Enhancing the relevance

 The educational philosophy of Sri Aurobindo is taught in some Universities. That is why, he is compared, at times, with Tagore and Gandhi. On the political philosophy front, Sri Aurobindo is shown as an icon of Nationalism while Tagore espouses Internationalism. Similarly, while Gandhi is a known apostle of Non-violence, Sri Aurobindo is presented having no objection to Revolutionary militancy. 

Absence of dedicated engagement with Sri Aurobindo creates such summary impressions that are prone to error. It is not necessary that everyone will learn directly from Sri Aurobindo's books. General media discussion and debate should inform about his various facets and opinions. But then, the question arises, why should anyone be interested about him?

So enhancing the relevance of Sri Aurobindo is a big challenge. Many of his followers stress only on the spiritual aspect, and argue that whosoever has the inner call would come to him at the appointed time. While this logic can't be refuted, the normal effort for spreading his ideas shouldn't be treated as futile. Besides, his name has become popular as the topmost thinker of the nation. 

This is on merit, and is a very big gain. Ten years back, I was brusquely rebuffed by many Vivekananda followers for saying this, but Hindutva intellectuals, themselves, have discovered this, gradually. The Secular faction, however, still treats Sri Aurobindo as an untouchable. Be that as it may, not alluding to Sri Aurobindo would, increasingly, be seen as a flaw, in future. 

Thus, diagnosing what are the hindrances is important. Downplaying the spiritual side is necessary for acceptance of Sri Aurobindo, among the public, as an authentic intellectual. Further, his writings on religion and scriptures may not be very relevant when it comes to politics and current affairs. Similarly, his guidances on yoga are purely at the personal level. Poetry, likewise, is for aesthetic enjoyment. 

That leaves his major works like The Life Divine and The Human Cycle. The entire history of Western thought has to learn something or the other from these two volumes. Research-oriented persons can sense tension with Western philosophers at every step. Fortunately, the arguments are based on logic and don't involve any esoteric aspect. 

Evolution is the only hidden hand which has been ratified by Science. But there is another dimension which may not be approved by the academic yardsticks. Man's urge for transcending his weakness by aspiring for higher consciousness might look innocent, but the same cannot be achieved by his own effort. Invoking the Divine Grace is an inseparable element in Sri Aurobindo's overall philosophy. 

This religious turn can cause repulsion in many, but his logic stands in the absence of any viable alternative perspective. His Five Dreams Manifesto (1947), too, provides a step-by-step road-map. The ambitious target of achieving physical Immortality, as affirmed in the Veda, has no other blue-print than what charted out by Sri Aurobindo. Needless to say that all pre-modern religions lack this secret. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. An Alternative Idea of India: Tagore and Vivekananda - Gangeya Mukherji

https://www.amazon.in/Alternative-Idea-India-Tagore-Vivekananda/dp/0415676932

2. The Alternate Nation of Abanindranath Tagore - Debashish Banerji

https://www.amazon.in/Alternate-Nation-Abanindranath-Tagore/dp/8132102398

3. Hindu Spirituality and Virtue Politics - Vasanthi Srinivasan

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FQ7LJ4S

4. Grounding Morality: Freedom, Knowledge and the Plurality of Cultures - Jyotirmaya Sharma and A. Raghuramaraju

https://www.amazon.in/Grounding-Morality-Knowledge-Plurality-Cultures/dp/0415585759

5. Orchid and the rose: Machiavelli, Spinoza, and Burke https://orchidrose.blogspot.com/2026/09/machiavelli-spinoza-and-burke.html

Who is Sri Aurobindo?

 It is important to remember that most of Sri Aurobindo's major writings had come out much before the Ashram took a formal shape. Thus, the intellectual or academic aspect of Sri Aurobindo cannot take a back seat vis-à-vis spirituality or yoga. Of course, there is no strict demarcation in his teachings, but psychological manipulation is a much more common subject for discussion than sociopolitical topics.

We did not study about Sri Aurobindo in the school. The situation is not much different after sixty years. Even top intellectuals don't possess a clear picture of him. Scholars and journalists tend to avoid citing him for want of clear knowledge on him. There are many biographies and philosophical treatises, but a right appraisal of his place in history is missing. It is customary to mention him along with Vivekananda, but it does more injustice to his identity.

So the question is who is Sri Aurobindo? What is the best, and most honest, way of introducing him to the general public? He might have been involved in diverse activities throughout his life, but the basic fact is that he was a writer. That is how the world should know him and evaluate his relative merit. With his multiple facets, people from different disciplines need to study him. His Complete Works are a fertile ground for multifarious research.

Political exploitation of some of his utterances leads to distortion. Depiction of him as a militant Revolutionary, similarly, twists reality. The secular camp keeps on mocking him for escaping to Puducherry. Modern gurus spread misinformation about him for obvious reasons. Ken Wilber left him high and dry after using him to become famous. Let's hope a good book on Sri Aurobindo's legacy appears to do justice to him. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. How to Read Hegel Now - Shannon Hoff

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo262611507.html

2. The Invention of Catholicism - A Global Intellectual History of the Catholic Counterrevolution, 1780–1849 - Glauco Schettini

https://glaucoschettini.com/book/

3. The Ideas That Shaped Modern India and Its Economy 1870-2017 - Niranjan Rajadhyaksha

https://www.penguin.co.in/book/the-ideas-that-shaped-india-and-its-economy/

4. Evergreen Essays: Soul of things eternally young, perpetually inexhaustible - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

https://evergreenessays.blogspot.com/2026/09/soul-of-things-eternally-young.html

Savitri Era Party

 A good thing about a democratic environment is that it is easy to judge different factions from the criticisms of their ideologies by their respective adversaries. From this point of view, India has been fortunate, so far. Apart from being the largest democracy, with a most modern Constitution, India is, perhaps, the only country without any majoritarian factor. From the diversity angle, therefore, it is a veritable melting pot.

Having spent seventy years in such an atmosphere, I should feel absolutely confident about the future like most of the people. But my orientation in Sri Aurobindo's philosophy and its evolutionary vision doesn't permit such complacence. For others, it is, Ignorance is Bliss. But, fortunately or unfortunately, I have read The Life Divine and The Human Cycle. I carry the burden of the profound predictions hidden in the cold print of those pages. Only that much is concrete. Rest is mere belief.

So, finding a path for my own self is as important as showing the same to the others. Since, no one else is there to guide among the rest of the 8.3 billion people. I have been treading the forbidden zones of religion and politics for the last two decades. Most parties have undergone significant transformation during this period. All are groping in the dark; trying out various permutations and combinations. But Savitri Era Party (2007) sticks to its original inspiration of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo.

No Hindutva. No Dynasty. No Protests or Anarchy. No Lifestyle impositions. Freedom and Innovations. Science and Evidence. No Myth or Superstitions. No Ambedkar nor Reservations. No Academic strangulations. Sovereignty to the States. World Union as the target. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Savitri Era Religion

 The Constitution of India, arguably, constitutes a broad theoretical framework for the modern world. So much so that, defending the Constitution has become a prime political slogan for many parties now. However, a dominant misgiving about it is the neglect of Hindu concerns. But the ruling party is, simultaneously, accused of a patently blue turn. UCC too turns out to be a contentious issue. 

As I was introduced to The Mother & Sri Aurobindo when I was eight, accepting them as the one Supreme Divine had happened much before any strong intellectual conviction. This was through various associations driven as a protest against mythology and rituals. Since I have benefited immensely from this new ideology, I continue to recommend Savitri Era Religion (2006) as the right path for the modern mind. 

The problem with the West is that they have to invoke at least a couple dozen of thinkers in order to examine any issue. Our advantage, at present, is to apply the lens of Sri Aurobindo for the right guidance. The evolutionary angle provides a crucial corrective. His Five Dreams Manifesto (1947) has specific geopolitical directives which can't be ignored for long. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. The Bible and the Making of Modern India - Vishal Mangalwadi 

https://www.amazon.in/Bible-Making-Modern-India-Revised/dp/B0F6YXRQGC/

2. Dr. M. R. Venkatesh garu (@MRVChennai) has written an important book, ‘Discovery’ and Bharat: Christian Constitution in a Hindu Nation

https://x.com/MNageswarRaoIPS/status/2098712520399974560

3. Justice: Rights and Wrongs - Nicholas Wolterstorff

https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691146300/justice

Savitri Era

 Theory, as a concept, instills confidence. One feels that a solution to the numerous human problems will be possible, one day. But there are formidable hurdles on the way. One of the major concerns is writing itself which has been examined extensively in the last century. But the paradigm syndrome is a more pernicious affair. 

No one has panoptic power of diagnosing things. So, the question of finitude, both spatial and temporal, can't be decoupled from the human condition. The promise of the quantum world or nano universe frittered away. Sri Aurobindo's Spiritual view of reality too remains a postulate. In such a perplexing circumstance, the situation in India presents a gargantuan paradox. 

Muslim population in India is quite substantial even after the Partition which leads to social friction, narrative manipulation, and vote-bank politics. Thus, Hindutva capturing power was inevitable, but stuffing Universities is a difficult affair in the absence of intellectual muscle. Some of their intellectuals are hard put to talk sense. Empty rhetoric, therefore, is more often the rule than exception. Hubris and hope based on Hindutva looks so pathetic!

Western discourse is unwilling to examine the theoretical contributions of Sri Aurobindo. In that sense, Theory is yet to utilise all its resources. This is a human failure of which a major reason is the cancel culture. But those of us are aware of Sri Aurobindo are also unable to provide any viable way out. I, for instance, can't see anything concrete beyond Savitri Era Religion. It doesn't involve any compulsion or domination. 

Steering clear of false promises and lofty assurances is a sacred task. Reading the "luminous and voluminous" writings of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo is an eminently admirable human enterprise. However, any "dramatic and traumatic" consequences of practicing yoga needs to be avoided. Even, the so-called Sustainable lifestyle options are suspect. Savitri Era Party, instead, advocates Freedom. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. Knowledge/Nation - The Humanities and the Social Sciences in Postcolonial India - Edited by Baidik Bhattacharya, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, India, Prathama Banerjee, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, India - Cambridge University Press - Open Access

https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/knowledgenation/AA7322CA2AC111717D27478270DB0B62

2. Patterns of the Present: From the Perspective of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother - Georges Van Vrekhem

https://incarnateword.in/other-authors/georges-van-vrekhem/patterns-of-the-present-from-the-perspective-of-sri-aurobindo-and-the-mother

3. Minding the Modern - Human Agency, Intellectual Traditions, and Responsible Knowledge - by Thomas Pfau

https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268038441/minding-the-modern/

Rairangpur, 1949

 Confusion on ideology front has been a constant through the last seven decades. Still, the world is moving on and new trends and fascinations are appearing like in a kaleidoscope. Those belonging to a specific camp don't tend to worry. Certainty is their forte. Followers of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo, however, enjoy no such luxury since the predictions of Sri Aurobindo are distant in time and nebulous in nature. Belief in them, therefore, is a crucial factor.

My earliest political consciousness relates to agitations for inclusion of Seraikela Kharsawan, now in Jharkhand, in Odisha. Demand for granting Classical status to Odissi Music was also a perennial issue. But the intellectual climate was quite liberal. Many top writers and poets were The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's followers. As a result, a wide network of Sri Aurobindo Study Circles used to operate which has seen massive expansion. Hundreds of Schools are also functioning today. 

If we compare this to the world situation, this gain, simply on the material scale, is something gigantic. When things are floundering everywhere else, a solid foundation is being built in Odisha with mass participation. This is all the more paradoxical as the State is hardly discussed in the national media. People don't take me seriously because my surname is Odia. Even the President is more famous as belonging to the Scheduled Tribes than representing the Odias. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. The Mother’s work in Orissa started in 1949 when two Study Circles were formed with Sri Aurobindo’s permission (One at Rairangpur in 1949 another at Cuttack in 1950).

https://www.mothersorissa.org/Home.aspx

2. Odisha’s katha in colour - June 17, 2013 The two volumes are a Jataka, a Panchatantra, a grantha, a history, an atlas and a travelogue all kneaded into one - Gopalkrishna Gandhi

https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/odishas-katha-in-colour/article4823723.ece/

3. The Big Book of Odia Literature - Manu Dash

https://www.penguin.co.in/book/the-big-book-of-odia-literature/

Mobile loyalty

 Mobile phones have completely altered the priorities and habits of people. Spirituality, in this scenario, seems to have no relevance at all. More so, for the highly complex and esoteric nature of the philosophy and yoga enunciated by The Mother & Sri Aurobindo. Yet, their followers understand how crucial it is for the future of the world. Hence, dissemination assumes a lot of importance.

Sadly, no such organised effort is there in a professional manner, despite availability of the best technological resources. No proper pedagogic framework is in place as to what to teach or how to teach. Harnessing competent persons is never a criterion. Opacity on the intersection of religion and philosophy is also a contentious issue. In a such a circumstance, clarity on intentions and future projections are important.

I have been active through Savitri Era Learning Forum (SELF) since 2005 with utmost transparency. Steering clear of mystical and esoteric aspects has been my endeavour. Savitri Era Religion (2006) helps to get rid of mythology and rituals. Savitri Era Party (2007) campaigns for a modern attitude and lifestyle. Espousing Democracy and Constitutional ethics, obviously, is paramount.

Hindutva enthusiasts continue to appropriate Sri Aurobindo to the hilt. I have been advocating for reading The Mother & Sri Aurobindo without a India- or a Hindu-centic slant. Accepting them as the one Supreme Divine allows the leeway to disregard their actual writings with the argument that they were contextual. Being sincere to their intention, and not other impositions, is the trick. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Casaubon and Bartlebooth

 One of the key Management principles in Sri Aurobindo's philosophy is widening, heightening and integration. How Much Land Does a Man Need by Leo Tolstoy points to the futility of widening endlessly without proper consolidation. Edward Casaubon in George Eliot's Middlemarch, similarly, spends his life collecting notes and references without ever writing the book he wanted to author. Even Percival Bartlebooth in Georges Perec’s Life: A User's Manual fails to complete his project despite meticulous planning and execution. Odysseus returning to Ithaca, of course, is a fairy-tale counter-theme.

Yoga, paradoxically, involves detachment and non-grasping. When applied to intellectual and aesthetic pursuits, the effect can be stringent. Integral yoga, however, is a different cup of tea. Nevertheless, Pratibha needs to be moderated by Dakshina. Otherwise, creativity can prove to be cancerous.

A contemporary of Sri Aurobindo, Husserl had conceived of epoché much before Heidegger’s Daoist turn, but without any concrete result. Merleau-Ponty, interestingly, had exhibited surprising consonance with The Mother's experiments on the body. The example of Foucault leading a cloistered life despite campaigning for freedom for others is a curious irony. Thus, the problem of drawing a line to settle How Much is not easy to solve.

In his book, Towards a Critique of Cultural Reason, R. Sundara Rajan looks at Critique as the sensitive point where a medicine turns into a poison. The juncture of Sublimation of lower instincts into higher emotions, too, can be seen in a similar light. But, on the spot, improvisations experienced by performers, in a state of heightened inspiration, defies all logic and learning. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Metaphysical first principles based on Veda

 On my questioning, M. Nageswara Rao clarified that, unlike several major sects, followers of Sri Aurobindo, in his opinion, very much belong to the Hindu religion. This looks like a good certificate, but Rao may not be fully aware of the realities prevailing at present. However, Savitri Era Religion (2006) provides a sound safety valve. Further, Sabarimala verdict can transform the whole scenario. 

I have maintained that no particular text be considered as supreme since they are meant for imbibing knowledge and inspiration at various stages of life. Further, understanding them without mythological scaffolding or mystical overbearing is an essential precaution. Not to recommend The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's esoteric instructions is also crucial. 

Each person and his way of thinking has its own value. Telling him to get rid of his ego or try for spiritual realisation can be unsettling. High unrealistic targets can induce depression or frustration. Savitri Era Religion, instead, would be a secure way of getting introduced to The Mother & Sri Aurobindo. No one should assume responsibility for convincing others of assured results by practicing Integral yoga. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. The decisive criterion is whether an organisation’s or cult’s foundational doctrines and practices implicitly or explicitly affirm the foundational Hindu metaphysical first principles based on Veda and remain substantially within Hindu religious framework. On that criterion, Sri Aurobindo, Arya Samaj, etc are within Hindu fold.

https://x.com/MNageswarRaoIPS/status/2097894250340110386

2. Why Sri Aurobindo Rejected Reading the Mahabharata as Pure Allegory youtu.be/-_FPkMQSh9E?si… via @YouTube

https://x.com/MakrandParanspe/status/2098065828109496344

https://youtu.be/-_FPkMQSh9E?si=g_0_vgtjE2XS2tf0

Savitri Era Religion is twenty years old

 By reading the biographies of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo, one can know about them. But still something will be missing. Visiting Puducherry and Auroville as a tourist also can give some idea about them. Reading different books written by them is a bigger attempt to understand them. Yet, it's not easy to form a fair impression of them.

Accepting The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as the one Supreme Divine who are always present in their three poises is the most secure way of forming the right relationship with them. With that as anchor, contradictions relating to their lives or writings can be explained without much difficulty. The compulsion of comparing them with their contemporaries too won't arise.

Not to be misled by the shallow argument that they were against creating any new religion is crucial. History is clear as to how they have nurtured a new following, brick by brick. Auroville case was lost just because a definite name of a new religion was not there. Similar challenges will be aplenty in future. 

Therefore, I started the Savitri Era Religion in 2006. It protects me from the social pressure of performing senseless rituals and celebrating stupid festivals. Freedom from the tyranny of mythological fiction is also a great benefit. Besides, following any fixed system of practice of yoga is also absent. Surrender to The Mother is the only requirement. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Third Dream

 I have been drawn to different cultural domains at different points of time but any deep involvement or expertise in any has eluded me. This I treat as a blessing. The Mother, I remember, had written a letter to Sri Aurobindo on similar lines. However, the point is, I find myself free. Judging things without any prejudice or vested interest is an important privilege. 

A platform like Savitri Era Religion or Savitri Era Party offers that latitude, profusely. Like, on the issue of Bande Mataram, I can argue that what Sri Aurobindo wrote or said in a Colonial context can't be a guide in a democratic environment. Sensitivity towards the emotions of all sections of citizens is more vital than imposing majoritarian diktats. 

AIT is another contentious issue where I prefer status quo in the absence of conclusive evidence to the contrary. Thus, flouting Sri Aurobindo here becomes an academic necessity. Believing Devdutt Pattanaik is far more logical when he asserts that there is no historical evidence for the existence of Buddha. Therefore, I avoid the poetic and mystical aspects of Sri Aurobindo's teachings. 

The most concrete prediction of Sri Aurobindo pertains to World Union. Here too, I take the most extraordinary stand of granting Sovereignty to the States under a loose Federation for creating a nucleus for future expansion. Savitri Era Party (2007) has been campaigning for this possibility from the outset. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Gramsci, Hayek, aur Woh

 Shreepal Singh's Indian People’s Congress (1993) may be the first political party with The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as inspiration but it turns out to be leaning too much towards Hindutva. Similarly, many leading followers and devotees of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo seem to be intoxicated with Hindutva. Crumbs from the current political dispensation is also a contributing factor. 

I have been showing the right direction, like the Pole Star, since 2005. I do not know how it has been possible, so uninterruptedly. Ideologically, it's no rocket science. Simple common sense says that Sri Aurobindo is the only alternative. But running this blog, singlehandedly, wouldn't have been possible without The Mother's grace. 

Our friend, Kristof_Poland is very optimistic about Hayek winning over Gramsci. Building institutions will ultimately propel the desired results, he is sure. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo were their contemporaries and have left behind sufficient intellectual work and numerous institutions. Savitri Era Party (2007) is confident that its time will come. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. With this understanding Indian People’s Congress was formed. It was got registered on 30th March, 1993 with the Election Commission of India... In its founding meeting, the Party elected its first National Central Committee with Shreepal Singh, an advocate of the Supreme Court of India as its Chairman and Kaushalendra Dhwaj, an advocate practicing in Meerut as its General Secretary.

https://indianpeoplescongress.wordpress.com/history/

हम कुछ लेखों को इस इंटरनेट युग में यहाँ पुन: प्रकाशित कर रहे हैं। ये लेख “सहयोग भारती” पत्रिका में 1980 में छपे थे। “सहयोग भारती ” के सम्पादक प्रो रमेश गुप्त थे

https://indianpeoplescongress.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/%e0%

https://indianpeoplescongress.wordpress.com/2026/08/01/an-age-of-human-transition/

https://x.com/singhxshreepal/status/2083370045523329257 

https://marketime.blogspot.com/2026/09/indian-peoples-congress.html

2. The difference between the Gramscian left and the Hayekian right is not the strategy. The strategy is the same: change the intellectual climate, move the Overton Window, wait for the political moment when what was previously unthinkable becomes inevitable... Both sides understood the mechanism. One funded it properly. The other kept looking for the politician — the next Reagan, the next Milei — without understanding that before each of them there were decades of institutional work that nobody filmed. You cannot skip the intellectual work and go straight to the politician. Someone must produce the ideas. Someone must translate them for millions. Someone must fund the institutions that do both for twenty years, including when the ideas are unfashionable. 

https://x.com/Kristof_Poland/status/2096740529593614556

https://vipvak.blogspot.com/2026/08/excellence-is-specific-offense.html

3. Furthermore, the prime minister said, the spiritual journey of ‘The Mother’ from Paris to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry has inspired countless Indian and French seekers.

https://ddnews.gov.in/en/india-france-relations-have-reached-new-heights-pm-modi/

https://feelphilosophy.blogspot.com/2026/09/journey-of-mother-from-paris-to.html

Athens and Ilion

 I have been stressing on Democracy and Modernity because, being born and brought up in a village in Odisha, I have seen the distressing effects of local tradition and culture. English connects us to the Western world, down to the ethos of Athens. Savitri Era Religion (2006) and Savitri Era Party (2007) allow us the freedom from the compulsion of justifying whatever Sri Aurobindo wrote through the lens of Hindutva.

Through Savitri Era Learning Forum (SELF), I have been disseminating diverse sources of knowledge since 2005. Each person grows through a unique trajectory, and stumbling upon the right reading material at the right time can prove to be a seminal event. Online presence, therefore, has a great benefit, and innumerable people have benefited by both agreeing and disagreeing with me. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. Those who are drawn towards the vortex of Sanskrit texts in their youthful enthusiasm are inviting trouble for all their life. One text will lead to another and then multiple commentaries etc. would rob many pleasures and cause vertigo. Sri Aurobindo's English translations safer.

https://x.com/SavitriEra/status/1166746220166926336

2. War, Fate and the Search for Harmony: Sri Aurobindo's Philosophy of Peace in "Ilion" by Rudrashish Dutta, Sri Aurobindo Mandir Annual 2026

https://vipvak.blogspot.com/2026/09/sri-aurobindos-contributions-to-post.html

https://selforum.blogspot.com/2026/09/odisha-inspires-about-sri-aurobindo.html

Sokal's larva

 AI can be said to be the biggest symbol of the much touted 21st century of which we started hearing some forty years back. But despite all the power of digitalisation, democratisation of knowledge and information is still a far cry. Rather the scope for manipulation and deliberate obfuscation has risen manifold. However, only technology is not to blame.

History is about the great men. News is about the great men. Books of great authors sell. Movies of great stars are instant hits. Gossip is on great men. Thus, the human tendency to derive self-esteem by relying on great men warps social reality. So, who or what becomes viral matters. Not necessarily which has some intrinsic worth or quality.

It is said that many writers and poets used to publish under the name of some well-known author. That's how ancient texts swelled over time. Otherwise, nobody would have cared for their work. Ghost writing happens even today. But AI has arrived as the ultimate ghost. Sokal's larva is a fully-grown Monster, now. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Carving out our distinct identity

 Worshipping The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as the one Supreme Divine is the fundamental principle of Savitri Era Religion. Beyond this, it doesn't impose any form of practice as mandatory. Devotees are free to develop their own method of expressing devotion towards them, who are always present in their three poises: individual, universal, and transcendent. 

Love and devotion involves an attitude of loyalty, gratitude, and surrender. Surrender is a common notion in most religious traditions, but, here, it is based on knowledge. Understanding their philosophical tenets, clearly, is necessary for preparing the mind for surrender to The Mother & Sri Aurobindo. Further, seeking The Mother's grace for success in any venture is a crucial factor. 

Logic of the Infinite and Exclusive Concentration are said to be the most important concepts on which Sri Aurobindo's philosophy stands. Savitri Era ontology is emphatic on Evolution but, at the same time, it is also reliant on Lila. Thus, it is very difficult to assign superiority to any particular model, paradigm, or ideology. The choice of the Psychic Being in designing life's journey defies the mechanical laws of Karma or any form of determinism. 

Savitri Era Religion doesn't identify any text as fundamental. Reading The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's books is good for intellectual development. Developing some acquaintance with Western philosophy is also desirable. Avoiding ancient texts in Sanskrit can help one to save a lot of time and energy. Mythologies, however, can be enjoyed as literature. 

There shouldn't be any misconception that Sri Aurobindo has solved all philosophical problems or all his predictions are going to be fulfilled. Similarly, believing that his system of yoga can, straightaway, deliver self-realisation is delusional. Still, Savitri Era Religion (2006) is the best option at the moment. 

Five Dreams Manifesto (1947) of Sri Aurobindo has specific political elements and hence Savitri Era Party (2007) has enormous relevance. Obviously, maintaining a distinct identity of Savitri Era Religion as well as Savitri Era Party is essential. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo don't authorise to collaborate with others.

Very few people are left who have seen The Mother or worked with her. Thus, it is necessary to create a robust ideological scaffolding so that the younger generation walks with confidence. There is no dearth of intellectual resources. Sincere aspiration and right interpretation are required for building a worldwide movement. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. [after the passing of a Guru, people spend inordinate amounts of time in reminiscing who they actually were, how great they were and all the work they did. The Guru says “live in the present” but people get stuck in that past moment, recalling adoringly how he said those words and what happened after that. This is nostalgia. We ought to be studying ourselves (becoming more self-aware) rather than obsessively studying Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.] - Sandeep

https://auromere.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/cases-of-reincarnation-across-religions/#comment-17684

https://auromere.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/practicing-yoga-without-a-guru/

https://selforum.blogspot.com/2012/12/obsessively-studying-sri-aurobindo-and.html

2. We have romanticised poverty for too long, creating a cultural habit of turning deprivation into virtue and wealth into suspicion. My latest essay on the moral halo of poverty: sarngarava.substack.com/p/the-moral-ha…

[There is an older and sharper language for this too: ressentiment. Nietzsche, and later Max Scheler, used the concept to describe a psychological process in which frustration or powerlessness is converted into a reversal of values. Things associated with those one resents are declared morally inferior, while one’s own condition is elevated into virtue. The point is not that every poor person’s values are produced this way. The point is that “I do not possess what you possess, therefore what you possess must be morally corrupting” is a recognisable form of moral inversion.] 

https://x.com/sarngarava/status/2094056205622923540

https://sepact.blogspot.com/2026/08/inner-strength-wisdom-and-divine.html

3. Remembering Jitendra Nath Mohanty, Arindam Chakrabarti writes that Mohanty was a rare philosopher who read and taught (in Sanskrit, German, and English) Patañjali, Vyāsa, Śan˙kara, Gangeśa, Kant, Hegel, Husserl, Heidegger, Frege, Wittgenstein, Hume, McTaggart, Russell, Davidson, and Dummett with equal expertise—showing how ‘fusion philosophy’, rather than a swaraj in ideas, had become by the 1970s the preferred stance of academic philosophers (Chakrabarti and Weber 2015; Chakrabarti 2024). 

Baidik Bhattacharya and Prathama Banerjee

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/AA7322CA2AC111717D27478270DB0B62/9781009596909AR.pdf/

https://marketime.blogspot.com/2026/09/what-is-man-staying-alive-for.html

Curves and a culvert

 After completing the Four-year integrated B.Sc.,B.Ed. course with Botany honours from Regional College of Education, Bhubaneswar run by NCERT under Utkal University in 1976, I had joined as a Science teacher in Sailo Jharapada High School in my native village in Kataka District, where my own teachers became my colleagues. I met a couple of my students, after a gap of 50 years, during a visit, recently.

Although, I was a Science student, the subject of Education had introduced me to the world of Humanities. The paper on Child Psychology was quite interesting at that point of time. I had learnt similar things too from my acquaintance with The Mother & Sri Aurobindo. Rest of the awareness came from newspapers and magazines, fiction, or watching plays.

After one year of teachership, I joined PNB, initially, as an Agricultural Clerk since I had studied Agriculture as a part of vocational education in the college. Thereafter, I worked in various capacities till 2000, when I took VRS. Thus, I have acquired my own way of looking at things without being swayed by dominant narratives. Living in Odisha, West Bengal, UP, and Delhi also has given me diverse experiences. I haven't gone abroad except for a couple of hours, once, to Nepal. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Savitri Era Party is against AAP, BJP, and Congress

 A lot of political speculation is going on in the YouTube channels. There are many signals which indicate turmoil in the ruling party. Polyphony of RSS is adding to the confusion but upbeat mood in the Congress camp is totally out of place. As President of Savitri Era Party (2007), I need to make things clear although we have no formal presence on the ground. However, devotees and followers of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo are everywhere who can make a difference if coordinated thinking and action is there.

Savitri Era Party is against AAP, BJP, and Congress. Our opposition to Reservations is the most potent agenda in the present context. Five Dreams Manifesto (1947) advocates human unity, and hence, all kinds of discriminations need to be jetisoned. Further, unlike most, our opposition to Hindutva doesn't, automatically, mean support to the Congress. Ideologically, we have a robust presence which can attract the young if properly communicated. Let us not forget that only the devotees of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo can show the right path to the country and the world. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Thou shall not gaze

 More than 3.3 seconds degenerates into a gaze which is said to be improper. But can human emotions and sentiments be calibrated with such precision? A stereotypical female attitude is quite staple in academic writings. Disclosure of personal experiences by normal persons can rectify such politically-correct, ossified assumptions. The same is also true for avowedly spiritual environments. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. [Acknowledging that visual presentation can influence attention does not justify misconduct. Acknowledging that human beings may experience involuntary reactions does not absolve them of self-control. And insisting on behavioural responsibility does not require us to pretend that perception, attention, and bodily response are entirely disconnected from social and sensory environments.] 

The Gaze and the Garment: A Dharmic Reflection

19 hours ago — In Chapter 2, Śrī Kṛṣṇa compares the disciplined withdrawal of the senses ... sri aurobindo temple temples tradition vedanta vedas vishnu war yoga Śaṅkara.

Author: Sireesha Betha

11 hours ago — Sireesha Betha is currently studying for an MA in Hindu Dharma and an MSc in Psychology and is based in the United Kingdom. Her writing explores the ...

2. [Women themselves want to be seen as seductive and are totally focused on their physical appearance because that must attract attention.] 

http://sunayana.com/india/the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/

https://selforum.blogspot.com/2012/07/women-themselves-want-to-be-seen-as.html

3. [Oh, sweetie, lemme tell you- I *wanted* to share the video I just watched of a Scully/Gillian Anderson lookalike warning that modern novels have far TOO MUCH sex and it's damaging all our minds, but I thought I'd spare everyone!] 

https://bsky.app/profile/rufus-hickok.bsky.social/post/3mu75amrhyk2n

https://youtu.be/ffvRhsViyIQ?si=N2jgv9NaYWPq-_nC

A distinct political alternative

 With Sri Aurobindo attaining Siddhi on November 24, 1926, the Ashram, under The Mother's guidance, came into being. This year happens to be its Centenary. This, obviously, is of immense significance for the future of the world. Collating content for a fresh post for Orchid and the rose, this morning, surprised me about the ideological confusion people are suffering from. The relevance of Sri Aurobindo, therefore, needs to be appreciated by all. 

The Ashram has been promoting the teachings of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo through two major routes. They are, Integral Yoga and Integral Education. Thousands of Centres are busy giving these ideals a practical shape. Enormous progress has been made. However, my observation, over the last sixty years, doesn't deem it to be satisfactory. It's because the formulations continue to be nebulous. 

I had launched Savitri Era Learning Forum (SELF) in 2005 but felt that merely intellectual approach is insufficient. Therefore, I started Savitri Era Religion, the next year in 2006, with a view to countering Hindutva. 2007 happened to be the Centenary of the famous Congress Split in Surat in which Sri Aurobindo had taken a leading part. So, I set up Savitri Era Party for providing a distinct political alternative. 

SELF Radar has 14 other blogs for diverse information and links than this Savitri Era, where I express myself. Not being a part of any ecosystem permits me to be independent and objective. But subject to my worshipping The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as the one Supreme Divine who are always present in their three poises: individual, universal, and transcendent. 

Nevertheless, I put forth all kinds of critical views and revisionary proposals in order to be in alignment with Democracy and Modernity. I take the line of not sticking to literalism and interpreting the words of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo, according to the situation. Avoiding the India-centric approach, for instance, has become a necessity for resisting Hindutva. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. Orchid and the rose

https://orchidrose.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-soft-sensuality-dressed-up-as.html

2. VIP VAK - SELF Radar

https://vipvak.blogspot.com/2026/08/self-radar.html

3. More posts by https://x.com/Kristof_Poland

https://vipvak.blogspot.com/2026/08/excellence-is-specific-offense.html 

Hurdles for understanding Sri Aurobindo systematically

 I have written on this problem on many occasions in the past since understanding Sri Aurobindo and right interpretation of his writings is an enormous responsibility. But developing a systematic framework for it is nowhere in sight. As a result, learning about him is bound to remain as scattered and chaotic.

Scholarship had a very secure format in the last century. Writing some connecting notes to a bunch of select citations was the standard practice. Published texts were considered as authentic and, therefore, they were rarely questioned or challenged. Despite the concept of Deconstruction, it was, by and large, a safe world.

Arrival of Internet resulted in mushrooming of authors with texts multiplying, exponentially. Thus, the sanctity of the printed word was lost. Moreover, podcasts became difficult to quote or reference, although they added significantly to the discourse. AI generated slanted views, dressed in respectable prose, also are the latest irritant. 

On the backdrop of these difficulties of general nature, studying Sri Aurobindo poses many other problems. Identifying them is essential for understanding the magnitude of the problem. Then only finding proper ways and means for addressing them can be thought of. But no assurance is there. 

1. The name of Sri Aurobindo is almost synonymous with the Ashram. But this is an anomalous situation since it gives an impression of Sri Aurobindo being owned by the Ashram. Obviously, it is not a fact. Sri Aurobindo belongs to the history but history is yet to claim him adequately.

2. History has problem in grappling with Sri Aurobindo's various facets. It is not sure of some dimensions of his personality that have been amplified by public perceptions, at various levels. History is also ambivalent about the veracity of many utterances of top politicians and leaders about him. 

3. More fundamentally, scholarship in our country is paradigm or narrative driven where Sri Aurobindo, virtually, has no place. If I'm correct, Sumit Sarkar had provided him a foothold in the history books which was later amplified a bit by Dipesh Chakrabarty. Still, it amounts to nothing. The damage done by Ashish Nandy persists. 

4. Hindutva has done further damage by pigeonholing Sri Aurobindo as an icon of narrow nationalism. It is not interested any farther than that single sentence of his Uttarpara speech. Some are more interested in presenting him as a revolutionary and pioneer of militancy. These create a warped picture of him. 

5. Overall, general scholarship on Sri Aurobindo is nearly absent. As a result, comparisons and comments are rare even in journalistic writings. Perceiving the Ashram as a cult is also a dampener. Many prefer maintaining silence instead of exposing their own ignorance of him. Distance from devotion is also construed as a sign of cerebral status. 

6. Western approval is also a big factor in fostering scholarship but Sri Aurobindo is a pauper here too. Universities are loath to entertain him ever since Ken Wilber turned him New Agey. Appropriation by Hindutva is a further dissuading factor. 

7. Indians in America too don't seem to be enthusiastic about Sri Aurobindo, much. They are more interested in the ritualistic model of religion than the Vedic consciousness driven, as formulated by Sri Aurobindo. Spectacle, after all, exerts universal pull. 

Apart from such external factors, there are many reasons internal to Sri Aurobindo's own writings. 

1. All of his writings and conversations are yet to be published due to which a complete understanding of him is still awaited. 

2. Most of his books are independent of each other and, therefore, making proper connections is difficult. 

3. His poetry, being religious and mystical, lacks the power for attracting young readers. 

4. His philosophical writings contain immense speculation thus falling short of credibility before the present generation. 

5. His life in the Ashram doesn't inspire confidence in the men of action busy in the struggle of life. 

6. His system of Integral yoga involves large scale psychological manipulation which most find repulsive. 

7. Many of Sri Aurobindo's admirers don't consider The Mother as worth respecting due to her foreign origin. 

I must have posted several references to the book, but recently, I read a passage, via a tweet, from India and Europe by Wilhelm Halbfass which seemed to me to be a very precise and a very astute comment on Sri Aurobindo. In contrast to the latest skeptical review of Frank Visser, it offers a very optimistic portrayal of Sri Aurobindo's relevance. 

However, I am skeptical of scholarship ever being capable of doing proper justice to Sri Aurobindo. I am equally skeptical of the theory that the truth can be known by mystical experiences. The mid-ground, therefore, is Savitri Era Religion. Those who feel that the young Indians in America have a different set of requirements than those at home are mistaken. Savitri Era Religion (2006) is amply universal to embrace the whole humanity. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

1. What is particularly noteworthy is that the ascent to new stages and dimensions of consciousness, the thrust into the “supramental” etc., is presented as a concrete historical task not limited to the inner world of the individual but involving the cosmos and mankind as well. Aurobindo is convinced that the spiritual realities can be made manifest in the actual, current world, and that in this process Hinduism can prove its concrete historical potential. -Halbfass, India and Europe

https://x.com/vjgtweets/status/2091591125731819821

https://auroramirabilis.blogspot.com/2026/08/hinduism-can-prove-its-concrete.html

2.

The Life Divine Reconsidered: A Skeptical Review of Sri Aurobindo's Magnum Opus, Frank Visser / ChatGPT

7 hours ago — Few works of modern spiritual philosophy rival Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine in ambition. Published in revised form in 1939-40 after first appearing ...

https://savitriera.blogspot.com/2026/08/senility-and-liminality.html 

https://savitriera.blogspot.com/2026/08/savitri-and-life-divine-twin-towers.html

3. On Reading Sri Aurobindo: Blindness, Insight, Outlook and a Persprctive By Murali Sivaramakrishnan

https://selforum.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html 

https://x.com/MuraliSivarama4 

https://youtu.be/j0ZTSJtZYVA?si=FLWQvZ1iljyUKgaz 

https://youtu.be/GMic9scZ8UY?si=bspN-bzkcLnB0Rro

[Professor Murali Sivaramakrishnan receiving Sri Aurobindo Puraskar on 15th August 2026 from the Governor of West Bengal in Kolkata... Congratulations to Murali, who is also an environmentalist. @lokbhavan_wb] - GG

Patrice and Derrida

 I had become well-versed in The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's philosophy and thoughts on education, but shifting to Delhi from Odisha in 1988 gave me the exposure to a variety of other streams and schools of thought. The New Age movement was hotting up at that time and sensing the demand, the Life Positive magazine came out. A special Book Fair titled, Mystique India was organised in the Pragati Maidan in 1996, where I had met Patrice in the World Book Fair. 

Delhi Ashram library and Sahitya Akademi library provided me with the opportunity to read books on Western philosophy and postmodernism. Comparative studies on Sri Aurobindo opened up new perspectives. Had the occasion to listen to Derrida once in the NSD auditorium. Seminars and Conferences on diverse themes helped to satisfy my intellectual hunger.

Access to Internet in 2005 transformed the whole scenario. With launching of this blog, my lifelong desire for publishing a magazine succeeded, albeit in the online form. VRS from PNB in 2000 too had provided me with a good opportunity of time and convenience. Airing an alternative line of thinking has been my specialty. The work continues, even after two decades, due to The Mother's grace. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Abolition of reservations

 Savitri Era Party (2007) has its own ideology and vision. As an aspiring avenue for harmony, it doesn't support the current mood of fighting political battles in the street. Like any game, democracy needs to be played as per rules. It may be tempting to justify on the ground of extraordinary circumstances. But it is difficult to prevent from playing into the hands of adverse forces.

People are still debating about the role of Subhas Chandra Bose. Even Gandhi is questioned on many counts. It's not easy to evaluate merely by the external happenings. I have been cautioning against supporting or promoting the so called great men without examining their policies or ideologies.

Savitri Era Party (2007) is opposed to Hindutva as well as Dynasty. It is very clear about abolition of reservations. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's teachings don't support discrimination among human beings. Some argue that this piece of ethics is derived from the Bible. They also make it evident that many aspects of our Constitution can be traced to the Bible.

Emerging political sentiments are groping in the dark with overlapping concerns whereas I have already formulated a distinct ideology two decades back. If hijacked by other forces, the momentum is sure to fail. But let's hope that the Grace of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo guides it in the right evolutionary direction. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Say no to nation

 Democracy is about people. Not the people or the nation. It's about individual citizens. So, imposing any shade of tribalism or identity politics is, undoubtedly, an aberration. Therefore, it is important to fix, firmly, where one's emphasis lies. Because democracy has no prototype. Like a liquid, it takes the shape of the container. Many totalitarian regimes have claimed to be running a democracy.

M. Nageswara Rao is peeved that the Constitution of India promotes social atomism. This very fact is the greatest tribute to the Constitution. It frees the individuals from the shackles of all tribalism including even the family. All are independent voters. But the same Constitution also recognises various castes and religions.

Sri Aurobindo has examined this individual vs. collective issue extensively. He favours the individual, as far as I understand, but, unfortunately, many of his writings from the earlier political period is quoted for justifying the primacy of the nation or religion. These, however, are subject to scholarly interpretation and critical scrutiny.

I bypass this difficulty by formulating my own recipe under Savitri Era Party (2007) and Savitri Era Religion (2006). While worshipping The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as the one Supreme Divine, who are always present in their three poises: individual, universal, and transcendent, is fundamental, their writings can be read, differently, according to the situation.

Dragging Sri Aurobindo for justifying any utilitarian function is, absolutely, anomalous. Even to say that the East and the West meet in his philosophy is also erroneous. He represents the word Integral to the hilt; no synthesis or amalgamation, no braiding or blending, no intertwining or interweaving. He is something unique and altogether unprecedented. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Modernity abhors mysticism

 Since I studied Science in college, my orientation in Humanities was picked up from newspapers, magazines, fiction, and films. Reading the books on Sri Aurobindo and other philosophical works also provided many insights. But a systematic understanding of the basics remains a distant target. Besides, deciphering possible influence of Marxist lens or examining its desirability proves to be a conundrum.

Having spent my school years in a village in Odisha, in the 1960s, I'm well aware of the ill-effects of pre-modern practices. Therefore, I defend Modernity, and caution against glorification of an imaginary past. Even, many of Sri Aurobindo's writings need to be read suitably, in this context. The mystical elements of yoga and sadhana shouldn't, therefore, be recommended to the young generation.

Psychic choice of a unique and playful trajectory of life is a fundamental template of Sri Aurobindian Ontology. His first principle of education that Nothing can be taught, therefore, fits absolutely fine. Savitri Era Religion (2006) and Savitri Era Party (2007) are right avenues for a socially acceptable appreciation of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's teachings. This is a big challenge in the current confusing scenario. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social