the book never came out because of controversies, clashes and oppositions. On top of everything they lost many of the precious blocks. Eventually, they made xeroxed bound copies and named this book: Auroville—in Mother's Words. They gave me a copy of the book.
During that period Bill suggested in the Auroville Committee that it would be nice if Huta's books were published in Auro Press. His suggestions were turned down with these words:
We don't want to publish her books. She is ambitious. She wants name and fame. Moreover, we don't want her here.
Touching! When the matter was reported to me, I was very much amused. I felt sorry for them. As a matter of fact, I do not depend on peoples' judgement and opinion. They praise one day and the next day they abuse me. That is what I have experienced throughout my life.
I like to recount this wonderful talk given to me by the Mother.
On 1.11.1963 the Mother gave me a card inscribed by her as follows:
This world is full of pitiable miseries—But of all beings those are the most to be pitied who are so small and so weak that they cannot avoid being nasty.
After a few days I took the card to the Mother and prayed to her to make me understand her message.
When I was one with the Supreme, the Pity came to me because there are innumerable beings upon this earth, who do not understand anything; they know nothing even about the Divine. They are full of ignorance and mischief—they are very small and cannot resist being nasty. They do not know what they are doing and why they are doing it. They are what they are. But I want these small beings to be transformed completely in order to become divine beings. I want perfection for everyone.
This experience I summed up in my message. First I wrote in French—just after the experience, on 17th September 1963. Then the next day I wrote the message in English.
This talk was seen and corrected by the Mother.
The Mother's talk calls to my mind her message:
To have a glimpse of the Truth, one must take at least one step back in one's consciousness, enter a little more deeply into one's being and try to perceive the play of forces behind the appearance, and the Divine Presence behind the play of forces.
The Mother, Questions and Answers (1929 - 1931): Niraya (Hell)
Here are Sri Aurobindo's words which are quite apt:
To look into ourselves and see and enter into ourselves and live within us is the first necessary step for the transformation of our nature and for the divine life.
Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine - II: The Divine Life
I recall an incident about gossip-mongers.
In 1966, Alice, my American friend who is PhD in Art, used to teach painting in Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. She often came to my house to know how the Mother taught me Savitri paintings and other visionary paintings, how to use various colours, etc., etc.
One afternoon she came and informed me that jealous and interested people had told her nasty and unpleasant things about me and advised her not to be friendly with me, because I was unfaithful to the Mother and I was an unrefined person, etc., etc.
I listened to her quietly and said:
Alice, look, I do not know anything about myself—neither good nor bad. It would be best if you seek the Mother's opinion in this regard.
She wrote to the Mother about this matter. I received Alice's letter dated 31.8.1966:
The reply came from the Mother this morning. She has written:
Be a friend of Huta without fear. If you love me, she will love you.
Some people have the bad habit of talking too much. When you talk much you are bound to speak nonsense.
The best is not to listen to them and to attach no importance to what they say.
When one has a big heart one can have friends and be faithful to them—provided the friends love the Divine!
So there! Isn't it beautiful? And of course (as I knew) you were right.
Tomorrow I will try the new paints from you.
And you will see the result (may be) then.
Hope you are well now.
Wishing you a very very happy day tomorrow.
Alice
Piero and Gloria worte to me on 26.6.81:
New York
Dearest Huta,
How do you do. We remember you often during our travel through this immense country. The presence of the Mother is really everywhere. In each place where we have gone, somebody connected with Her and Sri Aurobindo was awaiting us and receiving us with much love.
Yesterday we met for the second time George Nakashima, the architect who built Golconde. He is Japanese, a wonderful luminous person deeply interested in Matrimandir. He will give us his advice for the outer cover and the gardens of Matrimandir. We have collected a lot of information for the optical system and for the cooling of the Chamber, and presented slide-shows on Auroville and Matrimandir in different places. We have travelled so much and seen so many beautiful things.
We will be back to Auroville by the end of July.
With much love in Mother's Light,
Gloria Piero
I received a letter from La Boutique D'Auroville, Pondicherry Unit of Artisana Trust on 21.1.82:
21.1.82
We are sorry to inform you that we cannot sell any more your books "White Roses" and "About Savitri" Part I.
Recently we have decided to reinforce our policy to display and sell products only made or distributed by Auroville and we do not want to make any exception to this policy.
Yours faithfully
Patrice Gherardo
(Executive)
I was very much surprised and shocked. Surely I haven't written all the letters which appeared in White Roses. The Mother has written for the whole of humanity—making me only her instrument. For the Universal Nature is One.
In the book, About Savitri Part I, there are the Mother's explanations of each passage she had recited.
Human-made policy eventually fails. The Supreme Truth remains for ever.
She wrote to me on 1.4.1983:
Dear Smt. Hindocha,
Respected Nolinida sent me your letter of the 21st February along with your three beautiful books.
You were indeed fortunate to be with the Mother for so many years.
I have only had three brief glimpses of her. It was a privilege to be in her presence.
When you come to Delhi, please let me know. If I am in town, I shall be glad to meet you.
Indira Gandhi
The date was fixed on 17.2.84. I was to meet Mrs. Gandhi.
I flew to Delhi on 11.2.84. I stayed with Tara Jauhar at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch. She was very kind and helpful.
On 15th Mrs. Gandhi went to Moscow to attend the funeral of the President, Mr. Andropov.
On 16th evening her secretary, Mr. Dave sent the message by telephone that Mrs. Gandhi would see me the next day at 6.30 p.m. at her residence—1, Safdarjung Road.
The next day in the afternoon my very good friend Mohinidevi, wife of the late M.P. C.P.N. Singh came to the Ashram to take me the P.M.'s house.
I went to the Meditation Hall and prayed to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo to be with me.
We reached our destination at 6.15 or so. At the gate we were asked to get down. But Mohinidevi introduced herself to the guards. So we went straight to the porch where I alighted. My friend went back in the car and waited for me outside.
I was taken into a room where there were many chairs, I sat in one of them. I was absolutely blank but poised. Within a few moments two bearers came and greeted me in Hindi and asked me whether I would take tea, coffee or a cold drink. I said: "Nothing, thank you." After a few seconds another bearer came and asked me whether I wanted a heater, because in February Delhi is pretty cold. I said that I didn't need it and thanked him.
Then another bearer came and led me to an adjoining room which was small but very attractive. He told me in Hindi that Madam had already left the office and was on her way home. Then exactly at 6.35 Mrs. Gandhi entered the room. I rose from the sofa. She put her papers and files on a table and came to me. We greeted each other with smiles. The door was closed. We were alone.
I offered her a packet of books by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and other souvenirs, and said: "This is for your grandchildren." She gave a broad smile. I handed another packet and told her that it was for her. She received it with thanks.
She asked me to take my seat. I did so. She removed her Kashmiri shawl and folded it neatly with care and put it on a table near her sofa where she sat. I smiled to myself, because her scrupulousness reminded me of our Divine Mother.
Mrs. Gandhi was on my right side, but we were sitting very close. First she looked at the entwined fingers of her hands and then at me. She asked me softly:
"Do you wish to tell me anything?"
I smiled and answered: "No, I have come with good will and I wish to convey the Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's Message of Truth, Love and Peace along with their blessings."
Then I opened a lovely velvet coffee-coloured bag used by the Mother and took out an elegant box in which there were enamel-photographs of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo mounted in silver frames. Also there was a silver locket with the Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's symbols. I showed them to her, then put them back in the bag and offered them to her. She was very happy and touched it to her forehead with reverence. Once again she thanked me and leaned back in a relaxed manner.
I asked her "Are you tired?"
She answered: "No, I am not tired but worried about the Punjab situation. They are making a lot of trouble and killing many people."
And she became grave.
I asked her: "What about the Assam situation? Is it bad also?"
She replied: "No, it is not so bad. The situation is improving."
Then the talk turned on other subjects. In the course of it she referred to Suharto and his regime. She also talked about some political matters.
I said that to look after the affairs of the whole of India was a very difficult task. I added that even running a small factory and controlling labourers was not easy.
She smiled and nodded. Then suddenly I told her that Mr. Milton Obote—the President of Uganda—had been our clerk once upon a time in Africa (Kenya) where my father and four brothers had owned a factory. She asked me: "What factory?"
I said: "Sugar factory." She was very much amused.
I said: "If Nolini-da had been in his body, he would have been very happy that I have at last met you. But he passed away on 7th February. He was noble and kind. His death is a great loss to the Ashram."
She nodded and said: "Yes."
After that I talked to her about the Falsehood in the world and about the New World of which the Mother had spoken to me. I also told her what the Mother had revealed of the higher worlds in connection with the paintings of Savitri. She listened to me attentively and I found her more and more relaxed.
I stole a glance at her printed silk sari and her necklace of beads and I marked also her movements. She did not look her age. She was extremely charming. The most important thing I observed and felt from the occult and spiritual point of view was the soothing and refined vibrations emanating from her and creating an unusual aura around her. The Mother's Presence was constantly there with an overwhelming peace.
I said: "The Mother has given a lot of treasures—her precious documents which need to be well preserved. For, they belong to the whole world." She fully agreed, and affirmed the need, as if she were referring to her own valued possessions.
I did not realise the time. Mrs. Gandhi was very much at ease.
Then I said to her that I must take my leave and thanked her for sparing so much time. I added that I had been praying for her and would do so always. She thanked me again and again.
I got up. She too followed suit and bade me goodbye at the door.
This was my first and last meeting with her.
Then the guards led me to the gate where my friend was waiting in her car. She exclaimed:
"Why, Huta, I thought you would come soon. I saw the P.M.'s car entering the house at 6.30. It is half an hour. What did you talk about with her —what did she say?"
I replied: "Oh! Mohini, I am so dazed. I do not know what to say. I am very happy, and I thank you for everything."
I had not been nervous with the P.M. because she had made me feel at home.
I am not a politician—I could not approach the P.M. from that level, but from my inner being I found her a noble and an aristocratic person. I also felt that in her heart of hearts she loved true spirituality.
After I came back, I wrote her a thankful letter and also sent Messages to her which had been distributed in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram on the occasion of the Mother's birthday and the eighth leap-year Anniversary of the Supra-mental Manifestation. The P.M. appreciated the gesture through her letter dated: 13.3.84.
Again I received Mrs. Gandhi's letter dated 30.4.84:
Thank you for your letter of 24th and the Mother's blessings of which I am in special need.
Once more she wrote to me in answer to my letter:
In flight
Delhi-Amritsar
June 23, 1984
I think you have written several letters but looking at my file I see one of 4th May.
Do write whenever you feel like it.
It does seem true that we are walking in the darkest night when the dawn seems far away.
Here is her last letter to me:
New Delhi
September 21, 1984
I did not realise that I had not written to you since June. Yes, I have been receiving your letters.
You write that the period of religion is over. But what has taken its place is narrowing of concepts, revivalism and fundamentalism.
Things should change, but how?
I answered to her on 29.9.84:
"God gives Himself to His whole creation; no one religion holds the monopoly of His Grace."
My dear Indiraji,
Namaskar
Thank you so much for your letter dated 21.9.84.
I am pleased to learn that you have received all my letters.
You have endless work to do and countless things to attend to. How can you realise you haven't written to me since June?
I do understand your situation and do not expect you to answer each and every letter of mine. Nevertheless, an occasional letter from you will make me very happy.
You wrote: "...But what has taken its place is narrowing of concepts, revivalism and fundamentalism. Things should change, but how?"
The Mother has written in one of her books:
"It is only when people truly want their consciousness to be changed that their actions also can be changed.
"The conditions under which men live upon earth are the result of their state of consciousness. To seek to change the conditions without changing the consciousness is a vain chimera."
I have understood directly from the Mother and the books of Sri Aurobindo that now we have entered a new Age—the Age of a new Consciousness. The New Consciousness manifested upon earth on 1 January 1969. The Mother called It "The Superman Consciousness." We must try to live That.
The whole world cannot be changed in a trice. But if each one of us tries to change our consciousness, then eventually the great Vision of the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled one day.
A spirit was there that sought for its own deep self, Yet was content with fragments pushed in front And parts of living that belied the Whole But, pieced together, might one day be true. ||50.4||
From the occult point of view now the whole world is under the shadow of the governing force of a non-human being from the Vital World—the World of the Life-Force behind the world of Matter. The Mother calls this horrible being "The Lord of Falsehood—the Lord of Nations", because he tries his best to lead Nations as if he were their Master. He plays havoc in the world—especially in the Assemblies where the serious and important decisions are taken for the worlds' welfare. He overthrows creative and beautiful plans. He is pernicious. His emanations take possession of human minds —like Hitler, Stalin and others who have disruptive motives and want to regiment mankind.
I am enclosing a copy of one of my paintings from the book About Savitri with a comment of the Mother on a passage in Savitri. I have painted this picture according to her explanation.
The present world is not at all a pleasant one. It is terribly obstinate and obscure. Money, Power and Sex are prominent—and these are the cause of all troubles and catastrophes and what not....
Sri Aurobindo has written in Savitri:
Only were safe who kept God in their hearts: ||57.23||
When the Mother and I took up the new work of About Savitri after the work of Meditations on Savitri, she made comments which I tape-recorded. One of the explanations, which was her last comment, ran:
"This is the world as it seems to the eyes of an ignorant vanity that lives without knowing, sees without understanding and is cut off from its ORIGIN.
The 'WHY' of all this is hidden and unless it is discovered and lived consciously, life will always be an incoherent horror.
But we are here to discover, to know and to live, and we can bear the horror with the certitude that the Light, the Knowledge and the Purpose will be one day manifested.
With patience and firmness and quiet assurance we must go on, we must endure and we must realise."
With kindest thoughts and affection always in the Mother's Truth.
On 31.10.84 Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated brutally.
The death of Mrs. Gandhi shocked me terribly. I felt my heart heavy. I could not weep. My whole being became numb.
I saw her last journey on the TV. Tears were frozen in my eyes.
I will never forget her. My concern is and will always be what the Mother did in her and through her for the good of the country.
As a matter of fact, nobody can ever fathom the Divine's plan—His ways and His actions.
What has happened to Mrs. Gandhi is a part of what happens always to great souls who come upon earth to lead mankind. They are treated with sheer unkindness and incomprehension.
Death’s grip can break our bodies not our souls. ||106.163||
Sri Aurobindo has also written in Savitri, Bk. 6, p. 458:
Fate is a balance drawn in Destiny’s book. ||112.26|| Man can accept his fate, he can refuse. ||112.27|| Even if the One maintains the unseen decree He writes thy refusal in thy credit page: For doom is not a close, a mystic seal. ||112.28|| Arisen from the tragic crash of life, Arisen from the body’s torture and death, The spirit rises mightier by defeat; Its godlike wings grow wider with each fall. ||112.29|| Its splendid failures sum to victory. ||112.30||
We see how things change in the world. But one thing never changes or diminishes: The Supreme Truth and Love.
I wrote a letter of condolence to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi:
He replied on 22.11.1984:
Thank you for your sympathy.
My mother had a deep understanding and feeling for India's heritage and believed strongly that the spiritual values evolved over 5000 years could help the world to mitigate its present troubled state. This was part of her inspiration in her crusade for peace and international understanding.
You may certainly write to me when you wish.
Rajiv Gandhi
I wrote a letter to Roger Anger on 7.6.1987:
Greetings.
We never had a chance to exchange our views regarding the Matrimandir. The last time we met was years ago at my place. I could not express anything very clearly to you, because of my poor French. Since Shyamsunder was with us I was under the impression that he would surely convey my feeling to you. But unfortunately, he did not do so.
As far as I know, the Mother never wanted twelve huge petals 60 feet high around the Matrimandir. Instead she told Narad, others and me so many times about the splendid gardens—especially the one in Japanese style. She gave me hundreds of cards including Japanese cards depicting gardens, flowers, rocks and waterfalls.
Personally, I feel that twelve solid blocks of cement concrete are not practical—especially in Pondicherry weather. Besides the project is sheer waste of money, time and energy. What we need is coolness of greenery.
In 1974 you, Narad and other people concerned had a long meeting and you agreed that the twelve petals of the Matrimandir could be done with a grassy or green ground-cover if the gardeners could do it. Narad and others said that they could certainly do it. It was extremely nice of you to have consented to this plan at that time. But now again it seems you have changed your mind. I request you to reconsider the matter regarding the gardens around the Matrimandir. Instead of colossal petals which serve no purpose, kindly plan out the most beautiful gardens, rocks, waterfalls, ponds, tall trees, creepers around the Matrimandir, which will surely give the impression as if the globe is emerging from the splendour of Mother Nature.
I hope that you will share with me the enthusiastic aspiration to let things take shape according to our beloved Mother's Vision, so that what She in Her deep wisdom wanted during her lifetime may materialize. From Her high station in the spiritual unknown, She is sure to be watching how Her children work out in harmony Her Divine Dreams.
Wishing you all the best,
He did not answer. Fair enough!
Meanwhile I received a letter dated 9.6.87 from Mauna:
Namaste. May all be well with you.
The latest word from Germany tells us that we may expect the Soul of Matrimandir, the Crystal, by February next year. Perhaps it will reach us for Mother's and Auroville's birthday. Wouldn't that be perfect timing?
Love and Truth
Mauna
I sent to Piero a copy of my letter to Roger Anger
He wrote to me on 12.6.87:
Your letter to Roger shows that at last one person cares for Truth! It is important. Eventually Roger should spare Mother and Sri Aurobindo the load and falsehood of these ambitious useless costly decorations, that Mother did not want. But in the actual general acceptance of everything, who cares?
In Her Love
The Mother has written appropriately:
When men will understand that the Divine knows better than they do what is best for them, many of their difficulties will disappear.
I sent a letter to the Auroville Council as follows:
To The Members of Auroville Council
22.7.87
My dear brothers and sisters,
Greetings to all.
Although I am not a member of the Council, I take this opportunity to express my feeling regarding the Mother's Vision of the Matrimandir. She repeatedly said to many people that if the Matrimandir would be materialized, the world's problems would be solved—the course of the world would be changed. She told me that the Supreme Truth and the Supreme Love would manifest in the inner chamber.
I feel that we must not limit ourselves to the Ashram and Auroville alone, but think of the whole world, where the Supreme Force is also active. Whoever is sincere, open and receptive, the Force makes Its instrument.
I request you all—let us get together and work for the Divine in order to fulfil Her Dream.
All of us know how practical and precise the Mother was. She believed in the beauty of simplicity.
I am perfectly aware that the Mother said so many things to so many people —each a shade different from the other—as regards the Matrimandir. Nevertheless all are true and genuine. But according to time, situation and circumstances we may try our best to work out everything by Her Grace. She has given us many ways and means to do so. The only thing we need is what the Mother has written:
To establish at Auroville the harmonious atmosphere which, by definition, ought to reign there, the first step is for each one to watch within himself whatever is the cause of friction and misunderstanding. For these causes are always on both sides and each one's endeavour should be to efface them in himself first before demanding anything from others.
All of us have gone through so many confusions and controversies after the Mother's passing. I don't think we wish to go through yet another phase of crisis and setbacks. However, I request you all: Let us collaborate harmoniously and in unity to accomplish the Mother's Vision and Will. It is now high time we came to some definite programme for all-round understanding and co-operation.
Allow me to quote the Lord Buddha:
A man that stands alone, having decided to obey the Truth, may be weak and slip back into his old ways. Therefore stand ye together, assist one another, and strengthen one another's efforts.
I always have good will towards everybody and pray for the whole of humanity. We all are pearls set in one string—the string is the Mother. I feel that it is our duty to carry out Her wish of the New World. There is no difference between the Ashram and Auroville. For She has written:
The Ashram is the central consciousness. Auroville is one of the outward expressions. In both places equally the work is done for the Divine.
I remember M. André to have informed me more than once that when the Mother was on Her deathbed She lost all interest except in the Matrimandir. When She left Her body at 7.25 p.m., at that very moment the fourth pillar of Mahakali was just completed. It was not a coincidence—it was intentional from the spiritual and occult point of view.
I sincerely wish that the Mother's Will be carried out. Now it is high time we expedited Her Will, forgetting all the past reactions, and did something concretely to bring about the Supreme's Victory in all of us, as well as upon the Earth. We all came upon the earth to accomplish the mission the Divine has entrusted to us.
The Mother wrote to me on 6th November, 1955:
No child of mine can be a zero; in fact, each one of my children has his or her place and special mission to fulfil. I love them all equally and do for each one what is truly needed for his or her welfare and progress without any preference or partiality.
I have read Paolo's letter dated 18.8.87:
He says in his letter:
...I feel it should be mainly to protect the inner chamber with a solid and compact shell. So that this protection is lasting.
If we all make the effort to work in tune with the Mother's consciousness, Her Grace will flow and there will be no financial or any other difficulty. Moreover, the people whom the Mother has chosen for Her work will come back and join hands with all of us and work for Her enthusiastically. And, indeed, there will be real peace, happiness, joy and harmony.
Time certainly is running out. None of us is getting any younger. Don't we all aspire in our heart of hearts for the Eternal Bliss? Personally I do. We all are equal in the Mother’s sight and Light. In one of Her letters to me, she has written:
Among the souls there are no small and no big, no important and no ordinary—They are all equal and all Divine at their Origin.
With kindest thoughts in the Mother's Truth and Love.
They did not answer. On the contrary they laughed and mocked. I came to know this from an authentic source.
I did not mind and I will never mind, because I have no ulterior motive. Whatever I had written, it was with good will and nothing else.
I also felt inspired to write to Kireet Joshi, who after leaving the Ashram had been helping the Aurovilians very much in Delhi. Here is the letter I sent to him on 5.10.87:
A Light there is that leads, a Power that aids; ||89.53||
Dear Kireetbha
Namaskar.
So much water has flowed under the bridge these past many years. Time is running out. Life is too short to waste. That is why I was inspired to write this letter to you, knowing that you will surely understand the value of the Mother's Vision regarding the Matrimandir—where now so many controversies are going on among so many groups.
At the moment Roger Anger is here. He has appeared on the scene after ten years or so, and claimed to have sole right on the project and wishes to do things quite contrary to all that the Mother had wished. Piero Cicionesi who worked from scratch in the Matrimandir is not heard at all.
Although I do not go there, I know certain things. I am enclosing copies of letters I have written to Roger and the Members of Auroville Council. Kindly judge them for yourself and answer these people who oppose and argue and hinder the Mother's work. Please do not let them distort the Mother's beautiful Dream. As a matter of fact, it is high time you came back to the Ashram and saw that the Matrimandir would be completed according to the Mother's wish.
When the Mother was the Queen of Egypt, she wanted to build a unique shrine and a big city. I am enclosing the xerox copy of the mummy-picture of the Queen and the text which I have written. This portion is a part of The Story of a Soul which I have been writing. The Mother encouraged me to do so. She has given this message for it:
This is the interesting story of how a being discovers the Divine Life.
I am giving only outlines in Mother India. But I have to write fourteen volumes—each will be almost hundreds of pages! Please pray for me.
I have so much to tell you—all in tune with the Mother's Consciousness. But I wonder when you will be here! Mohini is well. Sometimes we meet and talk for hours. She gave me your address and told me of your feeling that the Ashram is your true home. But, of course, you are a child of the Mother and where else can you go to if not to Her? So Kireetbhai, whatever you had to do in Delhi, you have done successfully. Now you are very much needed here. I personally feel that you may fulfil the Mother's wish. I am certain your soul will be very happy here. I trust you are well and busy—very busy as always.
Kireetbhai, believe me, I have no axe to grind. I am very happy and content, because I feel constantly the Peace and Presence of the Supreme Lord, which can never be bought with the wealth of the world.
Ending the letter with a lovely quotation from the Mother:
We have only one thing to do, the perfect surrender of which Sri Aurobindo speaks, the total self-giving to the Divine Will whatever happens, even in the midst of the night.
There is the night and there is the sun, the night and the sun, again the night, many nights, but one must cling to the Will to surrender, cling to it as through a tempest, and give up everything into the hands of the Supreme Lord, until the day when the Sun comes forever, the total Victory.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: 15 November 1958
With kindest thoughts and warm regards
Perhaps due to numerous political commitments Kireetbhai did not answer!
I received a nice letter from Gloria and Piero, who were taking a short holiday:
Kodaikanal
9 October. 1987
Thank you for your encouragement and the beautiful prayer of Mother —"Grant lastly that its action may be the exact and sincere expression of its proclaimed ideals." I like it very much. You must really know by heart all that Mother has written, to be able to find always the most appropriate word for every circumstance; and really the world and Auroville too, is "falling back always into the same stupidities!"
Yesterday, in a long hearty walk, we have discovered a solitary, wild small lake. It was so beautiful in its natural simplicity surrounded by meadows and young trees, in spite of the fact that it is man-made (it is the catchment area for the water-supply of Kodaikanal Township). We have immediately thought of Mother, and of you and your dream for the Matrimandir garden. What a pity that Roger has not understood the beauty of this kind of solution. If we had started 15 years ago to exacavate for the water, and made bore-wells and planted trees, now there would have been already a magnificent garden.
We will come back on the 15th October. The 13th is the silver anniversary of our marriage and we prefer to be still here in this wonderful nature where one can feel Mother so close, and with our daughter who is here in the school, rather than in Auroville where tension and madness are awaiting us. For Piero, these days of peace were really necessary.
We feel you very close in our aspiration for the truth, with much love and hope in Her Victory.
Thank you for the letter and your comprehension of the situation in Matrimandir. We enjoy some more days of solitude and nature, enjoying real cascades, without electric pumps hidden behind!
Later in the month they were back in Auroville, and wrote to me again on 20.10.87:
Your letter sent through Mauna reached us between two painful General Meetings with Roger, and helped us to surrender our work to the Divine Will. There was nothing else to do since we do not want the Matrimandir to become the place of a battle between brothers.
But the most important thing is not lost: Piero, in spite of the situation, had the strength to offer himself to continue the work for the Inner Chamber, to be sure that this at least may be completed as closely as possible to the vision of Mother.
Thank a lot for your nice gifts. Specially the booklet of Sri Aurobindo quotations is very beautiful.
We wish to come to see you very soon, in the meanwhile we send you our best wishes for Diwali, and pray with you for the Supreme Light to dissolve the darkness of the ignorance.
With deep love
Gloria and Piero wrote to me on 5.11.87:
Thank you very much for encouraging letter, and "The Hour of God" (we know it very well). You are right in saying that those words of Sri Aurobindo are never to be forgotten.
Piero is still working for the Inner Chamber (these days on the Sri Aurobindo symbol), and in one way feels grateful to the Mother to have liberated him from the heavy responsibility of the huge work for the exterior of Matrimandir.
Yes, the most important thing is to realize the Divine in oneself, and we cannot judge which is the best way.
With love and sincerity,
I received a letter from Piero:
Sorry for my long silence, but I am still adapting myself to the new situation and awaiting the last decisions regarding the inner room to happen next February. I hope sincerely that we are not going to end with Aurovilians divided around Mother's symbol and I pray that Roger will accept finally the vision of Mother as our basis for execution and design. In the grand bazaar of Roger's Matrimandir, there must be somewhere a place for the Mother vision!
With best wishes for the New Year,
Yet another letter dated 26.5.88 from Gloria and Piero:
Here is the new Brochure for Matrimandir. Since Mauna is not here, I don't know if you have already received one.
I have been very happy to have seen you last time; your wisdom and faith are always an encouragement for me.
The white lotus you gave me has inaugurated the model in cement in true size of Mother's Symbol in the center of the Inner Chamber, that was just finished. Piero put it in Sri Aurobindo's Symbol where the lotus has to be.
So, in the new phase of work, you were very present.
With all my good wishes and my love.
In Mother's Victory
Mauna wrote to me on 1.9.1988:
Namaste
Now that we have made the completion of the Inner Chamber as our first and foremost priority so as to instal the crystal.
Huta, do you know that the Chamber is being built exactly according to the Mother's Vision and that people from all over the world are responding to Her call to have it completed as soon as possible? A truly wonderful momentum has thus been created, extremely inspiring and encouraging, with innumerable devotees using the opportunity to build themselves into this very special space, the Inner Room, which Mother will then make "into a strong centre" for the world.
I read the following in The Indian Express of 2.9.88:
Auroville Foundation Bill introduced.
New Delhi, Sept 1 (UNI): Human Resource Development Minister P. Shiv Shankar on Wednesday introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to provide for acquisition and transfer of the undertakings of Auroville in Pondicherry to a foundation.
The Auroville Foundation Bill 1988 seeks to establish the foundation for the development of Auroville in accordance with its original charter. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the cultural township of Auroville was founded in February 1968 on the basis of a charter announced by the Mother. The formation and growth of Auroville was welcomed by the Government of India as a "concrete effort at creating international understanding". However, soon after the Mother died in 1973, "unhappy developments overtook this project" and the Central Government was forced to take over temporarily the management of Auroville from the Sri Aurobindo Society and others.
The properties relating to Auroville currently owned by Sri Aurobindo Society and other trusts would vest in the new body corporate called Auroville Foundation. Under the proposed legislation, assets created by Sri Aurobindo Society through donations would become the responsibility of the Foundation. There would be an International Advisory Council to advise the Central Government and the Governing Board of the Foundation on matters concerning development and Management of Auroville. The Management of the Foundation would vest in a governing body constituted by the Government. None of the existing societies or trusts would have a right of representation on the Governing Body, the statement said.
I also read about the Auroville Foundation in a book called Auroville—The City of Dawn:
In September 1988, the Government of India passed the Auroville Foundation Act to vest all undertakings related to Auroville into one legal autonomous body, in order to secure future development of Auroville in accordance with its original Charter. On the basis of this Act, the Auroville Foundation came into force in February 1991 when the Central Government nominated the members of the Government Board.
Auroville Organisation is composed by three important factors:
1) International Advisory Council 2) The Governing Board 3) Working Committee in Auroville.
Mauna wrote to me on 5.12.1988:
Namaste,
Here is promised letter! We were all very happy to look at the beautiful objects and together with Piero I have handed the four items (the 3 pieces of Jewelry from Minaben and the small lump of gold from your goodself) to Arjun, who will duly have them deposited. Please receive our joyful thanks for these lovely tokens of support for Mother's Matrimandir. We have written to Mrs. Minaben in London as well and will send her the Matrimandir Newsletter regularly.
Thank you so much for intermediating all this and also for your support and friendship.
Love in Her,
Mauna, Secretary
The gold was meant for Sri Aurobindo's gold symbol in the inner Chamber.
Gloria wrote to me:
Christmas 1988 AV
The International symposium of "Innovative Applications of Shells and Spatial Forms" in which Piero was invited to present the Matrimandir, was extremely interesting and of high level.
I was happy to see Matrimandir between the most daring and astonishing structures in the world, and it was one way to let Sri Aurobindo be known, to the skilled technologists and scientists. In this moment we have in Auroville a very nice meeting between 45 very young people from Russia (USSR), USA and India, called "The Peace Trees." It is a new hope for the world, the actual change happening in the Soviet Union. These Russian young guests are very interested in Sri Aurobindo and Indian philosophy.
I hope you are in a good health, and I wish you a luminous 1989 in Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's Light.
With much love,
I received a letter dated 20.4.89 from Gloria and Piero:
I am thinking of you for Mother's Darshan, so close to her you are for me. It is really a pity I missed the occasion to see you in the Matrimandir. I am happy you came to see the fixing of the marble in the Inner Chamber. Happy to see you soon again at the Matrimandir.
Let us work to accelerate this marvellous time, helping. Mother as you do.
On 1.6.1989 I came to know that Roger Anger was planning to construct 12 Meditation Rooms around the Matrimandir in the form of petals.
Many people including myself never appreciated the idea. There was a great difference of opinion between Roger and Piero regarding the outer structure of Matrimandir and gardens. Piero was not ready to implement Roger's vision. Otherwise he said: "It would become the Roger mandir."
On 19.7.89 Piero telephoned me in the morning and told me that he had decided to resign from the Matrimandir work, because of difficulties with Roger. I requested him to be patient and not to take any rash step, because the Mother's work should not suffer or be ruined. Moreover the Mother had chosen him as her instrument.
Piero did not resign. The Mother heard my prayer!
On 29.7.89 some Aurovilians came to my house and talked about Auroville and the Matrimandir.
I received a letter dated 3.12.89 from Gloria and Piero:
In Italy, Piero has done scientific and technical research to perfect the optical solar system for the Matrimandir. We have also been to Germany, as guests of an engineer specialized in high computer calculation, follower of Sri Aurobindo and Mother since 1963. He has generously offered to help to find the exact diameter needed for the sun-ray which has to hit the crystal globe. This is a very complex calculation.
In Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's Light.
Time passed very quickly.
Gloria wrote to me on 23.8.1990:
Piero is concentrating all his energy to finish the Inner Chamber. He brought from Italy the photovoltaic cell that would control the ray of sun, and checked it here with the computer; it works perfectly and he is very relieved that this is also done.
He sends you all his affection.
Once again I received a letter dated 21.11.90 from Gloria:
I am very grateful that you received me with so much love on 17th No-vember though unexpected. It gave me strength and confidence in the future.
I transmitted all your messages to Piero. He also enjoyed our meeting and taste of your jokes.
He is very busy for the last 3 days with an engineer from Vizag, a specialist in air-conditioning for the Inner Chamber.
I was very happy to see with what marvellous care and intensity you are preparing your books for the Mother.
With all my love,
The Inner Chamber of the Matrimandir was almost ready to receive the crystal globe which is the biggest ever made in the world. It was created by the Zeiss Company of West Germany. It is a pure crystal-clear glass—one could see numerous reflections in it yet the crystal retains its own individuality and splendour.
On 26.4.91 it came to the Matrimandir at 10 o'clock at night from abroad. In August I was invited by Piero and Gloria to have a glimpse of it. I found the crystal globe incredible.
Piero was very happy, because of the completion—the last magnificent image to be installed in the middle of the Inner Chamber, which was the Mother's Vision.
On 22.8.91 this wonderful crystal globe was placed in the middle of the Inner Chamber. It rested on the model of Sri Aurobindo's symbol; later the crystal globe was installed on Sri Aurobindo's symbol made out of pure gold.
Piero and Gloria put their whole heart and soul into working in the Inner Chamber. They have fulfilled the Mother's wish.
Piero's work was over in the Matrimandir.
Piero and Gloria wrote to me on 30.8.91.
Your visit to the Inner Chamber in the most significant moment of its realization has been a joy and an honour for us. Again thank you to have come. If we remember right, the 1st Sept, is your physical Birthday. All our best wishes to you in the Love and Light of Mother.
The crystal globe reminds me of the Mother's prayer to the Divine Master on May 25, 1914. It is simply charming:
O Divine Master of love and purity, grant that in its stages, its smallest activities, this instrument which wants to serve Thee worthily may be purified of all egoism, all error, all obscurity, so that nothing in it may impair, deform or stop Thy action. How many little recesses lie yet in shadow, far from the full light of Thy illumination; for these I ask the supreme happiness of this illumination.
Oh, to be the pure flawless crystal which lets Thy Divine Ray pass without obscuring, colouring, or distorting it!—not from a desire for perfection but so that Thy work may be done as perfectly as possible.
And when I ask Thee this, that which speaks to Thee is the entire Earth, aspiring to be this pure diamond, a perfect reflector of Thy Supreme Light. All the hearts of men beat within my heart, all their thoughts vibrate in my thought, the slightest aspiration of a docile animal or a modest plant unite with my formidable aspiration, and all this rises towards Thee, for the conquest of Thy Love and Light, scaling the summits of Being to attain Thee, ravish Thee from Thy motionless beatitude and make Thee penetrate the darkness of suffering to transform it into Divine Joy, into sovereign Peace. And this violence is made of an infinite love which gives itself and trustful security which smiles with the certitude of Thy Perfect Unity.
O my sweet Master, Thou art the Triumpher and the Triumph, the Victor and the Victory.
The Inner Chamber and Crystal globe recalls to my memory these charming verses from Savitri:
In the passion of its solitary dream It lay like a closed soundless oratory Where sleeps a consecrated argent floor Lit by a single and untrembling ray And an invisible Presence kneels in prayer. ||88.12||
After the Crystal globe had been installed, I told Dyumanbhai, the then Managing Trustee of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, that even if he had anything against Auroville and Aurovilians, he must not neglect visiting the Matrimandir, because the Inner Chamber and the Crystal globe are the Mother's Vision and we should respect it.
Then Dyumanbhai, Krishna, Behram, Shipra C. Gupta and myself went to the Matrimandir. He entered the Inner Chamber. There he felt peace and he meditated for about 20 minutes or so. Afterwards he said that he would like to come again.
After the formation of the Auroville Foundation a number of people with good will suggested to me:
"Huta, since the Mother wished and visioned your guardianship at the Matrimandir, why don't you meet the concerned people and the top officials of the Central Government for your right?"
I was very much amused, and answered:
"The people concerned and the top officials have not appointed me the guardian of the Matrimandir. It was the Supreme Lord who made me so. If He wants me to be there, it is OK with me. If He doesn't want me there, it is also OK with me. For I am not obsessed with or attached to the Matrimandir or anything in this world. I live a moment-to-moment life and the rest I leave to the Almighty who knows what is the best for me and for the whole world. Surely, He is wiser than human beings."
Dyumanbhai gave me the following letter dated 16th August 1986 and asked me to keep it carefully:
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust
Telegram: Aurobindo-Pondicherry
Pondicherry—605002
S. India
26th August 1986
The Mother asked me to keep a copy of her letter dated 26th December 1969 before delivering it to Huta.
The letter was about a house to be built for Huta near the Matrimandir in Auroville, of which the Mother had appointed Huta the guardian in 1965.
The Mother's letter to Huta was as follows:
"I told you myself that this money was used for the first day ceremony of Auroville; and when the time of building Auroville, your pavilion would be built without asking you anything more. When I gave you the receipt, you did not want to take it, but I told you to keep it as a proof that you had already paid for your pavilion, so that no more money should be asked from you.
There has never been any mention of the possibility of returning the money to you—This is quite out of question.
Dyuman
Trustee
Pondicherry.
Also I received a number of letters from Carlo Schuller urging me to take action and offering his support.
Eventually I felt that now it was essential to clarify the situation and finally make public what happened between the Mother and me in May 1973.
My eternal gratitude to the Mother for releasing me from the guardianship of the Matrimandir.
I gave my long article under the title An Important Announcement to Amal Kiran (K.D. Sethna) the Editor of Mother India—Monthly Review of Culture. It appeared in the Special Issue—15 August 1994: Sri Aurobindo's Birth Anniversary.
After reading the article, Amal remarked:
Huta, it is good. In fact, within me I have never seen you in the Matrimandir as a guardian.
Now my guardianship holds only for the spiritual treasures the Mother has given me in abundance. The paintings of Savitri guided by the Mother, her six hundred sketches, my tape-recordings of the Mother's recitations of selected passages from the whole of Savitri which correspond with the Savitri paintings, the Mother's reading of Savitri in unbroken sequence and her comments, tape-recorded by me, under the title About Savitri given by the Mother, the paintings of Sri Aurobindo's poems, and numerous other visionary paintings, thousands of the Mother's letters to me, her talks corrected by her, the slides of my paintings, the video-films of the Savitri paintings that were made in Germany by Michel Klostermann, also so many things published and unpublished of which I have lost count! Sunil Bhattacharya composed the Savitri music along with the Mother's recitations recorded by me now being played in the Play Ground during the meditation on Thursdays and Sundays. The Mother had arranged this through me, because I prayed to her.
The mystery of the Mother's working is profound, incalculable. These spiritual riches, new and unknown, belong to the whole world. For we are all equal.
Finally I announce that I stand released by the Mother's own consent from the part she once asked me to play as the guardian of the Matrimandir. This is final.
On 10.2.55 the Mother accepted me as an Ashramite. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is my real home and will remain so for ever. Also it will be the scene of the manifold work I have to do by the Mother's wish. I am very proud to be an Ashramite. I have genuine sympathy with Auroville, because I have quite a number of friends there who are full of good will. Also, now there is Savitri Bhavan for which I have a true affinity.
It is a great joy to share the Mother's Treasures with Savitri Bhavan ever since it came into existence.
Here I recall one of Dr. Karan Singh's letters to me dated 6.12.1995 in connection with Savitri Bhavan and Auroville:
I will be glad to meet you when I am next in Pondicherry.
Warm congratulations upon setting up the Havyavahana Trust. This is a beautiful name, and I am sure that it will be a very creative endeavour revolving around all the spiritual material that the Mother gave you from time to time. It would also be good for you to associate yourself with Savitri Bhavan in Auroville when it is ready.
It is true that Auroville continues to have many problems. I was happy that with the completion of the Inner Chamber of Matrimandir some tangible elevation of consciousness would take place. I must admit that so far there are no such indications, but the Divine works in subtle and mysterious ways and we must continue to have faith in Its ultimate triumph.
Once again Dr. Karan Singh wrote to me on 3.3.1999:
Dr. Karan Singh
3, Nyaya Marg
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi-110 021
3 March 1999
It is some time now since we have met. I was in Auroville briefly over the weekend and visited Savitri Bhavan which is beginning to develop with your goodwill and invaluable contribution. This will indeed be a suitable venue for the rare and precious artefacts of the Mother that you have collected over the years, as well as for your own remarkable artistic creations. I look forward to its development over the next year or two and will try and meet with you when I visit Auroville later this year.
I hope this finds you well.
Yours sincerely, Karan Singh
On 8.8.2000 I went to the Matrimandir with my younger sister, Usha, her grandson Joy and my friends. I did not go up to the Inner Chamber with them. Barbara Lohman a secretary of the Matrimandir was kind enough to take me round to show me the rose gardens near the Matrimandir. She pointed out the place where her husband Ruud Lohman was buried under a tree. Barbara also showed me the place, very close to the Matrimandir, where the digging of the lake was in progress. Inwardly I was shocked to see the plans and development of the gardens and lake, which was not at all in tune with the Mother's Consciousness, because I recalled the words She spoke to me on 25.6.1965:
The shrine must have a vast area—not like this [the Mother took Her hand-kerchief in Her palm and closed Her hand], so small like this.
But here, gardens and lake are very close to the Matrimandir. Everything was crowded, congested and suffocating.
Roger Anger and his colleagues must have found from their office the copy of the Mother's sketch which she had given to me on 25.6.1965. They have misused it without my knowledge, because I have never given it to them. If they would have done according to the Mother's ideas and wishes, I would have been happy and satisfied. But alas! this so-called lake is a sheer distortion of the Mother's Vision. This is certainly not what the Mother wanted.
I am told that in 1995 Mr. Harald Kraft, a leading water-engineer from Ger-many who has been associated with Auroville since the 1970s, realised that the Mother's vision of a large lake at the centre of Auroville could provide the solution for assuring a constant supply of pure water to the city, even when it grows to have 50,000 inhabitants, as she had wished. He has prepared a proposal explaining how this can be done, and I believe this is now under discussion in Auroville. I sincerely hope that the Mother's wish for a big lake around the Matrimandir will be fulfilled. But it should be very far from the Matrimandir, because the Mother wanted the Matrimandir as a huge island.
In fact, I would have no right to comment on the subject if the Mother had not explained to me in detail her plan through her talks, letters and sketches. I also dislike the idea of colossal discs which are extremely impractical and grotesque. There are too many disadvantages: birds and bees build their nests in grooves, cleaning problems, in case some discs get loose, they may fall down and prove to be dangerous.
The Mother believed in simplicity and practicality and not decorative designs. I feel very sorry and sad to see all these things which are quite contrary to the Mother's conceptions and wish.
Anand of Auroform showed me on 14.10.1989 a very beautiful exterior marble model of the Matrimandir. BUT...
I read in Auroville Today, January 2000, No. 132 about the outer form of the Matrimandir:
Cleaning the skin—technical solutions are being researched.
Obviously, this technique involves an enormous amount of money. It is a sheer waste of time to maintain and preserve the gigantic outer structure. This is really impractical.
Afterwards I received a letter dated 18.8.2000 from Barbara:
Well, that was a wonderful evening we spent wandering through the Matrimandir Gardens, present and "future". I think you enjoyed it as much as I did, and I hope you will take the time to come out here more often so that we can do it again. The Gardens' energy is starting to come now, so there should be visible beginnings soon. You can understand now why we are so anxious to incorporate any new/old material which might be with you, as we launch the work on the Gardens. Do let me know as soon as the book is ready.
Meanwhile, lots of love from everyone at Matrimandir. Apologies of this pen!
Barbara
The Mother gave innumerable messages and talks to the people concerned regarding the Matrimandir and its surroundings. The following message from the Mother is indeed admirable:
Matrimandir is here to teach people that it is not by escaping from the world or ignoring it that they will realise the Divine in life. Matrimandir must be the symbol of this Truth.
The Matrimandir is certainly not a place where people can indulge in their vital enjoyments and their egos. It is not a tourist spot, either. It is a place for absorption of Truth, Love, Beauty and Peace. The whole world can find its home in the Heart of the Supreme Mother. These lines from Savitri are very appropriate:
A deep of compassion, a hushed sanctuary, Her inward help unbarred a gate in heaven; Love in her was wider than the universe, The whole world could take refuge in her single heart. ||3.37||
Heavenly Beauty can only be created by peace, silence and harmony. In peace everything can be realised.
The Matrimandir must be a place where one can feel and create a sacred atmosphere and pure vibrations in order to realise and unite with the Supreme Truth and the Supreme Love and then spread these influences all over the world.
The Mother never asked anything from us. She simply gave and gave end-lessly. But a great wish of hers was the realisation of the Matrimandir. Several time she told me as well as others that she wanted the Matrimandir to be ready by her birth-centenary: February 21, 1978.
Indeed, we can only repay Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, for all that they have done and are still doing for us, by fulfilling faithfully and sincerely their "Dream" upon earth. Then and then alone is life worth living. And to fulfil that "Dream" we must weave into our lives the Message which the Mother gave me on my spiritual birthday in 1961:
Truth is supreme harmony and supreme delight.
All disorder, all suffering is a falsehood.
The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Doctors and Medicines
This world of misery and confusion is a world of falsehood.
Only a change of consciousness and the conquest over falsehood can change the conditions of this world.
I hope that future generations will be able to rectify any mistakes commited by the old ones and make the Mother happy in order to fulfil her Supreme Vision of Truth and Love. In Sri Aurobindo's Light:
यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते । अप्राप्य मनसा सह । आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् । न विभेति कुतश्चनेति । एतं ह वाव न तपति । किमहं साधु नाकरवम् । किमहं पापमकरवमिति । स य एवं विद्वानेते आत्मानं स्पृणुते । उभे ह्येवैष एते आत्मानं स्पृणुते । य एवं वेद । इत्युपनिषत् ।
सह नाववस्तु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
The Bliss of the Eternal from which words turn back without attaining and mind also returns baffled: who knows the Bliss of the Eternal, he fears not for aught in this world or elsewhere. Verily, to him comes not remorse and her torment saying, "Why have I left undone the good and why have I done that which was evil?" For he who knows the Eternal, knows these and delivers from them his Spirit; yea, he knows both evil and good for what they are and delivers his Spirit, who knows the Eternal. And this is Upanishad, the secret of the Veda.
Together may He protect us, together may He possess us, together may we make unto us strength and virility. May our reading be full of light and power. May we never hate. OM! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Sri Aurobindo, Kena and Other Upanishads: Taittiriya Upanishad
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