ACTIVITIES AT NIVAS

The integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo embraces all aspects and all fields of human life and its activities but with different orientations. In the light of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and in pursuance of its aims and objectives. Sri Aurobindo Society, Baroda Branch has undertaken various activities, services and programme for physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural, educational and spiritual development of the people. Sri Aurobindo Society, Baroda is not only a local center but a regional center for the whole of Gujarat State and hence more than 100 Branches and Centres of the Society are associated with Gujarat State Committee with Baroda as headquarters for their working. Various activities under taken at Baroda are as under:

1. YOGASANA CLASSES Yogasana Classes have been conducted by the Society since 1979 and hundreds of people from different walks of life and of different age groups are taking its advantage every year. Normally, two batches, one in the early morning and one in the evening are conducted for two week courses every month. Yogasana classes have also been conducted for public and private industries, Lion, Rotary and other service organizations, Govt. Departments, Educational, Social and other institutions in Baroda and outside at their own premises with the help of experts deputed by the Society.

2. HEALTH CARE ACTIVITIES Since more than a decade, Sri Aurobindo Society, Baroda has undertaken landmark activities particularly in the area of health care through alternative systems of medicine and treatment such as acupressure, homeopathy, ayurved, and magnetotherapy. Guidance for surgery and allopathic treatments are also given by experienced doctors. The treatment are also given by doctors. The treatment is given to all without discrimination of caste, community, creed or religion. Dedicated, service minded and experienced band of experts have made their services available for this purpose on honorary basis. Health care camps, lecture series, training classes etc. are also arranged for the general public. As the activities of health care and yogasana became very popular and wide spread, a separate trust, Sri Aurobindo Health Centre Trust has been organized which helps the Society in running these activities.

3. YOUTH COUNCIL

The activities of the Society have attracted very large number of youths for which a separate Youth Wing is organized. The wing is very active and takes up various activities such as youth camps, shibirs, aerobics training, elocution and other competitions, organizing music, dance, drama, video shows, radio programmes, flower shows, photo exhibitions etc. etc. Trekking Camps organized by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch at Nainital and Dalhousie have become very popular and our youth council participates in these camps taking more than 250 youths of Baroda every year.

4. WOMEN'S COUNCIL Women Wing is organized and works to spread the teaching of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother among the women. Women's Council members are very active in organizing cultural programmes, classical dance, music and study classes, workshops, flower arrangements etc.

5. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Dance, music and other cultural activities are undertaken so that youths would be exposed to our rich cultural heritage, Kaththak dance classes and vocal music classes run regularly by the Women's Council have become very popular.

6. LECTURES, SWADHYAY SHIBIRS, TRAINING Lectures and discourses of prominent speakers and senior sadhaks from the Pondicherry Ashram and other places are arranged regulary. Baroda Municipal Corporation also arranges Sri Aurobindo Memorial Lectures every year in collaboration with the Society. Swadhyay Shibirs for deeper and meditative studies of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are arranged periodically. For new comers and society workers training classes of seven to ten days are organized for study of writings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.

7. CHILDREN CORNER is started for children of the age group 3-6 years and are given suitable environment and activities to help them to discover themselves and to help unfold his/ her personality spontaneously. It is run on Saturdays and Sundays. Also a programme of inviting school Children to Nivas has been implemented for introducing them the activities and atmosphere prevailing in Nivas. Vacation camps for small children are very popular. Move is afoot to start children corner on permanent basis.

Childrens Activites Schedule Activity Time Location Period Remarks Childrens' Corner 0930 to12.30 am Room 103 3 to 6 yrs Sat. :Sun Drawing Classes 0500 to 0600pm Room 103 7 to 14 yrs Sat Only

8. PUBLICATIONS 'Arpan' Gujarati Monthly magazine is published by the Society for spreading the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother since 1976. The circulation of the magazine is more than 2000 copies per month and is increasing rapidly. Books are published for free distribution or for sale on no profit, no loss basis.

9. LIBRARY AND READING ROOM Nivas Library has rich collection of books and magazines, the collected works of Sri Aurobidno and the Mother and also spiritual books of other authors of repute. It has book-lending facility also. In the reading room various periodicals are providing higher type of reading.

10. SANSKRIT PROPAGATION The Mother gave high importance to Sanskrit and said that the Sanskrit ought to be the national language of India. Efforts are made for its propagation by arranging cultural programmes, lectures in Sanskrit, conducting classes for speaking simple and easy Sanskrit in day to day life etc. Branch of Vishwa Sanskrit Pratisthanam is established for Sanskrit propagation work.

11. WORLD UNION World Union (international) was founded by the Mother for attainment of world peace, human unity and progress, with its headquarters at Pondicherry, Baroda Branch also takes up various programmes for fulfillment of the objectives of World Union Organization.

12. SALES OF ASHRAM PRODUCTS The Products of the Pondicherry Ashram such as Agarbattis, handmade papers, stationary items, ayurvedic medicines, perfumes, books, photographs and healthcare items are stocked and sold at Nivas through Sri Aurobindo Memorial Trust created specially for this activity.

For more information contact

Shri Pramod Shah, Sales Emporium, Sri Aurobindo Nivas, Dandia Bazar, Vadodara-390001 Ph: 91-265-2418978

13. PROSPERITY The beginning of monthly purchases of the day-to-day requirements of life is done by offering them to the Mother. Accordingly on the first of every month, few chosen items of daily requirements of life are collectively purchased, offered to the Mother and then distributed for individual use of the sadhaks. Many families are regularly participating in this unique activity of faith and devotion.

14. MEDITATION Meditation facilities are available from 5.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. round the year, including Sundays and holidays. Collective meditation with Swadhyaya and Ashram Music are held which are also largely attended. On Darshan Days special programmes are organized for meditations.

15. UPKEEPING OF MEMORIAL High standards of neatness and cleanliness are adhered to for unkeeping and

maintenance of the Memorial building and its surroundings. Artistic floral offerings and agarbatti services are offered at the Holy Shrine and in the meditation halls. Memorial building is now more than 100 years old hence all possible care is taken for its repairs and renovations.

16. AROGYA BHAVAN BUILDING With extention of different service activities, the existing building facilities were found inadequate and hence new and separate four storied building  - Sri Aurobindo Arogya Bhavan was constructed at a cost of about Rs.15 lakhs and was inaugurated in Sept.90. The building with 16 capacious rooms and big hall cater to the needs of different activities.

17. GUEST HOUSE Facilities of accommodation is provided to the guests visiting Nivas from outstation and who are connected with the work of Sri Aurobindo. Guest rooms have facilities of attached bath toilets, solar heater, hot water etc. For Bookings contact: Chairman/ Secretary Sri Aurobindo Society, Sri Aurobindo Nivas, Dandia Bazar, Vadodara-390001 Ph: 91-265-412685

18. SAMARPAN YATRI BHAVAN With the help of all centers of Sri Aurobindo Society in Gujarat, Samarpan Yatri Bhavan has been constructed at Pondicherry in 1988. This Gujarat Bhavan has proved very useful to large number of the Gujarati visitors and pilgrims visiting Pondicherry every year. Yatri Bhavan is managed by Gujarat State Committee from Baroda. For bookings contact: Manager Samarpan Guest House, 3 Rue Suffren, Pondicherry Phone: 91-413-338972

19. PERMANENT PHOTO EXHIBITION To Commemorate the Centenary Year of Sri Aurobindo's Home coming a permanent photo exhibition: SRI AUROBINDO JEEVAN DARSHAN, depicting His life events and selected important writing has been set up in the main building in 1993. The Exhibition is visited and appreciated by large number of people visiting Nivas daily.