Sri Aurobindo Ashram Darshan Messages :
"Darshan" in Sanskrit means "seeing". It refers here to seeing Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to receive their blessings. After Sri Aurobindo retired from daily contact with his disciples, he saw them only a few times a year on what came to be known as the Darshan days. During Sri Aurobindo's lifetime, messages were given out only occasionally on the Darshan days; afterwards, they were issued regularly. Some of these were written expressly for the occasion, others were passages chosen from the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. That tradition still continues today. The day starts with a meditation around the samadhi. During the day, sadhaks and devotees are allowed to visit either Sri Aurobindo's or the Mother's room, depending on the occasion. Message cards containing passages from their works are distributed to all who attend the Darshan.
Important dates in Ashram :
Shortly after the Siddhi day in November 1926, Sri Aurobindo retired from daily contact with his disciples and placed the Mother in charge of their care. Thereafter he saw them only a few times a year on what came to be known as Darshan days. The Sanskrit word "Darshan" means "seeing" and refers, in this context, to seeing Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to receive their blessings. At first there were three Darshan days: the Mother's birthday, Sri Aurobindo's birthday, and the Siddhi day. In 1939 a fourth day was added: the Mother's final arrival in Pondicherry. On these occasions, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother sat together in a small room, while the sadhaks and devotees approached one by one and offered flowers and bowed down at their feet. After Sri Aurobindo left his body in 1950, the Mother continued to give Darshan on these days. From 1963 onwards, she gave Darshan from the terrace for five or ten minutes as she gazed upon those who had gathered in the street below.
"Darshan" in Sanskrit means "seeing". It refers here to seeing Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to receive their blessings. After Sri Aurobindo retired from daily contact with his disciples, he saw them only a few times a year on what came to be known as the Darshan days. During Sri Aurobindo's lifetime, messages were given out only occasionally on the Darshan days; afterwards, they were issued regularly. Some of these were written expressly for the occasion, others were passages chosen from the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. That tradition still continues today. The day starts with a meditation around the samadhi. During the day, sadhaks and devotees are allowed to visit either Sri Aurobindo's or the Mother's room, depending on the occasion. Message cards containing passages from their works are distributed to all who attend the Darshan.
Important dates in Ashram :
Shortly after the Siddhi day in November 1926, Sri Aurobindo retired from daily contact with his disciples and placed the Mother in charge of their care. Thereafter he saw them only a few times a year on what came to be known as Darshan days. The Sanskrit word "Darshan" means "seeing" and refers, in this context, to seeing Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to receive their blessings. At first there were three Darshan days: the Mother's birthday, Sri Aurobindo's birthday, and the Siddhi day. In 1939 a fourth day was added: the Mother's final arrival in Pondicherry. On these occasions, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother sat together in a small room, while the sadhaks and devotees approached one by one and offered flowers and bowed down at their feet. After Sri Aurobindo left his body in 1950, the Mother continued to give Darshan on these days. From 1963 onwards, she gave Darshan from the terrace for five or ten minutes as she gazed upon those who had gathered in the street below.
Ashram Guest House :
The Ashram offers accommodation in a number of guest houses situated within a mile of the main Ashram building. These guest houses are meant primarily for visitors to Sri Aurobindo Ashram and not for tourists looking out for cheap accommodation during their stay in Pondicherry. Hence strict rules of cleanliness and conduct apply in all the guest houses. Visitors from abroad must be registered at the Government's Foreigners' Registration Office.
(These Details were given by my friend Vidyolatha)
