Prarthana: A Musical Offering to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
(56 mts., AudioCD Rs.125/-)

Prarthana is an audio CD of ten devotional songs in Sanskrit dedicated to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, composed by Dr. Sampadananda Mishra and set to music by Pavitra Kumar.

Of the ten songs, Naumi Tam, Sundararupam, and He Bhavasagara are devoted to Sri Aurobindo while the remaining seven - Varabhayakaram, Divyadehadharini, Divyamritalile, Putamahodadhi, Jaya Mire, Tava Mukhakamalam, and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Matarmire - are in praise of the Mother. The songs are basically an unabashedly emotional outpouring of love and devotion to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and set to the melodius strains of the sitar, the haunting call of the flute and rhythmic beat of the tabla.

Sung by Trupti Das, Shailabhama Mahapatra and Pavitra Kumar, this is probably the first time that a composition of songs in praise of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother completely in Sanskrit has been commercially produced. It is overall a beautiful effort.
The above CD can be ordered from
    Splendour Auroservice,
    No.16, Goubert Avenue,
    Pondicherry-605 001
    Tel.: 0413-2336396 to 98
    E-mail: splendour@sriaurobindosociety.org.in

Four Chapters of Sri Aurobindo Ashram
(74 mts., VideoCD Rs.150/-)

This documentary presents the various activities of the Ashram in the early 1950s. We also have a few glimpses of the Mother with the children and her active participation in the Ashram life. Though the documentary was filmed around 1952, it is brought out now in VCD format because of its great historical, archival and spiritual value as it contains the pictures of the Mother.

The Mother
(68 mts., VideoCD Rs.150/-)

Contains 3 Documentaries:
The Mother - Glimpses of Her Life - 18 min.
Four Aspects of the Mother - 28 min.
The Mother on Sri Aurobindo - 22 min.

The documentaries contained in this VCD are of great value as they contain films of the Mother, pictures of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, readings in the Mother's voice, the Mother's organ music and orchestral music composed by Sunil Bhattacharjee. At places there has been a loss of visual quality as some of the films were shot in the Ashram in the early 1950s.

Integral Education - A Foundation for the Future
By Partho

(published by Sri Aurobindo Society in association with UBSPD, New Delhi)

22+306 pp. (15 x 22 cm) Rs.525/-

This book on Integral Education explores the powerful idea of an unfolding progressive evolution in human life in terms of the practical dynamics of psychology, education and schooling. It presents a compelling prototype of an evolutionary education for a humanity evolving consciously towards its own inherent perfection in spirit, mind emotions and body. In other words, it presents an education for a future society.

The author, Partho, has extensively worked with teachers, educators, parents and young adults, to bring them to an understanding of the philosophy and practice of integral and spiritual education, Vedanta and Integral Yoga. Much of what is discussed in the book is inspired by the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and based on the author's practice of integral education as a teacher and a teacher-educator.

Shyam Smaranam - set of 2 CDs/Audio Cassettes
Sung by: Pavitra Kumar, Ujjvala Haldar, Chandrima Haldar, Durba Bhattacharya, Binita Shah & Dr. Sampadananda Mishra
Composed by: Pavitra Kumar
(brought out by Sri Aurobindo Society in association with Times Music; AudioCD set Rs.295/-, Audio Cassette set Rs. 100/-)

Contains a collection of stotras that arise from the devotee's heart. There is in this seeking for the Divine all the varied sentiments and passions, the many moods and expressions of love. In these hymns Krishna is worshipped not only as the Supreme Purushottama, as the Purna Avatara, but also as the King of thieves, "Chauraadhipati'. Several of these hymns have Mantric quality and even if we do not understand the words, the sound-rhythms themselves are capable of lifting us into another world.

The second volume in the set comprises the same shlokas presented in the first volume, without the accompanying instruments. This non-musical rendition in a traditional manner is ideal for the purpose of chanting.

Anandamayi Chaitanyamayi
Sung by Asha Bhosle and Chorus
(brought out by Sri Aurobindo Society, Nagpur, in association with Saregama India Ltd., Kolkata)
(50 mts., AudioCD Rs.175/-,
Audio Cassette Rs. 60)

Contains melodious singing of the mantra "Om anandamayi, chaitanyamayi, satyamayi parame…" by Asha Bhosle and chorus. This mantra is an invocation to the Supreme Divine Mother, revealed by Sri Aurobindo. The CD is brought out by the Nagpur Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society (MC-24).

Both the above CDs & Audio cassettes can be purchased from Splendour Auroservice, Pondicherry
<splendour@sriaurobindosociety.org.in>

To find a fitting symbol to represent the immortal Gods has been a long-standing quest of people of all ages. Several media have been tested and found wanting, in capturing the Eternal in temporal matter.

In the 2nd century BC Buddhists began to carve planned temples and even monasteries into the rocks and gave them the shape of their structural architecture -their chaityas, viharas and stupas. Soon the Hindus followed and carved temples with pillared halls and rectangular sanctuaries into the mountains.

Pallava Rock Architecture and Sculpture follows the development of Pallava cave temples in Tamil Nadu from their austere beginnings to a more and more developed stage which would finally culminate in the rich and intricate rock architecture and sculpture of Mamallapuram, near Chennai.

India's Spiritual Destiny : Its Inevitability and Potentiality
By Dr. Mangesh V. Nadkarni

(published by Sri Aurobindo Society in association with UBSPD, New Delhi)
ISBN 817476565-4
12+136 pp. (15 x 22 cm) Rs.325/-

In this collection of six lectures delivered at various seminars and conferences, Dr. Mangesh Nadkarni puts forth Sri Aurobindo's perspective on some of the crucial problems facing India today.

In the current debate in the media and at conferences, two perspectives dominate the discussions - the rightist religious perspective and the leftist secular one. This debate will become more rich and meaningful, Dr. Nadkarni suggests, if other perspectives are also considered.

In Dr. Nadkarni's view, the life-affirming spiritual perspective of Sri Aurobindo is suited to our present needs. It is a comprehensive vision that includes everything in its scope - the great aims of human life, the many forms of human activity, the deepest aspirations of the human soul, and the essays selected in this book bring out this perspective convincingly.