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At the beginning of 1999, in the context of our information and fund-raising effort
we had prepared our annual report to the many donors and other well-wishers and
potential donors. In this report we meant to consolidate the understanding of the
Matrimandir as a complete sanctuary and we had included a separate paper of
presentation on the Gardens and Park.
I had drafted it with the contributions and help of the team.
*On the Matrimandir Gardens, January 1999.
“The completion of the Matrimandir includes and implies, besides the completion of
its sphere and of its twelve surrounding Petals clad in red Agra stone, other equally
important parts and aspects, which are as necessary to the Matrimandir’s function
and action, namely its Gardens and the infrastructure of its whole immediate
environment.
It is now time to present these aspects and works, as they involve a very
considerable amount of labour, creativity, financial input and time, and they are
essential to the wholeness of the Matrimandir as a symbol and as a site and source
of inspiration for the times to come.
The whole thrust and spirit behind the creation of these Gardens is one of
collaboration with Nature and plenitude of experience.
The Mother has shown us how Beauty is the sign and expression of the Divine’s
Presence in Matter.
She has Herself established such a conscious contact with flowers and plants that
She could give to any particular flower its true unique name and significance; She
thus confirmed the experience of the ages as, for instance, in the naming of Tulsi,
which is always presented as an offering to the Lord, alternately “Devotion” and
“New Birth”.
The very idea of the Matrimandir actually issued from Her dream of one day
creating the most beautiful gardens in the world, as a site for the sanctuary of Love
and Truth.
When, at the birth of Auroville, this idea came closer to the field of manifestation,
as the centre and living soul of the adventure, and the plans were drawn, She
named each of the 12 Inner Gardens according to states of consciousness and
explained how they would be living atmospheres actively conveying each of these
states; She then added a 13
th
garden, the garden of Unity, to centre around the
Banyan Tree which acts as the geographical centre of the city of Auroville, in which
the significance of the other 12 would be represented.
She described the environing park as expressing the central aspiration of Nature
towards Light and Fullness of being.
She wanted the presence of water, and a great simplicity; and She insisted on the
whole area being silent, truly quiet; She called it “Peace”.
Since the beginning of Auroville, much research has been done and a lot of
experience has been gained, from land reclamation, reforestation, ecological
balance, water conservation, to developing new plants, particularly orchids and
hibiscuses, and introducing a large number of non-indigenous species.