Day of Siddhi realization of the Krishna consciousness, Sri Aurobindo goes into seclusion (age 56)

November 24, 1926, is an important milestone in Sri Aurobindo’s life. In his inner life, it marks the culmination of long movement of successive ascents of consciousness in its assumption by the Cosmic, Overmind Consciousness which descended into his being; in his outer life it marks his total withdrawal from even the semi-public life he was leading. The realization that established itself at this juncture was of the Delight Consciousness of Lord Krishna. Sri Aurobindo explains: “24th was the descent of Krishna into the physical. Krishna is not the supramental light. The descent of Krishna would mean the descent of the Overmind Godhead preparing, though not itself actually bringing, the descent of Supermind and Ananda. Krishna is the Anandamaya, he supports the evolution through the Overmind leading it towards his Ananda.”

On November 24, 1926,- Sri Aurobindo declares Mirra as the Mother in his Yoga and entrusts her to manage the ashram

Now, the way is opened for a thrust beyond the Overmind – the Golden Lid of the Upanishad – into the domains of the Truth-Consciousness, the Supermind. And to devote himself exclusively to this task of realizing the Supramental Consciousness for the earth, Sri Aurobindo announces his complete retirement. He declares Mirra as the Mother in his Yoga and entrust all his disciples to her care. Thereceforth, all dealings with him were to be through her. The Mother takes up the burden of daily life with its manifold responsibilities and Sri Aurobindo is freed to concentrate on the inner work that is claiming more and more of his attention.

November 24, 1926 may also be regarded as the day of the founding of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, yet it had been evolving over several years and on this day took definitive shape. It appears Sri Aurobindo was not happy with the term ashram for the community in view of its agelong association with asceticism and monasticism; he considered for three days and ultimately decided to use the name ashram in the older Vedic sense of being the house of the Teacher where seekers are received for imparting knowledge and training for life. Sri Aurobindo once said, “The ashram is the Mother’s creation and would of have existed by for her.”

In 1927, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother shifted to another building close by on Rue Francois Martin and it is here that they lived for the rest of their lives. This building is known as the Meditation House and the other one as the Library House as a library was opened there on the ground floor after Sri Aurobindo moved out.