The Mother
In each world, in each being, in each thing, in each atom is the Divine Presence, and it is man’s mission to manifest it. – The Mother
Mirra Alfassa: The Mother and Her Spiritual Legacy
Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother or La Mère, was a spiritual teacher, occultist, and yoga instructor. Famously, she was Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator and, as he described her, his ‘spiritual equal’. She played a significant role in running the Sri Aurobindo Ashram (especially after Sri Aurobindo’s Day of Siddhi, in November 1926, when he handed her the reins of organisation) and establishing the town of Auroville in 1968, both dedicated to the practice and dissemination of Integral Yoga.
Early Life and Spiritual Quest
Born on February 21, 1878, in Paris, France, to a Sephardi Jewish family originally from Turkey, Mirra demonstrated an early inclination toward spirituality and the arts. Her spiritual journey included significant time in Algeria. In 1914, she travelled to Pondicherry where she met Sri Aurobindo, who – without prior warning – had been expecting her. She, in turn, recognized him immediately from her visions as the man she had named ‘Krishna’. This meeting marked a pivotal moment in her spiritual life.
Auroville: A Vision of Human Unity
Auroville, founded by The Mother in 1968, is an experimental township in South India dedicated to the ideals of human unity and sustainable living. Conceived as a universal city where people from all over the world could live in harmony, Auroville aims to transcend political, religious, and national boundaries. The township is designed to be a place of unending education and constant progress, fostering a spirit of international understanding and peaceful coexistence. At its heart lies the Matrimandir, a symbol of the Divine’s answer to humanity’s aspiration for perfection. Auroville’s community, consisting of individuals from over 50 countries, collaborates on various innovative projects in renewable energy, organic farming, education, and social entrepreneurship, striving to create a model of sustainable and conscious living.
Developing the Ashram and Integral Yoga
After spending most of the First World War in Japan, she returned to Pondicherry in 1920, where she remained and played a central role in organizing and expanding the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, especially after Sri Aurobindo’s Day of Siddhi in 1926, after which he retired to his rooms for his ‘inner work’. Around then, too, he named her ‘The Mother’. The ashram grew under her guidance, emphasizing Integral Yoga, which assimilates spiritual practice with daily life.
The Mother’s Lasting Impact
The mother passed away on November 17, 1973, in Pondicherry. Her life and teachings were documented extensively in the 13-volume series, “Mother’s Agenda”, by one of her followers, Satprem, and continue to inspire many.