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*”Our position today and the reasons for it. October 3, 2002.
1-
Historical background. Part One.
. In 1965, the Mother describes Her vision of a central park, with a pavilion of Truth
and Love sheltered in it, to Satprem and to Huta respectively.
. In 1966-67, the Mother agrees to a plan proposed by Roger A, with the
Matrimandir as an open lotus surrounded by a medium-sized lake and connected by
bridges to the Banyan tree and the guardian’s house; around this lake are 12
gardens, the last of which is located near to the Banyan tree; tall trees stand at
their outer boundary.
. In December 1969, on Paolo’s request through Satprem to begin the construction
of a centre, as an axis and a focus for the energies of the Aurovilians, the Mother
refers to the above plan and describes it at length.
. Following this conversation, the Mother has the decisive experience of being inside
the Inner Room of the Matrimandir, and describes it in great detail, gives its exact
measurements and has a drawing made of it by Udar, a disciple engineer. This
description She gives both to Satprem and to Paolo together.
. In January 1970, Roger A proposes different shapes for the outer structure of the
Matrimandir. However Paolo had the intuition of a sphere emerging from the earth,
which Roger A also comes to refer to as the best solution; this is accepted and
adopted by the Mother.
. It is then agreed, on Satprem’s suggestion, that the construction may start at
once even though there is no water available to create a lake around the
Matrimandir as yet; it will be done afterwards, when water becomes available (the
Mother mentions again the desalination process as the solution).
; The Mother also explains how She has entrusted Narad with the task of creating
the entire gardens area.
. Later on, the Mother informs Satprem that Roger A has asked Her to give names
to 12 underground rooms that he proposes to build around the sphere.
There are no records available of the Mother’s agreement, if any, to the changes
brought about by the introduction of the 12 petals around the sphere.
Yet we have Her written statement, in 1971, confirming that
“the gardens are as
important as the Matrimandir itself”.
. Early 1971, the excavation work begins.
. Early 1972, the foundations of the sphere are cast and actual construction begins.
The first trees are planted in the Outer Gardens.
The Amphitheatre is built around the Urn, on Vikas’s and Roger A’s suggestion.
Everyone is working according to a commonly accepted plan of the “Peace Area”:
the Oval island, which is ten times the size of the Matrimandir in section and
contains the Matrimandir and its Petals, the Banyan tree, the Amphitheatre and the
12 Inner Gardens; a water channel all around it, and the Outer Gardens beyond it,
where large trees from all over the world are to be planted.