Attracting crowds since being set up in Pondicherry in 1926, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is still engaged in imparting knowledge to transform human life through integral yoga. Devotees from around the world flock here to study Sri Aurobindo’s messages and celebrate his life. Hotel Atithi located by Pondicherry’s main thoroughfare provides some of the most comfortable Pondicherry accommodation and easy access to city sights.
The ashram on the Rue de la Marine in the French section of the city is part of Pondicherry’s distinct heritage architectural style. Standing on the edge of the street its signature French colonial style façade is painted a soothing dove grey and is distinguished by the long line of people waiting to gain entrance on a daily basis.
Sri Aurobindo Ghose a philosopher and poet moved to Pondicherry when it was a French protectorate to escape British persecution. He developed his yoga based philosophy there and set up the ashram together with a French mystic, painter and musician who shared his views, referred to as The Mother. She ran the ashram after Sri Aurobindo’s death in the 1950s. The main ashram building contains the remains of the founders. Their ‘samadhi’ is under a frangipani tree in the central courtyard and is a place of reverence for their many devotees.
The ashram is now quite a complex organization with about 20 departments each of which is run by a sadhak or spiritual aspirant. Each of the sadaks meets with the current administrator of the Ashram several times a day to receive guidance. Unlike other such institutions there is no particular path to follow only the practice of integral yoga and the study of the writings of the two founders. Each sadhak can follow whatever spiritual path they deem suitable to attain the final outcome. The ashram is said to be one of the wealthiest such institutions in India and therefore are able to support many projects to enrich the lives of people who come there seeking salvation and those needing assistance around the area.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.