Integral Inclusivity in the Matrimandir

The first time I attended the Matrimandir tour, I was struck by a remark from the tour guide when he said, “Most cities have at their center a parliamentary building or a financial district. Auroville is a city with the Matrimandir – a meditation centre at its focus; this speaks volumes about the nature of this city.”

As I spent more time in Auroville, I came to realise that the Matrimandir is not, in fact, the physical centre of Auroville as yet, and that there are mixed opinions about the appearance of this structure. Over the last three years, I have introduced Auroville to many friends and family. Those who choose to visit the Matrimandir often return awestruck. When they ask me what I think of its design, I often tell them that to me, its appearance matters less than its significance.

I find it fascinating that so many residents of Auroville carry a living memory of working on the manifestation of this central structure. That the journey of the Matrimandir’s manifestation is so closely linked to that of the community itself – and that the complex is not complete as per its design – indicates the hurdles the community must still overcome.

On a second tour, I recall a visitor asking the guide if the grandeur of the Matrimandir was in contradiction to the principles of Auroville. To this the guide replied, “This is a place to be absorbed in beauty.” I looked around me and took in the serene calm of the Matrimandir gardens. The attention to detail is impeccable, vast stretches of rolling green lawns, every blade of grass standing in perfection, even as the only humans in sight were the few gardeners and volunteers working in silent devotion.

The same summer, the ongoing drought in Tamil Nadu was written about in the News and Notes and awareness raised in Auroville regarding the judicious use of water. It was also brought to our attention that the water requirement of the Matrimandir gardens was equivalent to that of the rest of Auroville’s residents put together. This information struck me and made me question what “beauty” really is. Is it a static state or a dynamic living concept? Does it appear constant through time or adapt itself to blend with natural cycles? How can it remain inclusive and yet be preserved?

The execution of the design of the Matrimandir gardens as well as the water bodies around it is not yet complete. It is this last phase which proves to be the most challenging for the community, since it describes our relationship with nature and brings up questions of conservation and judicious use of physical life’s most vital element: Water. It is interesting to note that the solution to the problem of water overuse in the Matrimandir today lies in the very design of the same structure.

A report prepared by Auroville Centre for Scientific Research in 2013 claimed that the water bodies, if appropriately designed, will not just cover the water needs of the Matrimandir gardens but will also further contribute to the water security of Auroville, providing water for up to 15,000 people. However, there remain hurdles in reconciling varying points of view. On one hand, there is a deep emotional and spiritual connection with the structure which shapes a certain approach to its maintenance and inspires a particular aesthetic. On the other hand, there is also within the community a deep understanding of ecological preservation and in particular water management. Water, being a common resource, gives opportunity for both dispute as well as unity and cooperation. The limited availability of water compels us to act in a spirit of unity.

In the case of the Matrimandir, the physical manifestation of its design is in itself the manifestation of Human Unity.

This painting is called “Integral inclusivity in the Matrimandir” – “inclusive” to me is not just a matter of including all humans but also all living creatures with the unique and often hidden roles they play in maintaining natural balance and harmony. It is not a realistic or precise image of the Matrimandir as it stands today, but a fluid depiction of the possibility it inspires in me. It shows the three elements of the Matrimandir complex: The Matrimandir itself which represents union with the Divine; the banyan tree – which represents union with nature –, and the amphitheater - which represents union with the community. Together they represent Human Unity.