Sri Pondicherry

It always appeared to me as a sweet french cherry, this Pondicherry. Pondicherry (/pɒndɨˈtʃɛri/ (Tamil: பாண்டிச்சேரி) or Puducherry (Tamil: புதுச்சேரி) is a city, an urban agglomeration and a municipality in Pondicherry district in the Indian union territory of Puducherry. It is affectionately known as Pondy, and has been officially known by the alternative name Puducherry since 2006.

Pondicherry is known as a spiritual home of Sri Aurobindu and the Mother, who settled, devoted their spiritual life and lived there 'till '50es. During his stay in Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo evolved a new method of spiritual practice, which he called Integral Yoga. The central theme of his vision was the evolution of human life into a life divine. He believed in a spiritual realisation that not only liberated man but also transformed his nature, enabling a divine life on earth. In 1926, with the help of his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa ("The Mother"), he founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. It was a revelation to stay at Park Guest House as a part of Sri Aurobindu Ashram in Pondy. Namaskara!