These 111
photographs of the Samadhi, seven inches by ten inches in size, taken at
different times of the day and from different angles, have been collected and
printed on art paper in this volume. They evoke the presence of this sacred
place with its atmosphere of deep peace and serenity. Many of the photographs
capture the beauty of the floral decorations and designs that are created twice
daily on the Samadhi. A short introduction records how the care of the Samadhi
and its environs developed from December 1950 to the present and includes many
of the Mother's instructions on how things were to be kept and arranged.
The Author’s Foreword
This collection of
photographs is an attempt to capture something of the atmosphere of the
Samadhi.
Over the years I have been
taking pictures of the Samadhi from different angles, at different times of the
day and night, and have tried to record the many colourful floral designs and
decorations.
An exhibition in February
2007 enabled me to share these pictures with my brothers and sisters in the
Ashram.
Pranab-da, to whom the
pictures were first shown, suggested later that they could be brought out as a
book. A similar suggestion came from many persons who visited the exhibition.
The next question that
naturally came up was regarding finance. Pranab-da assured me that it would be
taken care of. Many of our former students as well as long-time devotees of the
Mother and Sri Aurobindo came forward and contributed generously to make this
book a reality. I am thankful to them.
This work is the result of
collaboration: some of the photographs of the Samadhi were taken by Chandranath
Ganguli, Kiran Kakkad and Mohan Mistry. Shape to the book was given by Kiran
Mehra. Computer prints were made by Bhupal Mahana and Sushil Patel. Chandranath
scanned over a hundred of them for final printing.
I do indeed thank them and
the many other friends not mentioned here.
It is Mother's abundant
Grace and guidance that has made this possible.
My grateful pranam at Her
Feet.
Gangaram Malwade
The Samadhi is a place where there is Peace at all times… Pranab
Kumar Bhattacharya
The Samadhi of our lord Sri
Aurobindo and our Mother is a place where there is Peace at all times and an
abiding and constant atmosphere of belonging, contentment, confidence, calm,
inspiration, joy, love and their living presence.
Different times of the day
and night showing an atmosphere of different moods. The Samadhi is a place of
peace and a loving feeling of deep rooted belonging.
Gangaram
Malwade introduces the Book
(This short write-up, a brief history, served as an introductory
note to an exhibition of photographs of the Samadhi,—of the varied designs in
the flower arrangement,—held at the Ashram Exhibition House in February 2007)
Sri Aurobindo's body was
laid to rest on 9th December 1950 at about 4.00 p.m. and the top slab was
sealed with waterproof material and flowers were offered on the top.
The next day, 10th December
1950, early in the morning a number of Ashramites came and arranged flowers on
the Samadhi. At that time the flower room was inside the Ashram (now Pujalal’s
room). Later, the flower room was shifted. As per The Mother's instruction, one
agarbatti (incense stick) was kept burning throughout the day and night and I
was given the work of purchasing agarbatti’s from the market. About a year or
so later, when our Cottage Industries started preparing agarbatti’s and offered
them for the Samadhi, the purchasing from the market was stopped. Volunteers
were given the work to take care of the Samadhi and to see that the place around
the Samadhi was kept clean and one agarbatti was always kept burning. Everyday,
fresh flowers were arranged on the Samadhi.
I was working in
During the daytime, especially in the
mornings, people would bring flowers for the Samadhi, and do pranam. Many
sadhaks used to came to the Samadhi for pranam before going for their work, or
before going for Balcony Darshan of The Mother early in the morning. This was a
routine.
Sometime in late January 1951, we found
that some who were coming to the Samadhi were bringing agarbattis; also, some
coins were found placed on the Samadhi along with the flowers. This I reported
to The Mother. She said, “If the people are offering coins, you better arrange
to keep a small box on one corner of the Samadhi, so that they may put the
money in the box rather then putting it in the flower decoration. In the
meantime I shall ask Udar to prepare a small brass box in Harpagon and fix it
near the Samadhi”. The Mother also told me to inform all those on duty to tell
the persons who wanted to offer money, that they should put it in the box and
not on the Samadhi flowers. I got a small marble box with a loose lid from
Kameshwar Rao and kept it as a temporary measure on the north-east corner of
the Samadhi. This is how the offering box started. About 4 or 5 days later i.e.
on 27.01.1951 one brass box (6"x 3"
x 2 ½ ) was fixed near the Samadhi. The Mother gave me both
the keys of the offering box and told me, “You will open the box everyday and
bring the offerings to me on the next day in the morning when you come for
pranam. I said “Yes Mother”.
In those days, the money was in
rupee-anna-pai denominations. I would collect the money at night and write the
amount in a note book, and offer it to The Mother the next morning. She would sign
and write ‘Blessings’ in the note book.
After few days someone brought a
coconut and broke it in front of the Samadhi. Immediately I reported it to The
Mother. She told me to stop that saying, “I don't want religious activities
here. You inform Reception Service.” I immediately came down and stopped the
person and told him not to repeat it, then informed the Reception Service of
The Mother’s words.
In the same way, after a few days,
someone brought camphor and started burning it in front of the Samadhi. It was
brought to The Mother's notice. The Mother said, “I don't want any fire here.
Stop it. Only one agarbatti should burn day and night.” I told the person and
stopped it and informed the Reception Service. Since then both these things are
stopped for good.
From the beginning, for some years
(1950 to 1966), we used to paint the Samadhi with ‘Snowcem’, specially just
before Darshan days and whenever it was required. The suggestion to fix marble
stones was approved by The Mother in the year 1967 and it was done.
In 1966, a bigger offering box was
needed, which The Mother sanctioned and it was made in Harpagon and fitted on
1.8.1966.1 was wondering what to do with the old small one. This was referred
to The Mother and on 2.8.1966. She sent word through Amrita-da, Saying, “Ask
him (Gangaram) to keep it as a souvenir”.
In 1970, there was a proposal by three
Sadhaks (K, M & P) that the offering box be made in silver, for which they
would bear the expenses. The Mother approved of the idea on 24.2.1970. A silver
box was prepared in
When The Mother left Her body on
17.11.1973, as per the instructions given by Her to Pranab-da, Her body was
laid to rest in the second (top) chamber of the Samadhi and sealed with
waterproof material. The flower decorations on the Samadhi continued.
After some years, again it became
necessary to have a still bigger offering box. The silver box touched and
blessed by The Mother was kept as it was, and it continues to be there even
now. A new one, this time in stainless steel, was prepared and placed at the
corner of the pillar in line with the previous one.
The flower decorations on the Samadhi
used to be done early in the morning, from 4.00 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. and this
still continues. However, it was found that flowers did not remain fresh till
the evening. Hence, in 1984, it was suggested by Nirod-da that the flowers be
changed at mid-day, using fresh flowers for the Samadhi decorations and this is
what is being done even today.
The book has been published by the Department
of Physical Education,
http://www.sabda.in/catalog/show.php?id=eNews802
Here are two representative photographs of the Samadhi:
