Auromere donates 10% of its annual profit to support the maintenance and further development of Auroville.
About Auroville
Founded in 1968 as a place to discover and work out a deep and lasting human unity,
inclusive of and beyond all social, racial, political, and religious identities, Auroville can be translated as “the City of Dawn”.
History
On February 28th, 1968, people from around the world – representing 124 nations – gathered together for the inauguration, offering soil from their homeland into an urn now situated as a focal point of the Amphitheatre near the center of the city. Since then, thousands of volunteers from just about every place on earth have contributed in helping bring this ideal to life.
A Dream
Already in 1954, the Mother expressed her vision for an ideal city, a dream towards which Auroville and humanity can aspire:
There should be somewhere on earth a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme Truth.
A place of peace, concord and harmony where all the fighting instincts of man would be used exclusively to conquer the causes of his sufferings and miseries, to surmount his weaknesses and ignorance, to triumph over his limitations and incapacities a place where the needs of the spirit and the concern for progress would take precedence over the satisfaction of desires and passions, the search for pleasure and material enjoyment.
… The earth is certainly not ready to realize 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 doing on a small scale, in proportion to our modest means.
The achievement is indeed far from being perfect, 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, A Dream
Today
Auroville is recognized as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness. Its sovereignty is officially sanctioned by the government of India, and since 1966 UNESCO has passed five resolutions in support of its development.
Currently around 2,500 citizens from 49 countries live in Auroville on a permanent basis, with many more visiting each year.
Words of Support
Dalai Lama, during his first visit to Auroville in January 1973:
“We are deeply impressed by the spiritual aim behind the building of an international city called Auroville. The importance of the effort to achieve human unity and international cooperation by the creation of such a city cannot be overemphasized; nor can we neglect the immense benefit to be acquired from it.”
And in 1993: “(In Auroville) I noticed that there is a very good harmony, a good relationship with the local people, and many local Indians seem to fully participate and enjoy working with the westerners. This is very good. Auroville has a spirit of community, irrespective of religion, culture or race. This is really what we need.” Dalai Lama in Auroville
Ram Dass, visiting Auroville in December 1992, during a talk with Aurovilians:
“There are very few expressions on earth at present that have Auroville’s level of aspiration. The challenge will be to keep it up. It’s an incredible game that you’re playing, and you have all my emotional support.”
Indira Gandhi, (late) Prime Minister of India, on 25th March 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.”
Margaret Mead, USA, world-renowned anthropologist, in 1973:
“Auroville is a community dedicated to working (…) to develop living forms, both architectural and environmental, which will transcend our level of community living which is fraught with such heavy penalties to human beings and to the global environment. (…) I believe that Auroville deserves help …”
Dr. Ismael Serageldin, Vice President, Environmentally Sustainable Development, World Bank:
“Auroville has the advantage of having a unique specificity, which is the combination of spirituality with action in the material world. Spirituality does indeed call forth the better aspects of our nature and enables us to fuse passion and compassion in our work. But we also need to ground in reality, and this is something that is unique in this experience here. It is not disengagement from life, but engagement with it. It results in a holistic view where reductionist science can go side by side with spiritual uplifting. It seems to me that you are building on real achievements here.” (on 1st February 1998, during an international seminar on the creation of the Sri Aurobindo World Centre for Human Unity in Auroville)
Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, during a visit in 2014:
“Sri Aurobindo will also forever be associated with the founding of Auroville – a unique international township founded in 1968, as a place where people from different cultural, educational and political backgrounds can work together towards the common goal of unity through diversity. I have indeed visited this magical place. Today, his learning and vision continue to draw devotees from the world over following his profound Integral Yoga teachings.” Director-General of UNESCO visits Auroville
Robert Muller, Assistant Secretary-General to the United Nations, in 1982:
“As one deeply involved and concerned with education as a means crucial to world peace and an evolving humanity, I have greatly appreciated the ideals and work being done by Auroville (…) I would encourage and invite your help in Auroville’s realisation for the Earth.”
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, in honor of the Golden Jubilee celebrating Auroville’s 50th birthday, February 2018:
Friends, the Rig Veda states: “आनो भद्रा: क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वत:”; Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides. May Auroville continue to come up with ideas to empower the ordinary citizens of this country. May people from far and wide bring with them new ideas. May Auroville become the centre where these ideas are synthesized. May Auroville serve as a beacon to the world. May it be the guardian which calls for breaking down narrow walls of the mind. May it continue to invite everyone to celebrate the possibilities of humanity’s one-ness. May the spirit of Maharishi Aurobindo and the Divine Mother, continue to guide Auroville to the eventual fulfilment of its lofty founding vision. Thank You. India’s PM visits Auroville, February 2018
The Matrimandir
Located at the center of the city is the Matrimandir, the soul of Auroville.
For more info, see this video from the Auroville Visitors Centre.