Over the last three decades, the construction team of Matrimandir has faced three large material setbacks. There have been many challenges along the way, naturally, over the 54 years of construction, some larger, some smaller, but there have been three big ones.The first was the technical failure of the Inner skin of Matrimandir. During 1994 work was begun on fabricating the 3 meter triangular panels needed to create the inner skin of Matrimandir (some 850 of these triangles were needed in total). A big operation was initiated on site by a very experienced team and the triangles, once made, were being installed inside Matrimandir. The outer skin triangles, made of ferrocement had been fabricated and installed during the late 90’s, so Matrimandir had already become a closed sphere. After about one third of the inner skin triangles had been fabricated and installed, we noticed that the large panels were beginning to warp, to lose their nice flat shape. On top of that, they had begun to fade because they were exposed to direct sunlight entering through the porthole windows of the outer skin. There was also a concern that the polyester panels were a fire risk. We were thus obliged to stop the whole process in 1997, remove a few hundreds of installed panels and rethink our whole approach to the inner skin. By 1998 a second proposal had been put forward to fabricate these large triangles from glass!! The challenge with this proposal was that the glass would have to have the salmon pink color specified by the Mother for the inner skin (She had even given a piece of sari cloth to indicate the color tone!) So again, we set to work and created a large gas fired oven, with a movable flatbed trolley upon which to shift the glass triangles, each of which had to be cut to a slightly different shape because all the triangles of the space frame of Matrimandir are all slightly different shapes. In the gas fired oven, colored glass powder was fused into the triangles of glass to give the required orange hue. Many trials were made under the direction, again, of a man very experienced in this field. The oven was a giant, fired by 100 gas bottles! But finally, this too was a “no go” as we could not get a consistent production of triangles with the correct evenly spread color hue. Back to square one! Finally, one of the Matrimandir pioneer workers brought forward the idea to use fabric made of non-flammable glass fiber cloth, a material with which he had extensive experience as he had used it to fabricate micro light gliders. This idea worked! After figuring out all the needed details, a production process was again set up on site to make the 850 triangles with their aluminum support frames. This is the origin of the inner skin that
you see today.Replacing the discs in 2005, after renewing the waterproofingThe second big material set back was with regard to the waterproofing of the outer skin ferrocement triangles of Matrimandir. Under the intense heat of the sun beating down on the outer surface of Matrimandir, the whole surface naturally expands and contracts slightly as the skin temperature swings between the heat of the day and the cooler air of the night. So the waterproofing of the outer skin had to be applied in a way that would withstand this slight daily movement. The first expert advice was to apply a particular kind of waterproof flexible paint. This was done. But after a season or two it failed; the skin began to leak. The decision was taken to sandblast the entire outer skin and remove this paint layer. Then, in 1998, an imported waterproofing layer, Kemperol, was applied over the whole of the building’s outer surface. This was a big and complex operation. But again, after a few seasons, it was noticed that this waterproofing layer had not adhered properly to the ferrocement surface of Matrimandir. But by this time the installation of the golden discs on the outer surface had begun in earnest. When the decision was taken to redo the waterproofing layer (the supplying company having agreed to replace it with a different primer layer, under their guarantee scheme) we had to remove not only this Kemperol layer but also the hundreds of golden discs that had already been installed! Again a huge task. But the work was done. Matrimandir received its second sandblasting and finally with the new Kemperol layer having been applied in 2005, all of the discs were carefully re-mounted in place.The Matrimandir lake on 13 January 2025Third and latest setback has been the sliding open of the 2nd lego block wall of the Matrimandir lake during the night November 30th under the driving rains of cyclone Fengal. It was totally unexpected and, in that moment, quite a shock. But with the full construction history of Matrimandir in mind, this setback has been quickly put into perspective. And it is being followed up, as had been done in the previous two cases, by looking again at how best to achieve our goal; in this case how best to finish the Lake by 2028. We are in a different situation now and actually do not really need the high lego block walls. Perhaps the lake itself, in a most material way, has indicated the way forward. The work will go on in a radically different way, as was the case in our previous two setback episodes, but the spirit of the Matrimandir team is high and we accept this new challenge with enthusiasm, even with joy, as we engage ourselves in this unexpected turn of the adventure.The Mother had invited us all to a great adventure. She has said* that the way forward was not known, that it would have to be worked out along the way, but that the end was certain!*“we are in a very special situation, extremely special,without precedent. We are now witnessing the birth of a newworld; it is very young, very weak — not in its essence but in itsouter manifestation — not yet recognized, not even felt, deniedby the majority. But it is here. It is here, making an effort to grow,absolutely sure of the result. But the road to it is a completelynew road which has never before been traced out — nobody hasgone there, nobody has done that! It is a beginning, a universalbeginning. So, it is an absolutely unexpected and unpredictableadventure.There are people who love adventure. It is these I call, andI tell them this: “I invite you to the great adventure.”It is not a question of repeating spiritually what others havedone before us, for our adventure begins beyond that. It is aquestion of a new creation, entirely new, with all the unforeseenevents, the risks, the hazards it entails — a real adventure, whosegoal is certain victory, but the road to which is unknown andmust be traced out step by step in the unexplored. Somethingthat has never been in this present universe and that will neverbe again in the same way. If that interests you… well, let usembark. What will happen to you tomorrow — I have no idea.One must put aside all that has been foreseen, all that hasbeen devised, all that has been constructed, and then… set offwalking into the unknown. And — come what may! There.”The Mother 10th July 1957The GoalThe Goal remains to complete Matrimandir including the Park of Unity and the Lake by Mother’s 150th birth anniversary February 21st 2028 and the work at Matrimandir is forging ahead full swing on all fronts. We are reaching out to all The Mother’s children. We all need to join hands to achieve this great endeavour. Each rupee is a drop of gold for Matrimandir and the sky’s the limit Project Cost Cost INRStatus4 Golden Doors to close the Sphere40 lakhs26 lakhs received Heliostat20 lakhs6.5 lakhs receivedGarden of Light55 lakhs Garden of Bliss , restructuring25 lakhs Garden of Wealth 35 lakhssponsored Garden of Utility 35 lakhs sponsored Remaining 3 Gardens of Youth, Harmony, Perfection 155 lakhs Remaining 520 meters of the Oval Road 81 lakhs7 lakhs per 100 meterNext phase of the Lake, about 25% more25 Crores Total cost of the Lake100 Crores Service Compound9 Croresvery urgentReception Pavilion5 Crores Modernization of Electrical infrastructure 90 lakhsvery urgentWest Bridge crossing over 100 meters of the Lake 20 Crores Any individual, any group or any Centre who would feel moved to make an offering towards this amazing birthday gift for The Mother can do so by making a one time offering or by sponsoring a whole project or by making regular donations or by making offerings in kind. Donations in kind are always welcome; cement, steel, granite, cables and other electrical fittings are all going to be needed in large quantities.
Replacing the discs in 2005, after renewing the waterproofingThe second big material set back was with regard to the waterproofing of the outer skin ferrocement triangles of Matrimandir. Under the intense heat of the sun beating down on the outer surface of Matrimandir, the whole surface naturally expands and contracts slightly as the skin temperature swings between the heat of the day and the cooler air of the night. So the waterproofing of the outer skin had to be applied in a way that would withstand this slight daily movement. The first expert advice was to apply a particular kind of waterproof flexible paint. This was done. But after a season or two it failed; the skin began to leak. The decision was taken to sandblast the entire outer skin and remove this paint layer. Then, in 1998, an imported waterproofing layer, Kemperol, was applied over the whole of the building’s outer surface. This was a big and complex operation. But again, after a few seasons, it was noticed that this waterproofing layer had not adhered properly to the ferrocement surface of Matrimandir. But by this time the installation of the golden discs on the outer surface had begun in earnest. When the decision was taken to redo the waterproofing layer (the supplying company having agreed to replace it with a different primer layer, under their guarantee scheme) we had to remove not only this Kemperol layer but also the hundreds of golden discs that had already been installed! Again a huge task. But the work was done. Matrimandir received its second sandblasting and finally with the new Kemperol layer having been applied in 2005, all of the discs were carefully re-mounted in place.
The Matrimandir lake on 13 January 2025Third and latest setback has been the sliding open of the 2nd lego block wall of the Matrimandir lake during the night November 30th under the driving rains of cyclone Fengal. It was totally unexpected and, in that moment, quite a shock. But with the full construction history of Matrimandir in mind, this setback has been quickly put into perspective. And it is being followed up, as had been done in the previous two cases, by looking again at how best to achieve our goal; in this case how best to finish the Lake by 2028. We are in a different situation now and actually do not really need the high lego block walls. Perhaps the lake itself, in a most material way, has indicated the way forward. The work will go on in a radically different way, as was the case in our previous two setback episodes, but the spirit of the Matrimandir team is high and we accept this new challenge with enthusiasm, even with joy, as we engage ourselves in this unexpected turn of the adventure.The Mother had invited us all to a great adventure. She has said* that the way forward was not known, that it would have to be worked out along the way, but that the end was certain!*“we are in a very special situation, extremely special,without precedent. We are now witnessing the birth of a newworld; it is very young, very weak — not in its essence but in itsouter manifestation — not yet recognized, not even felt, deniedby the majority. But it is here. It is here, making an effort to grow,absolutely sure of the result. But the road to it is a completelynew road which has never before been traced out — nobody hasgone there, nobody has done that! It is a beginning, a universalbeginning. So, it is an absolutely unexpected and unpredictableadventure.There are people who love adventure. It is these I call, andI tell them this: “I invite you to the great adventure.”It is not a question of repeating spiritually what others havedone before us, for our adventure begins beyond that. It is aquestion of a new creation, entirely new, with all the unforeseenevents, the risks, the hazards it entails — a real adventure, whosegoal is certain victory, but the road to which is unknown andmust be traced out step by step in the unexplored. Somethingthat has never been in this present universe and that will neverbe again in the same way. If that interests you… well, let usembark. What will happen to you tomorrow — I have no idea.One must put aside all that has been foreseen, all that hasbeen devised, all that has been constructed, and then… set offwalking into the unknown. And — come what may! There.”The Mother 10th July 1957The GoalThe Goal remains to complete Matrimandir including the Park of Unity and the Lake by Mother’s 150th birth anniversary February 21st 2028 and the work at Matrimandir is forging ahead full swing on all fronts. We are reaching out to all The Mother’s children. We all need to join hands to achieve this great endeavour. Each rupee is a drop of gold for Matrimandir and the sky’s the limit Project Cost Cost INRStatus4 Golden Doors to close the Sphere40 lakhs26 lakhs received Heliostat20 lakhs6.5 lakhs receivedGarden of Light55 lakhs Garden of Bliss , restructuring25 lakhs Garden of Wealth 35 lakhssponsored Garden of Utility 35 lakhs sponsored Remaining 3 Gardens of Youth, Harmony, Perfection 155 lakhs Remaining 520 meters of the Oval Road 81 lakhs7 lakhs per 100 meterNext phase of the Lake, about 25% more25 Crores Total cost of the Lake100 Crores Service Compound9 Croresvery urgentReception Pavilion5 Crores Modernization of Electrical infrastructure 90 lakhsvery urgentWest Bridge crossing over 100 meters of the Lake 20 Crores Any individual, any group or any Centre who would feel moved to make an offering towards this amazing birthday gift for The Mother can do so by making a one time offering or by sponsoring a whole project or by making regular donations or by making offerings in kind. Donations in kind are always welcome; cement, steel, granite, cables and other electrical fittings are all going to be needed in large quantities.
Replacing the discs in 2005, after renewing the waterproofingThe second big material set back was with regard to the waterproofing of the outer skin ferrocement triangles of Matrimandir. Under the intense heat of the sun beating down on the outer surface of Matrimandir, the whole surface naturally expands and contracts slightly as the skin temperature swings between the heat of the day and the cooler air of the night. So the waterproofing of the outer skin had to be applied in a way that would withstand this slight daily movement. The first expert advice was to apply a particular kind of waterproof flexible paint. This was done. But after a season or two it failed; the skin began to leak. The decision was taken to sandblast the entire outer skin and remove this paint layer. Then, in 1998, an imported waterproofing layer, Kemperol, was applied over the whole of the building’s outer surface. This was a big and complex operation. But again, after a few seasons, it was noticed that this waterproofing layer had not adhered properly to the ferrocement surface of Matrimandir. But by this time the installation of the golden discs on the outer surface had begun in earnest. When the decision was taken to redo the waterproofing layer (the supplying company having agreed to replace it with a different primer layer, under their guarantee scheme) we had to remove not only this Kemperol layer but also the hundreds of golden discs that had already been installed! Again a huge task. But the work was done. Matrimandir received its second sandblasting and finally with the new Kemperol layer having been applied in 2005, all of the discs were carefully re-mounted in place.
The Matrimandir lake on 13 January 2025Third and latest setback has been the sliding open of the 2nd lego block wall of the Matrimandir lake during the night November 30th under the driving rains of cyclone Fengal. It was totally unexpected and, in that moment, quite a shock. But with the full construction history of Matrimandir in mind, this setback has been quickly put into perspective. And it is being followed up, as had been done in the previous two cases, by looking again at how best to achieve our goal; in this case how best to finish the Lake by 2028. We are in a different situation now and actually do not really need the high lego block walls. Perhaps the lake itself, in a most material way, has indicated the way forward. The work will go on in a radically different way, as was the case in our previous two setback episodes, but the spirit of the Matrimandir team is high and we accept this new challenge with enthusiasm, even with joy, as we engage ourselves in this unexpected turn of the adventure.The Mother had invited us all to a great adventure. She has said* that the way forward was not known, that it would have to be worked out along the way, but that the end was certain!*“we are in a very special situation, extremely special,without precedent. We are now witnessing the birth of a newworld; it is very young, very weak — not in its essence but in itsouter manifestation — not yet recognized, not even felt, deniedby the majority. But it is here. It is here, making an effort to grow,absolutely sure of the result. But the road to it is a completelynew road which has never before been traced out — nobody hasgone there, nobody has done that! It is a beginning, a universalbeginning. So, it is an absolutely unexpected and unpredictableadventure.There are people who love adventure. It is these I call, andI tell them this: “I invite you to the great adventure.”It is not a question of repeating spiritually what others havedone before us, for our adventure begins beyond that. It is aquestion of a new creation, entirely new, with all the unforeseenevents, the risks, the hazards it entails — a real adventure, whosegoal is certain victory, but the road to which is unknown andmust be traced out step by step in the unexplored. Somethingthat has never been in this present universe and that will neverbe again in the same way. If that interests you… well, let usembark. What will happen to you tomorrow — I have no idea.One must put aside all that has been foreseen, all that hasbeen devised, all that has been constructed, and then… set offwalking into the unknown. And — come what may! There.”The Mother 10th July 1957The GoalThe Goal remains to complete Matrimandir including the Park of Unity and the Lake by Mother’s 150th birth anniversary February 21st 2028 and the work at Matrimandir is forging ahead full swing on all fronts. We are reaching out to all The Mother’s children. We all need to join hands to achieve this great endeavour. Each rupee is a drop of gold for Matrimandir and the sky’s the limit Project Cost Cost INRStatus4 Golden Doors to close the Sphere40 lakhs26 lakhs received Heliostat20 lakhs6.5 lakhs receivedGarden of Light55 lakhs Garden of Bliss , restructuring25 lakhs Garden of Wealth 35 lakhssponsored Garden of Utility 35 lakhs sponsored Remaining 3 Gardens of Youth, Harmony, Perfection 155 lakhs Remaining 520 meters of the Oval Road 81 lakhs7 lakhs per 100 meterNext phase of the Lake, about 25% more25 Crores Total cost of the Lake100 Crores Service Compound9 Croresvery urgentReception Pavilion5 Crores Modernization of Electrical infrastructure 90 lakhsvery urgentWest Bridge crossing over 100 meters of the Lake 20 Crores Any individual, any group or any Centre who would feel moved to make an offering towards this amazing birthday gift for The Mother can do so by making a one time offering or by sponsoring a whole project or by making regular donations or by making offerings in kind. Donations in kind are always welcome; cement, steel, granite, cables and other electrical fittings are all going to be needed in large quantities.