Darshan Days in Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual hermitage (ashram) founded at Pondicherry aka Puducherry, by Sri Aurobindo (was an Indian nationalist, yogi, guru, philosopher and poet.) on 24 November 1926. The day of establishment of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry is esteemed as the Siddhi Day (the day of Victory) among the followers and devotees of Sri Mother (born Mirra Alfassa) and Sri Aurobindo, living all over the globe.


Before long, after the Siddhi day - the day of Victory in November 1926, Sri Aurobindo (born Aurobindo Ghose) withdrew from day-to-day meet with his adherents and named Sri Mother in charge of their guardianship and the institution. Thenceforth Sri Aurobindo met the disciples and spiritual aspirants only a limited number of times in a year on what's referred are called as Darshan days in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.


In the liturgical language of Hinduism, that is, Sanskrit, the word 'Darshan' signifies 'an opportunity to see or an occasion of seeing a holy person' and relates, in this context of use, to seeing Sri Mother and Sri Aurobindo to seek their blessings.

Initially there were just three Darshan days and they are

• the Mother's birthday (21 February 1878)
• Sri Aurobindo's birthday (15 August 1872)
• the Siddhi day (24 November 1926)

During the year 1939 a fourth day was included in the list of Darshan days, that is to say,

• the Mother's final arrival in Pondicherry (24 April 1920)

For these ceremonial occasions, the mother and Sri Aurobindo come together and grace a small room, as the spiritual aspirants and devotees came near one after another and dedicated flowers and bowed down at their holy feet seeking their blessings.


Sri Aurobindo left his body on 5 December 1950. Sri Mother went on to offer Darshan on Darshan days. Starting from the year 1963, the Mother offered Darshan (appearance) from the terrace for brief time periods as she looked upon those who had assembled below with fixed eyes.


During the lifespan of Sri Aurobindo's, spiritual messages were established only once in a while on the Darshan days; later on, they were published on a regular basis. A few of these messages were scripted solely for the juncture while other messages were sections of texts picked out from the pieces of work of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.


The above said spiritual tradition is being observed even today. Message cards containing a section of texts picked out from the pieces of work of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are circulated to devotees, sadhaks and disciples who visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram during the Darshan days. Let's take a glance through the Darshan days of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry.

Day: 21 February
Significance: The Mother's birthday
Actual Date: 21 February 1878   
Mirra Alfassa, fondly called as the Mother (the spiritual associate of Sri Aurobindo) by her devotees from all over the world, was born in Paris, France to a Turkish Jewish father, Moïse Maurice Alfassa and an Egyptian Jewish mother, Mathilde Ismalun

Day: 29 February
Significance: Day of the Supramental Manifestation or the Golden Day
Actual Date: 29 February 1956   
The Mother experiences the concrete feel of the divine consciousness down on Earth

Day: 24 April
Significance: The Mother's final arrival in Pondicherry
Date: 24 April 1920   
During the year 1920, the Mother returned to Pondicherry to settle down permanently

Day: 15 August
Significance: Sri Aurobindo's birthday
Actual Date: 15 August 1872
Aurobindo Acroyd Ghose was born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India to Krishna Dhun Ghose and Swarnalota Devi

Day: 17 November
Significance: The Mother's Mahasamadhi day
Date: 17 November 1973   
Mirra Alfassa, the Mother leaves her body

Day: 20 November
Significance: The Mother's body laid to rest
Actual Date: 20 November 1973   
Mirra Alfassa, the Mother leaves her body on 17 November 1973, three days later her body was laid in the Samadhi

Day: 24 November
Significance: Siddhi day or the day of Victory
Actual Date: 24 November 1926   
Sri Aurobindo feels the descent of Krishna into his body. He further explains, "The descent of Krishna would mean the descent of the Overmind Godhead preparing, though not itself actually bringing, the descent of Supermind and Ananda."

Day: 02 December
Significance: The Mother formally dedicates a new school
Actual Date: Date: 02 December 1943   
The Mother inaugurates a new school for about 20 kids and turns herself as one of its first educators. This educational institution later develops into Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE), an integral part of Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Day: 05 December
Siginificance: Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi day
Actual Date: 5 December 1950   
Sri Aurobindo (Aurobindo Acroyd Ghose) leaves his body

Day: 09 December
Significance: Sri Aurobindo's body was laid to rest
Actual Date: 9 December 1950