Airaudi, Oberto (1950-)

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Airaudi, Oberto (1950-)

Oberto Airaudi, the founder of Damanhur, an Italian esoteric community, was born in 1950 in Balangero, north of Turin, Italy. As a youth he became involved in the metaphysical community in Turin and found himself drawn to psychic healers, especially some that practiced what was termed pranotherapy, a form of healing that used prana, considered by Hindus the life force, to heal. He became a pranotheraphist in the early 1970s and soon established offices in several towns in northern Italy. He also began to operate as a Spiritualist medium and eventually wrote a book on the subject. By 1974 he had attained a following that joined him in the formation of two organizations, the Horus Centre and an associated School of Pranotherapy.

Airaudi advocated the ideals of the communal life and in 1975 land was rented in the Valchiusella Valley north of Turin as a possible site for the community. The following year some two dozen people moved to what was called Damanhur, the name of an ancient Egyptian city. The land was eventually purchased and Damanhur was officially organized in 1979. Airaudi led in the writing of a constitution, first promulgated in 1981, that described the community as a separate state or nation. Members began to think of themselves as citizens of Damanhur and even issued their own money. As the community grew, and married couples with children moved in, a school system was established. Airaudi's attempts to structure a separate community brought initial tension with the local authorities, but these were slowly worked out.

Airaudi has watched the group grow steadily. By 1985 there were some 200 citizens resident at Damanhur. According to the constitution, a community could not exceed 220 members, so the original community was reorganized into several communities which were linked in a federation. The federation grew to approximately 400 citizens by the mid-1990s. To provide an economic base, a variety of small industries have been organized and their products sold to the outside world.

Airaudi has served as the guide of the community and has written a number of books that embody his vision of the world which has grown from Gnostic Theosophical roots. He also led in the creation of the new science of Selfica, the technology of accumulating and utilizing subtle energies, such as prana.

In 1992, it was revealed that soon after acquiring the land for Damanhur, Airaudi had begun directing the building of a large underground temple complex that the residents carved out of the hard mountain rock. Not only were large rooms carved inside the mountain, but each was beautifully decorated in a manner following themes that embodied the group's beliefs. The existence of the temple work had remained a secret in spite of visits by numerous outsiders and the defection of members who were aware of what was occurring. In the wake of the revelation concerning the temple, Airaudi was threatened with his violation of a variety of zoning, building, and tax laws, but as in the past, he was able to work through the issues with the authorities.

As the twentieth century comes to an end, Airaudi continues to lead the community, which has entered a new period of prosperity. Work on the already impressive temple continues. Airaudi has noted that the work is far from complete. The temple construction has been developed in such a way as to embody what has been learned from the selfic science, and structure that concentrate subtle energies may be found throughout the complex.