Sri Aurobindo or Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950) was an Indian nationalist, philosopher, yogi, poet and spiritual leader. Having been trained in England, he got involved in the struggle of freedom in India, spreading the notion of full independence of British India.

He was involved in revolutionary work, and once he had served his jail time for his activities, he became more spiritual. In the year 1910, he relocated to Pondicherry, where he explained what he referred to as Integral Yoga, which emphasized on spiritual evolution and divine life on the earth.

He founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, conducted rigorous spiritual retreats. He has influenced spiritual seekers worldwide, pointing at both conservative and liberal methods of thinking of spiritual practices.

Who Was Aurobindo Ghosh

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh (August 15, 1872, Kolkata (then Calcutta), previously Calcutta) was a versatile figure, an Indian nationalist, revolutionary, philosopher, poet, and a spiritual leader. He was initially engaged in the freedom struggle in India, only to change his focus to spirituality and come up with a philosophy called Integral Yoga.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Introduction 

Aurobindo studied in India and in England, and his early years were encouraging in academics and leadership. He was the strongest supporter of the concepts of nationalism and was actively involved in the Indian freedom movement, establishing himself through his writings and revolutionary efforts. 

He later on retired to Pondicherry after his political years and spent his time in spiritual life and writing philosophy, subsequently establishing the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. 

Aurobindo Ghosh Biography

Aurobindo was born and brought up in a well-educated Bengali family and at a tender age, he was sent to England to attend school. On completing his studies, including preparation to join the Indian Civil Service, he went back to India and worked in the princely state of Baroda and then took the plunge into nationalistic politics.

He formed, together with his brother, an Anushilan Samiti, a secret revolutionary committee, which promoted armed resistance to British rule. In 1909, his activism landed him in a famous bomb case called the Alipore Bomb Case, where his spiritual awakening started. On release, he went to French-controlled Pondicherry and denounced active politics. 

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Education

Sri Aurobindo was educated in India but made a great diversion when he was seven years old and was sent to England. He attended St. Paul’s School and then he attended Kings College, Cambridge. This exposure provided him with a fusion of eastern and western knowledge, which affected his philosophy in the future. 

He had prepared thoroughly to join the Indian Civil Service but his bent was towards nationalism and not government service. 

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s Role in Revolutionary Movement

Aurobindo was one of the leaders of the early revolutionary movement against British colonial rule. He was considerably engaged with Anushilan Samiti which fought in direct action, bombings and assassinations of British officials. The group aimed at rousing the Indian people and disrupting British rule.

The turning point was his arrest and trial in the Alipore Bomb Case, and it is in prison that Aurobindo had his spiritual revelations and started to seek solace in the change of his stance by no longer resorting to violence but rather seeking inner change. 

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo, in 1926, in his strong belief in spiritual evolution, created the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry with the collaboration of Mira Alfassa, who was referred to as the mother. Ashram emerged as a spiritual practice location which relied on the Integral Yoga of spiritual practices that are inspired by Aurobindo and seek to provide the total transformation of human life in the form of conscious evolution.

The Ashram became a tourist destination of spiritual seekers all over the world and continues to be a powerful spiritual association to date. 

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Sri Aurobindo Famous Works

Sri Aurobindo was a proponent, philosopher and writer. His most prominent works in the field of philosophy are The Life Divine, which tells about the nature of existence and spiritual growth, and The Synthesis of Yoga, which describes what Integral Yoga is and what it is aiming at. He was also editing the nationalist paper Bande Mataram at his revolutionary stage and published the philosophical journal Arya. 

His books incorporate the spirituality of the Indians with the contemporary thought, thus becoming effective in both the East and the West. 

Sri Aurobindo Philosophy

The core of the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo is Integral Yoga, which focuses on the development of human consciousness to divine life on earth. He was of the opinion that the universe is a product of some divine existence known as Brahman and that spiritual practice had the potential to bring about the awakening of a supermind that would help man to overcome the usual restrictions.

His thought combines both the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita with concepts of Western philosophy, and advocates a radical, evolutionary spirituality. 

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Five Dreams

Sri Aurobindo had a number of mystical visions that helped him determine his future and the future of India prior to his complete conversion into spirituality. These visions were concerned with the emergence of India, spiritual enlightenment to the world and his contribution to these changes.

They gave him encouragement when he was politically in a struggle and with himself, as they steered his transformation into an aggressive leader of the revolution and then into a spiritual leader with a calm mind. 

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