We took a drive down the highway to Matrimandir, a gathering place for some "spiritual" people at a specially constructed spherically-shaped "worship center". As I understand it, rich people from various places contributed to the building of this place, and even the military volunteered to help.
It takes its name from a woman the devotees call The Mother. The followers seem to be believe in peace and harmony, love and sweetness, or some such.
There are people living on the grounds, but as I understand it, in humble abodes. I asked what was the major income source for the place - answer, the gift shop.
"Although its goal is to become self-sufficient and generate funds from its various businesses (printing, electronics, food processing, handicrafts, etc.) it receives funds from Government of India and a number of domestic and foreign organizations."
-http://www.ashanet.org/yale/html/Auroville_files/SiteVisit_02.htm
It took us an hour or more to get down there and the road was a typical highway you might find anywhere in America - four lane, divided road, cars traveling normal highway speeds (50-60mph). The countryside seemed to have more palms and open land than many places in the States.
We swung by the former French colony of Pondicherry. Quaint old French colonial homes and buildings. (All images here are from a postcard) On the beach was a giant tribute to Gandhi in a covered structure. The beach was pretty enough, but it was very, very hot and humid. I guess my high blood pressure kicked in and I was really sweltering. I had a hat, thankfully, but apparently turned quite red with heat exhaustion. We found an Americanized restaurant that was air-conditioned, and I recovered somewhat, though my stomach was feeling tender and I could only eat something mild.
We saw some antique shops, not air-conditioned, with some fascinating stuff, but clearly not aimed at the penny-pinching business traveler, but at the high-rollers or maybe those searching for a show piece for a corporate office. We passed on everything.
The Matrimandir site is outside of Pondicherry, rather remote. We drove on dirt roads through little towns that seemed very poor. By contrast, the grounds around Matrimandir are in good shape, clearly improved for the benefit of visitors. There is a gift shop, a sort of instructional center, some lovely gardens. The Matrimandir structure is spherical, as I said, (one person described it as a slightly flattened golf ball), gold colored, and the inside of the sphere is a worship chamber lit only by some kind of crystal at the top that disperses the light. The "worshipers" meditate, thinking of the wonderfulness of the place.
The grounds are neatly groomed, but I suspect the groundskeepers are impoverished, living on illusion. Normally visitors are allowed in the sphere, after viewing a fifteen-minute film telling the story of the place, but the day we were there it was closed for repairs.
It seemed oddly appropriate to me. The whole place impressed me as stunningly sad, run by wishful thinkers sponging off the kindness of others - some rich sponsors perhaps - and the gift shop. Isn't it funny that this place that seems to eschew materialism couldn't exist without it?
The whole place, alas, is a joke, but not a funny one.
You can look it up, and the notion of the surrounding "village" of Auroville. I warn you though, you will find a lot of nonsense. Some visitors have written that they were sure the place was spiritual and significant, but they (sometimes sheepishly) admit - they didn't get it. Their faith is strong, but it is clearly faith in smoke and wind.
I will, no doubt, be thought of as an unenlightened dull mind for my lack of appreciation of the place. Uh huh. But baloney is baloney. And that which tries to replace God is foolishness.
"To whom would you liken Me," God asks in Isaiah's writings, "And make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?
Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh silver on the scale hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down, indeed they worship it. They lift it in its place and it stands there. It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; it cannot deliver him from his distress.
Remember this....I am God and there is no one like Me....I will grant salvation...." (46:5-13)
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