Dancing peacocks,
singing birds, lush green trees playing with the wind, pretty geese running
around, rabbits and many more beautiful nature weaved together make a cherubic
little village known as Sri Aurobindo Ashram in the heart of urban
Delhi. A row of pomegranate flowers welcomes one inside the campus.
Like a poem stitched
together with lovely expressions, the place houses many sweet creations. At one
corner is a shrine and a meditation hall dedicated to The Mother and
Sri Aurobindo. The shrine is both royal and simple at the same time.
Fragrance of the colorful flowers and Tulasi leaves fill the place.
Evenings are musical at the meditation hall. Inmates of the Ashram sing from
their heart a soft melody accompanied by harmonium and tambura that
flows like a river around the place. The musical evenings end with readings
from The Mother’s works.
A calm residential
block is built around a flower courtyard and it houses the inmates and guests
staying at the Ashram for a short time. Numerous trees adorn the block and
one is awakened by the call of birds every morning. Volunteers clean
the place and create a merry environment around. The dining hall serves
sumptuous food and sings of a very homely atmosphere.
I have read about the
Vedic schools of ancient India and wondered how it would be if it is re-created
today with a modern outlook. Wise rishis are teachers and children stay with
them during the initial years of their growth. There is not the
procedure of studying with rules, fixed classrooms and reading textbooks. It is
all about just being in the atmosphere and growing together. Learning just
happens, along with everyone. During my stay at the Ashram, I was fortunate for
having spent a week with the children and diyas of the garden of
wisdom called Mirambika where I found glimpses of the ancient schools
taking shape.
Freedom is the breeze
blowing in the garden, didis stand as tall trees, diyas are
glowing lamps and children are the beautiful flowers. Vedic chants reverberate
in the place every morning and they mark the beginning of a beautiful day. I
walked in the garden everyday breathing its oxygen of freedom and slightly
touched the flowers growing there. I worked on adding some beauty to the garden
with the little of what I have. The flowers spoke to me in their happy glee as
I decorated a small part with pictures of sunshine, peacock and lotus.
Everybody in the garden are just happy being there. That is all it is all
about. Isn’t it? And Sweet Mother is there, smiling in everyone’s heart,
through all the joys and sorrows.
The sunshine sparkles
among the leaves every morning, squirrels run around squeaking their wishes,
peacocks walk along, little chicks happily move around, even fall is
filled with sweet melodies and the moon shines protectively through the
night. All these and much more make up the little village of the Ashram. With
sweet memories in my heart I came back home with the richness of having made a
beautiful journey. Perhaps, it is the place where Savitri and Satyavan are
living.
-
Sandhya
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