MEDITATION CENTRE, SITAMARHI

SITE ANALYSIS
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Location
1.3 Approach
1.4 Land use
1.5 Sections
1.6 Climate
 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Sitamarhi, a word manipulated from ―Sitamahi‖, This is the birth place of Maa Sita, but it was

Mahi means a hermitage, Sitamarhi means a famous for its annual flood situation. It was

hermitage of Sita, and Sita word is derived from declared as most undeveloped district in

―sit‖, the lowest part of a plough made up of country by the India Today in the year 2003.

iron, which stroke the earthen pot and Sita Earlier during floods, this district had made its

came out of it. The mythology of this place identity as an island of north Bihar, completely

dates back to drowned in water and disconnected from all

sides. The situation is now under control by the

present government of Bihar, by the

construction of various roads, bridges and

embankments. Now, this district is easily

accessible by rail and road, without any

obstruction.
FIGURE 1. "BIRTH OF MAA SITA" -AN ARTIST'S

IMPRESSION [source: - www.hjs.org]

treta yug, 7,00,000 years back. This place is

not only the birth place of Maa Sita, but it is also

the spiritual centre for many sages and saints.

Pundrik rishi had his hermit in Pundrik Aranya,

Punaura of nowadays. Maharshi Bodhayan,

FIGURE 2. FLOODED SITAMARHI [source-
Bhringi rishi and many other names are www.madhav.tk]

associated to the district.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 1

1.2 LOCATION

Sitamarhi district, a part of north Bihar, is

situated on the Indo-Nepal Border at

85.500latitude and 26.330 longitudes. It is

surrounded by Madhubani and Darbhanga

districts of Bihar and part of Nepal in the east,

Muzaffarpur in the south, East Champaran in

the west and Nepal in the north. Earlier it was a

sub-division of Muzaffarpur district and got the

status of a separate district on 11th December,

1972 with 3 sub-divisions, viz., Sitamarhi Sadar,

FIGURE 3. INDIA, [source – wikimedia]
Pupri and Sheohar.

FIGURE 4. BIHAR [source- wikimedia]

FIGURE 5 SITAMARHI [source- wikimedia]

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 2

FIGURE 8 TO
FIGURE 9 OFFERING SATELLITE
THE SUNIMAGE OF SITE [source-
GOD IN
wikimapia,
CHHATH. [source google]
- madhav bhardwaj]

1.3 APPROACH
The site is located in Runni Saidpur, Sitamarhi,

at a distance of 16 km from the district head-

quarters and 30 km from Muzaffarpur.

Runni Saidpur railway station is 3 km away

from the site and the National Highway is 100m

away from the proposed site.

Tribhuvan Airport, Janakpur, Nepal is the

nearest airport, 54 km away from Sitamarhi.

FIGURE 6 RUNNI SAIDPUR MAP [source-

Sitamarhi.bih.nic.in]

FIGURE 7 BRIDGE CONNECTING THE SITE TO

NH.[source-madhav bhardwaj] 1.
4

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 3

AND USE

FIGURE 10 LAND USE MAP

The site is located on the bank of river

Baghmati. It is surrounded by a green belt on

Total area of site is 5.7 hectares
the west and agricultural land on the east. The
Permissible ground coverage =33% of total
breeze on the site is worth enjoying and gives area
an eternal pleasure to instigate meditation. Permissible height = 10 meters

Setback – 3 m from all sides

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 4

1.5 SECTIONS

13 SECTION "AA"
FIGURE 11

FIGURE 12
14 SECTION "BB "

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 5

FOG
1.6 CLIMATE
On average the month of February is affected by
Sitamarhi has a monsoon type of climate.
foggy conditions on 5 days.

TEMPERATURE
Throughout the month of February daytime

temperatures will generally reach highs of around

26°C that's about 79°F. At night the average

minimum temperature drops down to around 12°C,

that's 54°F.

In recent times the highest recorded temperature in

February has been 39°C that's 102°F, with the

lowest recorded temperature 0°C, about 41°F.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

The average daily relative humidity for February is

around 65%.

PRECIPITATION

The average monthly amount of precipitation has

been recorded at around 16 mm, that's 1 inches.

Throughout the month you can expect to see rain or

drizzle falling on 3 days of the month.

WIND

The average daily wind speed in February has been

around 4 kph, that‘s the equivalent to about 2 mph,

or 2 knots. In recent years the maximum sustained

wind speed has reached 78 kph, that‘s the

equivalent of around 48 mph, or 42 knots.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 6

CASE STUDIES

1. OSHO COMMUNE PUNE

1.1 About OSHO
1.2 Site location
1.3 Zonal plan
1.4 Osho commune information
1.5 Surroundings
1.6 Design context
1.7 Design details

2. AUROBINDO ASHRAM , NEW DELHI

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Location
2.3 Site Plan
2.4 Site context
2.5 Planning
2.6 Materials
2.7 Design context
2.8 Conclusions

3. MATRI MANDIR, AUROVILLE

3.1 introduction
3.2 layout
3.3 circulation and planning
3.4 conclusions

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 7

March 21, 1953: Osho becomes enlightened at

OSHO PUNE
the age 21,while majoring in the philosophy at

D.N. jain college at Jabalpur.

1953-1956: Education

1956: Osho receives his MA from the university

of sagar with first class honors in philosophy.

BELIEFS AND
PRACTICES:
Osho developed new forms of active

meditation. The best known as dynamic

meditation which often starts with strenuous

FIGURE 15ACHARYA RAJNEESH physical activity followed by silence and

BHAGWAN SHRI celebration.

RAJNEESH(1931-1990) was
born Rajneesh Chandra Mohan in kuchwara

atown in central india. Various sources state

that ―bhagwan ― means either ―the blassed one‖

or ―god‖and that shree means master .at the

end of his life,he changed his name to OSHO.

FIGURE 16OSHO CENTRE

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 8

These were expected to lead the individual to

overcome repression, lower there personal

inhibitions , develop a state of emptiness and

attain enlightenment .the person would then

have no pa no future no attachment, no mind

,no ego, no self.

Prior to 1985, the disciples wore red robes ,and

a necklace of 108 beads which had an attached

picture of Rajneesh. Osho assigned a new

name to each of the disciples. Men were given

the title swami and women were called Ma.

Most members lived a frugal ,simple lifestyle.

He taught a form of Monism, that god was in

everything and everyone. There is no division

between god and no god. People, even at their

FIGURE 17OSHO ASHRAM SITES
worse, are divine. His contention was that
ABOUT OSHO ASHRAMS:
national ,religious ,gender and racial divisions

are destructive.
in addition to more than 50 centres operating in

india.nepal and Canada four large residential

complexes known as dhams have been

established I india and Nepal, where osho

dhara samadhi groups are regularly been

conducted by osho acharya trivir and acharyas

trained by them.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
 9

THEIR SITES IN INDIA: Madhopur, distt. Gurudaspur, Punjab. It is

planned to be the extension of osho commune

OSHO COMMUNE PUNE: osho commune
Pune.
international is a 32 acre campus located in the

exclusive and exotically green koregoan park,

SCOPE:
Pune. It is the current headquarter of osho
The scope of the design lies in the site planning
internationally.
and systematic zonal layout of various activities

OSHODHARA NANAK DHAM, DELHI: dreamt by by Osho which includes meditation

oshodhara nanak dhaam is located at 50th km Centre, residential locks, guest rooms, yoga

stone from delhi on GT road used as the center, gardens, shopping center dealing with

meditation camp center. Osho related projects , restaurants, library

museum and recreational areas

OSHODHARA GANGOTRI DHAM,

SAURAHA: situated at the bank of Rapti, a

tributary of Narayani River, on the outskirts of

Royal National Chitwan Park, an international

INFORMATION:
tourist center, in the Chitwan distt. Of Nepal,
Osho Commune International, a 32-acre
from Kathmandu it is only 160 km away by
campus located in the exclusive and exotically
road.
green Koregaon Park, nestled in the beautiful,
OSHODHARA SIDDHARTHA DHAM,
green city of Pune, is the base from whence
CHAMPA: Oshodhara Siddhartha dham is
Bhagwaan Rajneesh(who in his later years
located at champa in bilaspur distt. ,
called himself ‗Osho‘), propagated his
Chhhatisgarh at the bank of Hansdeo River.
philosophical teachings upon his return to India.

OSHODHARA ANAND DHAM, MADHOPUR:

Oshodhara anand dham, Shah Kandi Road,

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 10

REASON FOR SELECTION OF The osho ashram is oriented on a north south

axis.
SITE:
Total site area: 32 acre

The city of Pune was a perfect choice for the

Area of the site of pyramid complex: 5.5 acre
Ashram owing to its perfect climate which lasts
(excluding Nala Park)
almost throughout the year , its greenery and

the tolerant attitude of its inhabitants added to Total built-up area of pyramidal complex: 1.5

which its proximity to Bombay was very acre (6640 sq. m)

convenient for the large number of foreign

An L-shaped building has small rooms where
members of the commune.
people can come and stay.

ORIENTATION: Adjoining the pyramid is a rectangle block with

60 rooms guest house that has been

FIGURE 18 LOCATION , SURROUNDINGS

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 11

constructed.

The wall of the residence is in semi-gloss black

ceramic tiles with borders and corners in black

granite. The windows have black aluminum

framing around blue tinted glass, these

architectural forms stand out against the rough

black cuddupah paving and the greenery

around.

The four-storey high guest house are be simple,

but elegant and with touch of luxury. It has most

facilities of a modern hotel-but without room

service, telephone or television.

FIGURE 19APPROACH

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 12

DESIGN FORM

The design is the cluster of four building. The

large square blocks are the solid pyramids with

provision of large meditation halls and other

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

FIGURE 20 PLAN , OSHO MEDITATION COMMUNE , PUNE

 13

smaller halls below them, a L shaped building idol was placed under a pyramidal rooftop to

has small rooms where people come and stay. generate energy in the devotees.

The pyramids are oriented on the east. CONCEPT OF COLOUR

The dirty nallah in site has been converted into there are three basic colours used in the

a lively water body with landscaping all around, complex :-

providing a beautiful setting to the commune,

-black
where people can come and stay.
-blue
A large tree near the entrance shades the

central open public space... -white

CONCEPT OF PYRAMID Black contains within it, all colours, harness

cosmic energies and is stable.

In the word pyramid, pyra means fire, the

universal life energy and preserves it in its Area of usage- facade

bosom. Experiments and testimonial affirm Blue signifies the first colour one perceives after
changes in the mental, physical and emotional enlightment-the halo of fire
states of individuals after exposure to pyramid
Are of usage – all windows.
vibrations.

It is now believd that one of the major functions

of pyramids has to harness the cosmic White defines piousness and purity of form.

energies, which kept the pyramid interior fresh

Area of usage – all interiors.
and energized.

In india , the pyramid shapes were combined

with domes in temple architecture. The main

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 14

MEDITATION
windows clear glass with blue film, subdue

and enrich the quality of natural light inside

HALL(PYRAMID) the spacious meditation halls. The spatial

experience created is one of tranquility,

Area of the meditation block: 1400 sq. m however with a dynamic undertone like a

repetitive surge of charging energy.

Area of central hall: 950 sq. m

 The pyramid is nine storeys high from the

outside and six-storeys high from inside and

fully air conditioned

 It is supported on just four pillars, and is

floored with dark green Udaipur marble, it FIGURE 21THE PYRAMID.

has no carpets or curtains and has indirect

indoor lighting apart from natural light

coming in through the wide windows.

 Giving aesthetic touch to the pyramid are

enormous quantities of water .The pyramid,

in fact is surrounded by a water body and

access to it is over a small bridge from

FIGURE 22THE PYRAMID
inside one of the commune complex.
COMMUNE ACTIVITIES AND
 The solid pyramids are large meditation

halls with smaller halls below them. The FUNCTIONALANALYSIS

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 15

"Just discover your hidden splender. 1.Meditation types(8 types)

life can be simply a song of joy."-Osho  Osho Dynamic Meditation

An atmosphere of encouragement. it offers one a  Osho Kundalini Meditation

holiday to break free from external stresses

 Osho Natraj Meditation
ofnourish the soul. The lush green spiritual offers a

multitude of possibilities for inner discoveries and  Osho Nadahrahma Meditation

exploration
 Osho No-Dimensions

"There is no greater magicthan meditation to

 Osho Vipassana Meditation
transfer the Negative into the positive, to transform
 Osho White Robe Brotherhood
darkness into light- This is the miracle of

meditation"- Osho  Osho Club Meditation

Alll the work is done on a volunt its activitiesary 2.Healing arts of east and west

basis, as an Integral part of meditation by the

3.Western therapy approaches
people who come to transform their quality of life.
4.Esoteric sciences
According to one's own capacity and willingness,

one can render one's service towards the commune 5.Lectures discourses

and participate In activities. In Osho's own words,

6.Library reading room

'Work doesn't have to be a duty but a Joyful

7.Vocational activities
expression of your newly discovered life.'

 Mental arts
ACTIVITIES
 Creative arts

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 16

 Zen sports 13. Multiverisity plaza

 Computers and Multimeda 14. Osho Teeth - Nala Park

 Gardening of the lawn 15. Administrative block

SPACES 16. Maintenance

1. Visitor centre  Electrical

2. Welcome centre  Air conditioning

3. Gautama the Buddha hail

4. Book Shop-publications.CD-ROMs etc.

5. Video room

6. Library/reading room

7. Restraunt

8. Samadhi area

9. Artists Studio-music,painting&sculpture

10. Souvenir shop - sale of creative talents of

Inmates

11. Club - sundry , sports facilities and therapies

12. Centralised kitchen

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 17

He did intensive inner work, which led to a

number of spiritual experiences.

….And a yogi…. Sri Aurobindo arrived in

Pondicherry on April 4, 1910. After four years of

silent yoga, he started in 1914

SRI AUROBINDO, A
----jointly with the mother---- a philosophy

monthly magazine called ―The Arya‖ in which

SCHOLAR….
his work was published.

THE MOTHER –A
CONSCIOUS
LABORATORY FOR A
NEW SPECIES
The Mother was born in Paris on February 21,

1878. While still a child she spontaneously

followed on inner disciple which was

accompanied by numerous psychic and

spiritual experiences.

She first meet Sri Aurobindo in 1914, and at

once recognized in him the figure of the great

Sri Aurobindo was born in Calcutta on August
guide of whom she had repeated visions.
15, 1872. At the age of seven he was sent by

his father to England to receive an English After a stay in japan she came back to

education. Pondicherry in 1920, and never left again.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 18

In 9126, Sri Aurobindo withdrew in his room of peace, concord, harmony ; where all fighting

and stopped meeting people, then she received instincts of man would be used exclusively to

the material and spiritual charge of the conquer the causes of his sufferings and

disciples, giving great attention to the physical misery; to surmount his weakness and

and spiritual development of each Ashramite. ignorance, to triumph over his limitations and

incapacities; a place where the needs of the

From 1965 onwards she often spoke of
spirit and the care for progress would get
Auroville.
procedure over the satisfaction of desires and
On November 17, 1973, she left her body. passions, the seeking for pleasures and

materials enjoyment.
A DREAM
LAYOUT
In 1954, the mother wrote the foolowing text.

It was originally meant for the ashram, where

she found a practical ground to implement this

vision.

In 1965, The Mother decided to launch the

project of Auroville, which is amazing manifest

this ‖Dream‖.

A dream:‖there should be somewhere upon a

earth a place that no motion could claim as its

sole property ; a place where all humans beings

There are two main entrances for the Ashram.
of good will, sincere in their aspiration, could
Main entrances from the Sri Aurobindo Marg
live freely as citizens of world , obeying one
and the other one is located facing Sarvodaya
single authority, that of supreme truth , a place
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
 19

Enclaves, which acts as a safer entrance for the detail intervention area , to be studied from the

schools. The vast site of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi.

is about 29.92 acres in area. It has been

developed slowly and steadily and is still under

DESIGN
construction. There is a vast difference between

the older blocks and new ones, which includes The rooms or enclosures are laid out around

The Mother International School, Mirambika hexagonal courtyards. (fig) The building would

and the tapsya block. The newer blocks are ultimately enclose around one large courtyard

based upon symbolic architecture of the around which there would be twelve such small

symbols of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and duo decagonal blocks.

also on the concepts of Energy and other The planning grid is a space –filling grid
phisophies. composed of squares and equilateral triangles.

The courtyards are surrounded by overlooking

corridors, around which the square grids are

divided into two rooms and the triangles are

divided into two sets of toilets and dressing

areas. Except on ground floor, each room gets

a balcony on the outer faces.

CONCLUSIONS
MIRAMBIKA AND TAPASYA
None—conventional energy techniques have
The Tapasya, which is the ashram residential
been used, for both economical and spiritually
block and mirambika, which is a research as
reasons. The new buildings have been
well as a training Centre, have been taken as a
designed, keeping in mind the composite

climate of Delhi.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 20

Window designs encourage only use of daylight

in the rooms.

Buildings are integrated with solar water

heating(plate 5.7)

Load baring structure reduces embodied

energy by reduced consumption of concrete

and steel.

The symbols of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo

are the basis for the design and planning of the

building.But this has also esulted into many

DESIGN FEATURES FOR negative spaces, because of a triangle and

square grid.
COMPOSITE CLIMATE:
Triangles are mostly used for toilets and for

staircase space.
Rough white slate finish on the exteriors for

high emissivity and poor absoptivity.

Deep recessed windows

Properly designed windows and ventilators and

interconnected courtyards aid in cross

ventilation.

Dense vegetation modifies ambient conditions.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 21

was formally inaugurated on Feb 28 1968. It is

located in Tami Nadu, 10 kilometers from north

of Pondichery. The 1968 galaxy concept of

town. was visualized by French architect Roger

Anger and his team for population of about

50,000 people in an area approximately 2.5 km

in diameter.

INTRODUCTION

The mother; ―Silence…..Purity….A ray of light

of new hope… no images, no images, no altar,

MATRI MANDIR. no organized meditation flowers, no incense,

and ….no religion ….. Matri Mandir to be the

divine‘s answer to man‘s aspiration for human

perfection‖.

LOCATION

The project of Auroville was started in 1964 with

the objective of making a city dedicated to an

implementation of the ideal of human city. It

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 22

AUROVILLES CONCEPT
DESIGN CONCEPTS
The township of Auroville, 12km from

AND PHILOSOPHY
Pondicherry spirals out from the centre much

like a spiral galaxy with a network of major

roads forming its ‗arms‘ and contained within

The meditation centre is the genesis to a
these arms are different sectors .The whole
spiritual journey, a place to develop union with
concept is symbolic of dynamism of movement
the divine as envisioned by shri Aurobindo and
around a pivot, depicting the natural order. Thw
the mother. Consequently it forms a vital
point controlling the movement of this pivot is
component of the design project Matri Mandir.
the soul of Auroville .
Auroville is an epitome of Aurobindian

principles and one of the key examples to take BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

cue form
AND MATERIALS

The entire structure uses reinforced cement

concrete. At the same time , the harsh

starkness of concrete is hidden through various

cladding to evoke a certain illusionary ambience

a dream like space. The industrial finish of the

geodesic structure is covered up by parabolic

stainless steel discs, clad with gold foil fussed

between glass plates giving the whole structure

an expression of purity, beauty and grandeur,

The meditation chamber is claded with white

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 23

Italian marble, to mark the tranquility and expression of dissonance; a depiction of the

serenity of the space. Opening on the geodesic rising Earth rending open to a craters space for

shell are covered with rose-orange fused glass, the supernatural floating appearance of the

to create an intended ambience in the main structure.

alta. Inside the meditation chamber the space

marking the columns 8.65m. in length are

BUILDING MATERIALS
constructed out of s
EXTERIORS

 The gold discs cladding

Disc frams: stainless steel sheet

 Disc material- stainless steel sheet

ingle joint galvanized steel pipes.  Gold leafe: 28 gm of gold per 1000

leaves
The emphasis is given to the surfaces in terms
 Leaf size: 85mmm X 85mm
of colours and textures, becoming the dominant

architectural features controlling and directing  Total number of discs: 1415

the light quality and overall ambience inside  Small convex discs: 954

and outside the building. The reinforced  Large concave discs: 461

concrete framework, infilled with ferrocement  Av. diameter (large discs)- 2.3 meter

panels, is covered with red sandstone  Av. diameter (small discs): 1.5 meter

transported from Agra, to form the petals  Interior glass inner skin

around the structure. The sandstone is  Glass cladding has been provided on

intermixed with patches of grass, in an the inner line of the sphere of

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
 24

Matrimandir. Big peach coloured panels, There are ancient monuments that continue to

800 in number oare required to cover fascinate us; and there are buildings in where

the entire inner surface area of about one breathes in, what we call, a certain

3,000 sq. Mts. ―spirit‖.Why is this so? Sri Aurobindo mentions

 After fusing colour onto 8m thick float – glas, it is this presence of the invincible in his book ―The

laminated to a second sheet of clear glass for Foundations of Indian Cultre‖.

safety reasons. Each glass panel triangular in

STRUCTURE SYSTEM
shape is roughly measuring 3Mts. At the base

and 2.4 Mts. In height.

The final built form of the structure can be

described as a flattened sphere consisting of a huge

chamber suspende in a massive concrete mesh

globe mounted on four pairs of concrete pillars. At

the exact centre of the chamber a crystal globe

mounted has been placed as a focal point of

attention.The profile of the structure , though

geometrically controlled, is not mathematically

definable. For the purpose of understanding, the

shape can be approximated as a surface of

revoluton of an ellipse 36m x2m.Four pairs of 38m

THE SACRED high sickle-- shaped piers, which are theucturallyru

principle load-bearing components of the structure

GEOMETRY support the space frame.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 25

METALS END PILLAR

supervising the construction work,deveped a

prototype non-tracking mechanism called a

EXTENSION haliostat which will be used to direct sun's rays on

to a crystal globe.

The decision regarding the pillar extention is yet to

THE INNER CHAMBER
be finalised. But whatever adaption is made, it is

evident that these extensions would be part of the

The spacious inner chamber, located in the upper
overall design since they constitute the natural
hemisphere , is envisioned as being completly
continuation of the central structure.The pillars
white, with white marble walls and white carpeting
,although structurally self-sufficient indicate the
with a pure white crystal globe in the centre ,
start of the final curve defining the rhythm and
suffused by a steady ray of sunlight falling on it
movement of the whole.
from the apex of the sphere. The chamber is a

dodecagonal in plan. The length of one side is about

6m and vertical height about 8.65m. there are 1

freestanding coumns located mid-way between the

walls and the crystal in the centre.Seemingly

ordinary galvanised steel tubes, these 8.65m x 60cm

columns are seamlessly welded.

THE HELIOSTAT The cylinders made of 6mm thick sheets will be

finished with a smooth white surface to merge.

To realize the Mother's concept of a strong half of

CONCEPT OF MATRI MANDIR
light always striking the centre .The engineer

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 26

proposal put forward was based on the bud

spr

outi

ng

fro

the

ear

th.

The

out

sid

e of

the

stru

ctur

was

pro

 Architect's interpretation: posed to be a shell, half underground and halt'

above, which one entered by first going deep

The scheme of Matri Mandir as conceived by
down underground, and then coming up via a
architect. Roger Anger, is symbolic of the 'egg of
staircase which branched off into several
Vishnu' (in Sanskrit, the Salagram). The first

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 27

stairways, all leading up to the meditation center of the city on a sparsely vegetated site

chamber. This chamber was conceived as a although the surrounding area is well vegetated at a

great bare space there was a kind of gallery by height of 50m above the sea level. As one

which one came from below. approaches the temple through a circum-

perambulatory path, the sparse foliage offers

glimpses of the superstructure situated over vast

THE MOTHER'S open land like an Acropolis, providing no apparent

idea of scale, adding a variable of mysticism.

INTERPRETATION:

As she drew it, the Mother gave her own

interpretation of the 'egg'."The bottom of an

egg is always narrower than the top, so we can

olace the staircase at the base and the spiral

staircase comes up to the temple with, say,

seven stairway openings....." She positioned the

meditation chamber floor at the widest point of

the shell, and conceived of a passage all around

CIRCULATION AND
the chamber much in the same way as a

pradakshina path. PLANNING:

LAYOUT: The intersection points established by the

interlocking of the great pyramid triangles with the

Matri Mandir is located near the geographical circles defined by the inner chamber and outer shell

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 28

locate other Le points in the geometry.

 The exterior surface of the outer skin.

 The location of the spiral ramps'

penetration through the buttresses.

 The central theme of living in and
The charkas or energy points within the vertical
working for an actual human unity is
form. The staircase between the pillars lead to the
symbolized by the fact that various
first slab that is annular in plan, following which one
zones of the township radiate outwards
arrives in front of a blind wall. The two doors in it
from a central point: The Matri Mandir
lead to the double spiral staircase, which winds
in the peace area. In this area there is
from level one to level two. From here, a pair of
also a central Banyan tree and the
spiral ramps begin, one ascending to, and the other
Amphitheater with its urn, housing the
descending from the inner chamber. The two ramps
soils of nations from all over the world.
stand out delicately in the space created below the
The Mother wanted each thing to be in
chamber and give a strong sense of dynamism.
its place and envisaged four Zones in
Which can be attributed to their long. Unsupported
her dream. Accomodated in a spiraling
length. Each node and each connection along the
movement are four distinct zones-
ramp(and there are a hundred of them) has its own
 The residential zone
type of stress distribution.

 Industrial zone

 Cultural zone and

THE GALAXY PLAN
 International zone

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 29

PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE thermal expansion. Therefore integrated collectors

should also be made in small packs and also should

Architecturally integrated hot water system. For
have a ledge in front for maintenance purpose.
thermosiphonicflat-plate solar collector systems for
Both these changes are being incorporated in the
hot water are provided. There is no electrical
new blocks.
backup. The total capacity is 2400 litres/day (about
The thermal behaviour of rooms is satisfactory. No
30 litres/person-day).
device other than ceiling fans are used.
The two systems feeding the north side are

optimally tilted at 45 degrees. The two other RAIN WATER

systems, feeding on the south side room, are

vertically mounted on the parapet wall facing HARVESTING:

South.
Rain water harvesting is also done in the Ashram.
The terrace sections were designed keeping in mind
During the rains, the rain water is not wasted, but is
the solar hot water constraints. All systems are
directed towards a well, specially for this purpose.
masonary integrated and mounted on walls or RCC
According to the experts, this really helps to
slabs. All tanks are neatly placed over toilet pipe
maintain the water level.
shafts within room like structures. This also helps in

providing better aesthetics. The terrace has got a

very efficient drainage detail. The terrace is also

used for washing and drying of clothes.

ELECTRICITY
The solar hot water system has worked extremely

CONSERVATION:
well. There is no back-up electrical use for heating

water. However, the glass break occasinally due to

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
 30

Electricity is sparingly provided all over with low Symbols of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother are found

voltage corridor lights, two lights, and one fan per mostly in railings of the new ashram blocks, in jalli

room with three lights in the attached toilets and works and even the ceiling grid in the auditorium of

dressing areas no. 15-ampere sockets are required. Mirambika school.

Electrical conservation is due to the the timetable of

the residents matching daylight patterns.

no power is used for cleaning, hot water, washing of

clothes, toilets or any other function except (cold)

water pumping.

SYMBOLIC

ARCHITECTURE

The Tapasya Block and Mirambika follow a similar

Aurobinxdian architectural vocabulary in planning

and elevation. The graphic symbols of Sri Aurobindo

and The Mother are generators of the plan. The

structural system of load bearing with columns

wherever required is also common to both the

buildings.

There are twelve courtyards in both the buildings,

which represent the twelve aspects of The Mother.

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI

 31

MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI