Sri Aurobindo
Leader in the Nationalist Movement for Independence of India ;
Creator of a new method of spiritual practice termed as “Internal Yoga”:
(15.08.1872 – 05.12.1950)
Shri Aravind Ghose (popularly known as “Sri Aurobindo” or “Orobindo” in Bengali) was born on 15th August 1872 in Calcutta (present day Kolkata). He had his early schooling at Loreto Convent in Darjeeling and later studied at St. Paul’s Public School, London, and at King’s College Cambridge.
In 1893, he returned to India, where he joined the service of the Maharaja of Baroda State and also taught French, as a Professor in Baroda College. Also, while at Baroda, he undertook a detailed study of Indian culture, Sanskrit, Bengali and Hindi. He also published his first collection of poetry “The Rishi” during this period.
The partition of Bengal affected him deeply and in 1906, he quit his official and teaching positions in Baroda, and went to Calcutta, where, he became the Principal of the new Bengal National College, a post which he resigned, because of his participation in the Nationalist movement.
He was the first Indian leader to demand full independence for India as the goal of the Nationalist movement and devoted all his resources, towards this struggle and cause. He was in touch with Nationalist leaders in Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, more prominent of them being Lokmanya Tilak, and Jatindra Nath Banerjee.
For some time, he wrote several inflammatory articles under the title “New Lamps for the Old” and advocated a militant policy, much to the discomfiture of the “moderate faction” in the Indian National Congress. Nevertheless, he developed a keen interest in meditation and yogic exercises, which he practiced daily.
He was prosecuted twice on charges of sedition and once for conspiracy, but, every time he was released due to lack of evidences against him.
On one occasion, famously known as “The Alipore Bomb Case ,” (1908) he was kept in solitary confinement, as an under trial prisoner in Alipore jail for almost a year, where he had time to reflect upon the mysteries of life and search for spiritual knowledge and advancement. While in Baroda, he had already taken active interest in the practices of Yoga and meditation, but, during his Alipore jail experience, he had the first of many spiritual realizations.
He was ably defended in the ensuing trial by Chitaranjan Das, a leading legal luminary, and once again, acquitted for lack of evidences against him. Nevertheless, the British Government, still considered him dangerous to their interests and were looking for an opportunity to deport him or consider a retrial in the Alipore Bomb Case against him.
Wary of the British Government’s intentions towards him, in two year’s time, i.e. in 1910, he withdrew himself completely from politics and started devoting himself entirely to his inner spirituality at Pondicherry ( then a part of French India), where he developed a new yogic spiritual practice, which he termed as “Integral Yoga”, which aimed at transforming human nature through liberation of the human consciousness through spiritual realization a concept which he practiced and taught at the “Aurobindo Ashram” established in 1926 , with the help of his “spiritual” mother/collaborator Mirra Richard , who was known as “The Mother”.
Through his new yogic concepts ( which were called the “Triple Transformation – involving “Psychic Transformation”, “Spiritual Transformation” and “Supramental Transformation”) he continued to work for the upliftment of India and the World. The central theme of his vision was the evolution of human life into a stage which could be called “life divine”. Later the “Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education” was started to taking care of the education of children of families staying at the Ashram. In the mid-1960s an international township called “Auroville” near Pondicherry was established primarily due to the efforts of “The Mother”, and recognized by UNESCO, as a place where people from different Nationalities and cultures could live together in peace and harmony.
On 15th August 1947, when India gained Independence from the British, he was invited to speak on his vision for a better world which he encompassed in his five principles, called the “five Dreams”:
- A revolutionary movement which would create a free and united India ;
- The resurgence and liberation of the peoples of Asia and its return to a greater role in the progress of human civilization;
- A World-union forming the basis of a fairer, brighter and nobler life for all mankind;
- The spiritual gift of India to the World;
- A step in evolution which would raise man to a higher and larger consciousness and begin the solution of the problems which have perplexed and vexed him since he first began to think and to dream of individual perfection and a perfect society.
Books and publications:
He is credited with several writings both texts and poetry. At least 25 published books/works, among them the more prominent ones, being “The Life Divine”, “The Synthesis of Yoga”, “Letters on Yoga” and “Savitri: A legend and a symbol”(an epic spiritual poem). In his writings/poetry (“The Future Poetry”/ “The ideal of Human Unity”), he integrated Eastern and Western philosophies, literature, religion and psychology.
He wrote extensively on the Vedas and Upanishads (Hindu religious texts – “The secret of the Veda”, “Hymns to the mystical fire”, The Upanishads”), the Gita (Lord Krishna’s discourse to Arjuna, the Pandav Prince, in the field of battle, before the epic “Mahabharata” war – titled “Essays on the Gita”), social, literary, political and historical topics, as well as spiritual concepts and devotional works.
For some time, he also published weekly papers the “Karmayogin” in English and “Dharma” in Bengali.
Death and legacy:
He passed away in Pondicherry on 5th December 1950. He will always be remembered for his multi-faceted personality – that of – an Indian Nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, poet and spiritual guru.
In addition to the institutions created/established by him to further his Yogic philosophies and teachings, the “Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research “ located in Pondicherry, provides Advanced education in various fields and also publishes books and educational audio-visual material on his thoughts and vision. The Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville are committed to carry on his legacy forward.
“Collaboration” a journal furthering the spiritual and evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo and “The Mother” are published as well along with “Mother India” which is a fortnightly started by him in 1949.
The Reserve Bank of India, to commemorate the life of Sri Aurobindo, has brought out a two rupee coin in 1998 for general circulation.
The obverse of the coin has the Lion Capital in the centre together with the words “Satyameva Jayate “ (Truth always Prevails) which together form the emblem/Coat of Arms of India. The numeral “2” denoting the denomination of the coin is below the emblem. On the left periphery are the words “Bharat” and “Rupiye” in Hindi and on the right periphery are the words “India” and “Rupees” in English.
On the reverse of the coin is a portrait/image of Sri Aurobindo with his name spelt out both in Hindi and English. The words “Sampoorna Jeevan Yoga hai” in Hindi and “All life is Yoga” in English are mentioned on the side of his portrait. The year 1998 which is the year of issue for this coin is mentioned below his portrait. This coin was minted at Mumbai mint. Notice the “diamond” mint mark below the year of issue.
Sketch of Sri Aurobindo by Sumita
Links to other articles on coins issued on Prominent saints and temples of India:
1) 25 Years of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
Links to other articles on coins issued on Prominent saints and temples of India:
1) 25 Years of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
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6) Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregarious Centenary Celebrations
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