View source for Matrimandir

{{Short description|Spiritual building in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = Matrimandir
| native_name         = Auroville Matri Mandir
| former_names        =
| alternate_names     =
| image               = The Matrimandir in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India.jpg
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Matrimandir
| map_type            = 
| map_alt             = 
| map_caption         = 
| altitude            = 
| building_type       = stainless steel sphere gold plated
| architectural_style = spherical
| structural_system   = 
| cost                =  1250 crores 
| client              = 
| owner               = 
| location            = 
| address             = 
| location_town       = [[Auroville]], Tamil Nadu
| location_country    = India
| coordinates         = {{coord|12.007208|79.810658|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date = 21 February 1971
| completion_date     = February 2008
| inauguration_date   =
| renovation_date     = 
| height              = 23.5 meters
| diameter            = 
| floor_count         = 
| floor_area          = 
| main_contractor     = 
| architect           = [[Mirra Alfassa]]<br />[[Roger Anger]]
| architecture_firm   =
| structural_engineer = 
| services_engineer   = 
| civil_engineer      = 
| awards              =
| website             =  [https://web.archive.org/web/20050617084623/http://www.auroville.org/thecity/matrimandir/mm_main.htm Description of the Matrimandir from Auroville's website]
| references          =
}}

The '''Matrimandir''' is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of [[integral yoga]] in the centre of [[Auroville]] established by [[Mirra Alfassa]] of the [[Sri Aurobindo Ashram]]. It is called ''Soul of the City'' ([[French language|French]]: ''L'âme de la ville'') and situated in a large open space called ''Peace''.

==Structure and surroundings==
{{Sri Aurobindo}}

The Matrimandir took 37 years to build, from laying the foundation stone at sunrise on 21 February 1971—Alfassa's 93rd birthday—to its completion in May 2008. It is in the form of a huge sphere surrounded by twelve petals. Golden discs cover the [[geodesic dome]] and reflect sunlight, which gives the structure its characteristic radiance. Inside the central dome is a meditation hall known as the ''inner chamber''—this contains the largest optically-perfect glass globe in the world. The Matrimandir and its surrounding gardens in the central "Peace area" are open to the public by appointment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visiting the Matrimandir {{!}} Auroville |url=https://auroville.org/page/visiting-the-matrimandir |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=auroville.org}}</ref>

The four main pillars that support the structure of Matrimandir and carry the inner chamber have been set at the four main directions of the compass. These four pillars are symbolic of the four aspects of the mother as described by [[Sri Aurobindo]] and are named after these four aspects.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

{{cquote|''Four great Aspects of the Mother, four of her leading Powers and Personalities have stood in front in her guidance of this Universe and in her dealings with the terrestrial play''<ref name="q1">Aurobindo, Sri. ''The Mother'' p36-37 (Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, 1987, {{ISBN|81-7058-059-5}})</ref>}}

{| class="wikitable"
| width=20% | '''Name''' || '''Symbolism'''
|- 
||[[Ishwari|Maheswari]] (south pillar)||"...her personality of calm wideness and comprehending wisdom and tranquil benignity and inexhaustible compassion and sovereign and surpassing majesty and all-ruling greatness".<ref name="q1" />
|-
||[[Mahakali]] (north pillar)||"...her power of splendid strength and irresistible passion, her warrior mood, her overwhelming will, her impetuous swiftness and world-shaking force".<ref name="q1" />
|-
||[[Mahalakshmi]] (east pillar)||"...vivid and sweet and wonderful with her deep secret of beauty and harmony and fine rhythm, her intricate and subtle opulence, her compelling attraction and captivating grace".<ref name="q1" />
|-
||[[Mahasaraswati|Mahasaraswathi]] (west pillar)||"...equipped with her close and profound capacity of intimate knowledge and careful flawless work and quiet and exact perfection in all things".<ref name="q1" />
|}

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="thumb">
File:Matrimandir1.JPG|Matrimandir and the banyan tree, the centre of [[Auroville]]
File:Matrimandir.JPG|The Matrimandir in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India
File:Matrimandir Auroville Dome.jpg|The golden discs that build up the Matrimandir dome
File:Human-sized golden disc of Matrimandir.jpg|An Auroville volunteer posing next to one of the golden discs used in Matrimandir's dome.
File:Golden_Mosaic.jpg|Closeup of one of the golden discs.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Matrimandir}}
*[http://www.auroville.org/contents/252 Visiting the Matrimandir]
*[http://matacom.com Chronicles of the Inner Chamber] - by the 'Matrimandir Action Committee'
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Integral Yoga|state=expanded}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Sri Aurobindo]]
[[Category:Meditation]]
[[Category:Tourism in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Visionary environments]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Auroville]]
[[Category:Geodesic domes]]


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