One Union Territoy….three flavours…one identity
Mahe, Karaikal and Yanam make the picture perfect for puducherry. Adding a charm to the life and times’ that define puducherry, the three cities give a unique peep into the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. It is a diversified spiritual community and forms a vibrant part of the town, for the dynamic character of the community reflects the life-affirming aim of Sri Aurobindo’s Yoga. Work as an offering to the Divine is an essential aspect of the Yoga. At present the community consists of more than 2000 individuals, including 400 students of the Centre of Education. In the spiritual discipline at the Ashram called the Integral Yoga, there are no obligatory practices, no rituals, no compulsory meditations or systematic instructions in yoga. Each follower is left free to determine the course and pace of his discipline in accordance with his nature. But the general principle of the Yoga is the same for all, there must be surrender to the Divine Principle and an opening to the Divine force so that it may transform one’s being. In the courtyard in the Ashram’s main building (referred to as ‘the Ashram’) lies THE SAMADHI, a white-marbled shrine, the final resting place of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.
Auroville
Auroville “The City of Dawn”, is planned for 50,000 inhabitants. It is located on a low-lying plateau a few kilometres north of puducherry. It was on 28th February 1968 when youth representing 128 countries and all Indian States placed earth from their native places in an urn symbolising the creation of a city dedicated to human unity and international understanding. Since then Aurovillians have been working tirelessly to realize the idea set by The Mother of a city that will manifest human unity in diversity, a testing ground and laboratory for the next step in human evolution. At the centre stands Matrimandir, the ‘soul of Auroville’, a place for quiet reflection and concentration. Radiating out, beyond the Matrimandir Gardens, will be four zones – the industrial, cultural, residential and international.
Villianur 10 kms from puducherry is located the Sri Gokilambal Thirukameshwara Temple. Thousands of devotees converge here for a ten-day annual festival called Brahmotsavam held during May-June along with the appearance of the full moon. The huge 15 m tall temple chariot is taken out in a procession by a devout crowd. A secular practice arried over from the French days, when the French governors themselves used to draw the cars. In fact, today the Lt. Governor of puducherry ritually joins the heave.
Manakulla Vinayakar Temple
Located behind the Raj Nivas this Ganesha temple has an interesting story. A neighbouring Frenchman finding the place of worship a nuisance made several futile attempts to do away with the deity. Still, it kept reappearing. Convinced he turned an active believer. Therefore it is also fondly referred to as Vellakaran (white man) Pillai (ganesha). A young elephant named Lakshmi sometimes stands in front of the temple to give you blessings in the form of a gentle tap on the head.
Varadaraja Perumal Temple
It is said to have been founded in 600 AD when statues of the Hindu Gods, Rama, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman were brought by fishermen from the sea. The main deity is Venkatachalapathy (Vishnu) with a Narasimha (an avatar of Vishnu) behind
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