A case study on Matrimandir.

1. SAMYA RANJAN NAYAK
1502106042
Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
CRITICAL APRAISAL

2. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
To find one's consciousness..
The Matrimandir is there for "those who want to learn to concentrate..“
"No fixed meditations, none of all that, but they should stay there in silence and
concentrate. A place for trying to find one's consciousness."
At the very centre of Auroville one finds the 'soul of the city', the Matrimandir,
situated in a large open area called 'Peace', from where the future township will
radiate outwards. The atmosphere is quiet, charged and beautiful.
The name ‘Matrimandir’ means literally ‘Temple of the Mother’.
According to Sri Aurobindo’s teaching, the ‘Mother’ concept
stands for the great evolutionary, conscious and intelligent
principle of Life, the Universal Mother, which seeks to help
humanity move beyond its present limitations into the next step
of its evolutionary adventure, the supramental consciousness.

3. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
The Matrimandir can be viewed as a large golden sphere which seems to be emerging out of the earth, symbolising the birth of a new consciousness.
Since the past 45 years, Matrimandir's slow and steady progress towards completion has been followed by many.
A conversation with The Mother
Roger Anger: Why do we build Matrimandir?
For the great majority of Indians there is no need for an explanation; they know from their background; it is for the Westerners and the
Americans of whom one in a million is able to feel that it is necessary.
Roger Anger: Will the Force more specially be concentrated in Matrimandir?
The new Force works everywhere, especially in this room. You feel it, don't you? There is here a density capable of performing miracles,
but few are able to feel it, to perceive it.
Sri Aurobindo and I have concentrated this Force on the whole town; it is palpable, perceptible as a very concrete perfume which
penetrates, but one must be able to feel it, to receive it.
But no miracles as people would like to see; for them to believe, they need material proofs without which they deny.
Build Matrimandir; put in place my symbol and Sri Aurobindo’s and the suspended ball.
I take it upon myself to make it into a very strong centre. Only those who are capable will perceive it.
Roger Anger (Principal Architect)
(1923 - 2008)
Mirra Alfassa (The Mother)
(1878 - 1973)

4. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Located adjacent to the Matrimandir and central banyan tree at the heart of Auroville, the Amphitheatre has as its focal point a marble-clad urn containing soil placed in it by representatives of the 124 nations
and 23 Indian States that participated in the Auroville inauguration ceremony in 1968. Rainwater is evacuated by gravity towards the northwest by an underground pipeline.
It all began with a vision the Mother had in January 1970, which was taken up by Roger Anger, the
French architect she chose for the project. After this, Roger presented her with various possible
designs, and in 1971 the final, approved globe model for the structure was presented to the Mother
and to the residents of Auroville, and work could start. The foundation stone was laid on February
21st 1971, and the practical work of overseeing the engineering requirements for the construction
was given to the Aurovilian architect/engineer Piero Cicionesi who lead the development up till the
completion of the Inner Chamber. The construction the main building was completed in 2008.

5. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Roger Anger had three images in mind when he designed the Matrimandir in 1970:
First image: Brahman’s primeval ‘egg’
The architect gave the shape of a flattened sphere (horizontal diameter: 36 m, height: 29 m) to this
‘egg’ of creation by rotating an oval, a ‘shalagrama’, an ancient Tantric symbol symbolising ‘the unity
of creation’. This is indeed a fitting symbol for the ‘soul’ of a city dedicated to realising “an actual
Human Unity”.
Second image: a radiating golden supramental sun emerging from matter
The architect represented the Matrimandir as the meeting point between matter’s aspiration arising
from below and the Divine Grace descending from above. The Divine Grace is represented by a ray of
sunlight which it caught by a heliostat and beams through the Matrimandir from top to bottom. The
Matrimandir itself represents the combined effect of the Divine Grace and matter’s aspiration, which
produces the new – Supramental – consciousness emerging from matter (the earth), breaking the
crust of the earth and creating in the process two crater-like shapes (a large one followed by a smaller
one) and ripples all around (shapes of the garden plots). What emerges is a golden supramental sun
which radiates in all directions (symbolically its 12 rays are represented by 12 radial pathways which
break through first and second craters and other ripples). This radiating sun represents the new
consciousness which emerges to illumine the earth with its new Light. It is gold because gold is the
colour of the Supramental.
Third image: A lotus in full bloom
‘Aurobindo’ in Bengali means ‘lotus’ and, according to Sri Aurobindo, “The Mother is the
Consciousness and Force of the Divine – which is the Mother of all things.” As the lotus symbolises
the ‘Divine Consciousness’ the Mother’s symbol represents a lotus in full bloom and the architect
gave this shape to the Matrimandir and its surroundings. Hence, the 12 segments of crater which
surround the Matrimandir are called its 12 large ‘petals’ and are followed by 12 small ‘petals’ and all
the plots in the gardens are contoured to represent more
petals of this lotus in full bloom.
Architectural Concept
Roger Anger

6. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Vertical section of Matrimandir
First level
entrance of one of the twin central spiral staircases
LEVEL 1 (+ 0.25) LEVEL 2 (+ 3.45) LEVEL 3 (+ 12.80)
Second level and spiral ramps
Inner ChamberMeditation Room inside the ‘Petals’
Heliostat in operation early morning‘Lotus Pond’ below the Matrimandir
Below the Matrimandir, the architect initially wanted to build a lotus pond, BUT when he realised
that lotuses will not bloom in the shade, instead of plants, he used 216 petal-shaped marble slabs to
create a pond over which water flows from the outside towards the centre. At the centre of this
pond, there is a crystal globe (17cm dia.) which will receive the beam of sunlight which transits
Matrimandir from top to bottom, as if to ‘illumine the depths’.
The Matrimandir took 37 years to build, from the laying of the
foundation stone at sunrise on 21 February 1971 - the Mother’s
93rd birthday - to completion in May 2008. The Matrimandir is a
flattened sphere (supported by four pillars) which is 29 m high
and has a diameter of 36 m. Its vertical section is an oval, an
ancient Tantric shape called “Shalagrama”, which symbolises
the unity of creation. The Geodesic dome is covered by golden
discs and reflects sunlight, which gives the structure its
characteristic radiance. Inside this 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, is fully open
to the public.
Each of the 12 petals surrounding the matrimandir has a
meditation chamber inside.

7. 1968, amphitheater after the inauguration ceremony The lonely banyan tree The survey team Preparing the ground Foundation stone laying ceremony
Excavation work Members of Ashram working on the site Excavation in progress Excavation in progress Ready for building the foundation
Foundation work begins The foundation Scaffolding rising The four pillars rising The pillars halfway
The pillars completed The inner chamber walls completed Space frame work begins Space frame work in progress Space frames completed
The outer skin in the making The outer skin completed Golden disk work begins from the top Golden disks in progress Dawn-fire near the completed Matrimandir
The Matrimandir was designed by the architect Roger Anger,
apart from its Inner Chamber, which the Mother repeatedly saw
in visions. T. K. Santhanam, scientist at the Structural
Engineering Research Centre – Madras calculated its structure.
The Aurovilian architect Piero Cicionesi prepared all the
working drawings and supervised its construction1 which was
carried out by Aurovilians and local villagers working together.
For several years, Aurovilians, Ashramites and workers from the
nearby villages were working together, first at the digging, then
at the building and at the completion of the Matrimandir, "the
Soul of Auroville".
Matrimandir construction photos from 1968 to 2008
Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville

8. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Matrimandir under construction 1971 - 1992
1. The ribs - Main structure
1968, amphitheater after the inauguration ceremony Concreting at 10 meters
below ground-level
Overall Scaffolding of Level 1 Mixing PlantOne of the Piers (1973)
Shuttering work at Level 1 Steel work at Level 1
All the 4 Levels are completed (1976)
Level 1 in a later photo Level 1 and 2 completed
Basic Rib structure Constrution of the Dodecawall
June 1976
Section on one Rib
The principal load carrying members of the superstructure are the four pairs of sickleshaped,
38m high reinforced concrete piers. Every other component is supported by these piers. Each pair
of piers is 2.1m. Their thickness is 40cm above ground level and varies from 40cm to 70cm below.

9. Handwork
Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Matrimandir under construction 1971 – 1992
2. Space frame - Outer cover (1979 – 1987)
Level 1 - 1979 -The structural Space Frame of the
outer cover is taking off from here
Some of the 1072 Precast Beams on the ground Transport of a 500 Kg beam Down the ramp
The first level of nodes
View of one sector of the Outer cover Detail of the Space Frame
Precision In situ ferrocement joint One of the 470 completed nodesSteel details
How the Space Frame is joining the Ribs Successfully Crossing the equator At the equator Concreting Close to the summit 1987 - The elegant design of the Space Frame
Piero sharing a light moment at the Equator Overall view of the structureThe constructions of the space frame took nine years 1072 Precast Beams 470 nodes Flying over MM The top slab was cast in 1988Lifting the beam

10. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Matrimandir under construction: 1971-1992
3. Ramps 1974-1978, outer shell, gold discs
One of the sections to be assembled and joined on site Work on the Ramps View of the Ramps Ramps The Ramps were completed in 1978
The gold discs
Disc frame: - Stainless steel tubes
Disc material: - stainless steel sheet
Gold leaf: - 28 gm of gold per 1000 leaves
Leaf size: - 85 x 85 mm
Total number of discs: - 1415
Small convex discs: - 954
Large concave discs: - 461
Average diam. (large discs): - 2.3 meter
Average diam. (small discs): - 1.5 meter
Outer Face - Tile pattern on a golden disc
Main details of Ramp
Ferrocement or ferro-cement is a
system of construction using
reinforced mortar or plaster applied
over an "armature" of metal mesh,
woven expanded-metal or metal-
fibers and closely spaced thin steel
rods such as rebar. The metal
commonly used is iron or some type
of steel.
Ferrocement triangles being installed to create the Matrimandir’s outer shell
The flattened sphere is covered with some 1,400 golden discs to symbolise a radiating golden Supramental sun.
Approximately one third of the discs are concave and large (their diameter is 2.3m or 2.4m); two third are convex and
smaller (their diameter is 1.3m, 1.4m, 1.5m or 1.6m). Each large disc weighs 210kg.
In 1980, the steel structure of the twin spiral
ramps and, later, the construction crane
were manufactured in the Matrimandir
workshop. They were installed at their
respective places the same year.
The sides of the structure (steel trusses) of the
spiral ramps are covered with ferrocement.
Their lower face is covered with particle board
panels and their upper face with aluminium
honeycomb panels (similar to those used for
the floor of commercial aeroplanes) on top of
which a white woollen carpet has been fitted.
The parapet is curved ‘white’ glass with a
white wooden handrail on top.
About 2 million golden tiles (4.5cm x 4.5cm) were made in a
Matrimandir workshop. A very thin gold ‘leaf’ (24 carat) was
placed between two sheets of glass and this sandwich was
then heated at a high temperature in an oven to fuse
together glass sheets and gold leaf. Altogether some 20kg of
gold were used to produce enough tiles to cover the 8,000m²
surface of the discs. 1.6m diameter discs used 1,024 tiles
while the largest ones (2.4m diameter) used 2,200 tiles each.

11. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
Matrimandir under construction: 1971-2008
4. Columns, flooring, inner skin, crystal globe, heliostat
Meticulous preparation of each column The delicate phases of lifting one column Guiding the column in place The 12 columns are fixed
on the floor
Marble is coming from Lasa (Italy) The marble cladding Inner Chamber - The columnsDoor made out of a 200kg marble slabMounting the white slabs
To create a translucent inner skin of this particular
colour, a very special white fabric (made of fibre glass woven
in a sophisticated manner) has been stretched over 756
triangular frames (made of aluminium profiles especially
extruded for this purpose).
Coloured foil of the precise colour has been placed on the
outer shell’s 700 portholes to filter the natural light that
enters in through them in the daytime.
At night time the coloured light is provided by 1,320 electronic
modules. (Each one powers 4 low-consumption Light Emitting
Diodes of the 3 ‘fundamental’ colours whose respective
intensity is adjustable very precisely by a computer.
Inner Skin
From inside, the Matrimandir is a translucent
sphere, except between each pair of ribs where
the concrete shell is decorated with a mosaic of
white marble whose joints are made of golden
tiles. Water runs down in the middle of each rib
along a narrow channel of golden tiles; at the
end it falls and is pumped up again.
The role of the heliostat is to always reflect a ray of sunlight down into the Chamber. It consists of 3 mirrors: a mobile mirror (azimuthally mounted and connected to a computerised tracking
system), and two fixed mirrors. When the sun is hidden (at night or on cloudy days), electrical spotlights are used to create the same effect. The two large GRP covers which protect the
second and third mirrors are painted in white.
Crystal globe (70cm diameter, 400kg)
- It has a 12m radius. The floor is covered with a white woolen carpet.
- The wall is 8.65m high. It has 12 facets which represent the 12
months of the year and are clad with white marble.
- Its white ceiling also has 12 facets each one resting on one of the
wall’s facets at 30 degrees angle upwards towards the center.
- Two double doors of thick white marble slabs. When closed the
doors are more or less invisible.
- It has 12 large steel cylindrical columns of 60cm diameter covered
with white lacquer which stand halfway between the center of the
room and each one of its 12 corners.
- It had no windows and is fully air-conditioned. This is done to attain
complete silence inside the chamber.
- The only light is that comes from a vertical beam of light which is
slightly golden.
- This is normally the ray of the sun which is reflected down into the
chamber by a heliostat which computerized tracking system keeps it
precise.
- Electrical spot lights create a similar effect at night and on cloudy
days.
Matrimandir sectional model

12. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
A Reception pavilion was envisaged by Roger to be at the outer Western edge of the lake.
All Aurovilians and visitors to Matrimandir would pass through this gate way
Reception Pavilion: A detailed conceptual drawing by Roger
“It has been decided and remains decided that the
Matrimandir will be surrounded with water. However;
water is not available just now and will be available only
later; so it is decided to build the Matrimandir now and
surround it with water only later; perhaps in a few years’
time.
As regards the Matrimandir itself I have selected our plan
which agrees with the vision I had of the inside and has my
full approval. Therefore there is no need to worry. The
Matrimandir will be built now and water brought round it
later.”
-Mother, 28 March 1970
Present site of Matrimandir
Inner Chamber:
Is inscribed, with its 12-faceted walls, in a 24 meter–diameter cylinder.
Wall’s height: 8.65 meters
Ceiling’s height at the centre: 15.20 meters
Crystal globe: diameter: 70 cm
Cube stand: 40cm side
Distance between opposite columns: 13.5m
Flattened Sphere
Horizontal diameter: 36m
Vertical diameter: 29.00m
Junction of pillars & first slab are at ground level.
Foundation depth is 9m below ground level.
768 triangles
1,423 golden discs
12 Large petals
Comprised within a circle with a 49m radius.
Height: 6.50 m.
12 Small petals
Comprised within a circle with a 76m radius.
Bottom pond
7.30m below ground level.
Future Oval Island:
10 times Matrimandir vertical section: 360m x 295m
12 large petals & pathways between them: 7,540m²
1st circular pathway (Service Path): 310m²
12 small petals and radials between them: 10,287m²
2nd circular pathway (Garden Path): 480m²
12 Radials beyond 2nd circ. path: 2,011m²
Amphitheatre: 7,509m²
Oval pathway: 3,418m²
12 Gardens & other planted areas: 55,589m²
Total area of Matrimandir Island: 87,144m²
Some patches of lawn are planted at the outer side of the large petals – by the Service Path.
Some patches of lawn are planted at the inner side of the small petals – by the Service Path.
Part of the 12 Gardens may occupy part of the outer side of these areas.
Matrimandir FUTURE
Matrimandir PRESENT
Background Facts and Figures
Gardens oval of 22 acres contained within a site of 63
acres
60 Aurovilians working on a daily basis
110 paid workers
120 Aurovilians also volunteering during the month
Visits to the Matrimandir viewpoint about 700,000 per
year
Visits to the Inner Chamber approximately 86,000 per
year
They estimate that 20,000 to 25,000 cubic meters of
water can be harvested from the oval from one meter of
rainfall.
Prime Minister’s Visit: 25th Feburary 2018
Inside of Matrimandir during construction
Piero, Ramanathan, Alain, Roger

13. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
User review
Sarah Victoria & Jenny Vitense, Germany
One of our friend told us to visit Matrimandir. It was a great
experience. The inner chamber was so quiet that we could even
hear the sound of our own breathe. A beautiful place to
concentrate.

14. Matrimandir
The soul of Auroville
a “universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all
politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity.”