24TH NOVEMBER, 1926 - Its Significance
(Gist of Talk on 24th November,
2018@ Sri Aurobindo Complex,
JP Nagar, Bangalore by Dr. Ajit Sabnis)
24TH November, 1926 is very special, spiritually significant and auspicious to all of us. We refer to it as Siddhi Day, The day of realization and Mother calls it as The Victory Day. It is one of the milestones in the spiritual odyssey of Sri Aurobindo, in the realms of his Integral Yoga.
What actually happened on that day is better understood by connecting the dots of Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual journey since the time he met Yogi Vishnu Bhasker Lele in 1907, his solitary confinement in Alipore jail between 1908 and 1909 and his acquittal, his Uttarpara speech on 30th May 1909, his arrival to Pondicherry in 1910, Mother’s final arrival in April 1920 as Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator, writing most of his philosophical expositions on varied subjects between 1914 and 1920 and continuation of his intense sadhana at Pondicherry till he left his physical body.
It was in Uttarpara speech,
immediately after his coming out from Alipore jail that Sri Aurobindo, for the
first time spoke about his spiritual experiences. It was here, in the solitary
confinement, the second transition in his spiritual journey experienced-the
glimpse of supramental oneness, the experience of Spiritualization, The
experience of “All in One and One in All”, the experience of “Vasudevah Sarvam
iti”. First transition was experienced by Sri Aurobindo when he first met V B
Lele in 1907- the realization of silent Brahman.
It
is appropriate to recall the triple transformation formula Sri Aurobindo gave
us:
Ø
The first step, Psychisization:
Shift from surface consciousness to subliminal consciousness leading to
widening of our consciousness and True-Self becomes our sole guide.
Ø
The second step, Spiritualization:
An individual ascends from one state of consciousness to a higher state of
consciousness and experiences the essence of “Sarvam Khalu idam Bramha”. This
was his second spiritual transition in Alipore jail.
Ø
The third step, Supramentalisation:
Where the Truth consciousness, the supramental consciousness, descends into an
individual and transforms. The first two steps are absolutely essential for
this to happen.
Sri Aurobindo also describes several
grades of consciousness implying several grades of mind in his integral yoga;
from physical mind to vital mind to mental to higher mind, illumined mind,
intuitive mind, overmind and lastly the supermind, the abode of supramental
consciousness. It is the Overmind, the plane of overmental consciousness, which
is the interface between the two hemispheres, the Aparardha and the Parardha.
It is also called as the ‘Golden Lid’. We ascend from inconscient to overmind
and by rending which, we enter the divine realm of Supermind; the ascent to
supermind and the descent of supramental consciousness are simultaneous.
But for The Mother and Sri Aurobindo,
this was not enough. The aim of Integral yoga is not individual but collective.
Their spiritual goal was nothing short of divinization of life upon earth and
for this bringing down the Supramental consciousness on earth was essential. It
is in this yogic process and as a third transition; the descent of Overmental
Consciousness, the Krishna’s Consciousness, into the physical of Sri Aurobindo
took place on the day of 24th November, 1926.
On this day of November 24th, when
Mother met Sri Aurobindo around 4pm, She knew exactly what had happened. She
spoke to Sri Aurobindo and sent words for all the sadhaks to assemble. They
came and assembled around 6pm and had meditation for about 45 minutes. This
time, Mother was the first to bless them followed by Sri Aurobindo, as if informing
the devotees that it is She who will take care of you from now onwards. Some
felt tremendous pressure; some saw rush of light and some saw transformed Sri
Aurobindo. From this day, Sri Aurobindo went into seclusion and daily evening
talks and meets involving Sri Aurobindo discontinued.
Mother
also indicated starting of Sri Aurobindo Ashram with 24 sadhaks from this day.
And from this day onwards, Sri Aurobindo actually started signing as Sri
Aurobindo.
There
is another important incident that took place on 25th November, 1926
and many would not know this. This was called the day of Immortality by the Mother. Champaklal had arranged ‘swastik’
rangoli that day. Mother asked him who told you to draw this symbol. Then She
told him it represented immortality and that day, 25th November, the
principle of immortality also descended and settled in earth consciousness.
This was not publicized at that point in time as per the instructions of the
Mother. Subsequently, this appeared in Deepti and Mother India.
Thus,
Sri Aurobindo has not given us only the spiritual theory of Integral yoga but
has shown us how by being in a human form, transformation can be achieved.
Let
us bow to our great Masters with all our humility in command for showing us the
way forward.
Pranams
!!
…………………………………………………….
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