THE MOTHER

THE MOTHER

Originally named Mirra Alfassa, the Mother was born in Paris on 21 February 1878. She was the daughter of Maurice Alfassa, a banker (born in Adrianople, Turkey in 1843) and Mathidle Ismaloun (born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1857). Maurice, his wife and his son, Matteo (born in Alexandria in 1876), emigrated from Egypt to France in 1877, one year before Mirra's birth. Her early education was given at home. Around 1892 she attended a studio to learn drawing and painting, and later studied at the Paris Salon.

Concerning her early spiritual life, the Mother has written: "Between 11 and 13 a series of psychic and spiritual experiences revealed to me not only the existence of God but man's possibility of uniting with Him, of realising Him integrally in consciousness and action, of manifesting Him upon earth in a life divine." In her late twenties the Mother voyaged to Tlemcen, Algeria, where she studied occultism for two years with a Polish adept, Max Theon, and his wife. Returning to Paris in 1906, she founded her first group of spiritual seekers. She gave many talks to various groups in Paris between 1911 and 1913.

At the age of thirty-six the Mother journeyed to Pondicherry, India, to meet Sri Aurobindo. She saw him on 29 March 1914 and at once recognised him as the one who for many years had inwardly been guiding her spiritual development. Staying for eleven months, she was obliged to return to France because of the First World War. She lived in France for about a year and then in Japan for almost four years. On 24 April 1920 she returned to Pondicherry to resume her collaboration with Sri Aurobindo, and remained here for the rest of her life.

At that time a small group of disciples had gathered around Sri Aurobindo. The increase of disciples led to the founding of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram on the 24th Nov, 1926. From the beginning Sri Aurobindo entrusted the Mother with full material and spiritual charge of the Ashram. After almost 50 years of work at every level, the Mother left her body on 17th Nov. 1973, at the age of ninety five.

Aurobindo, Annai’s magnificent powers

A firm follower of the principles of Aurobindo and Mother, affectionately called Annai Mirra, I became their devotee. I started worshipping them with flowers as floral offerings are liked by Mother. I used to decorate a plate with flowers of different hues and sizes and keep it in front of their picture every day.
As months rolled by, suddenly one day my eyes started watering. Thinking it must be due to heat, I started applying castor oil to cool my eyes. Elders at home suggested that I take tender coconut as it a coolant. I followed their advice but my eyes continued to water with no improvement.
I consulted an oculist who gave me the shock that I have glaucoma and my vision will blur after some time; yet he prescribed medicines. I was shocked beyond words and was perplexed. My inner mind found solace with Aurobindo and Annai and I started praying to them chanting ‘Om Namo Bhagavathe’ which is their favourite mantra.
Meanwhile, my friend gave Mother’s Eyes - a picture which I kept near their picture praying to them to cure me of the malady.
As days went by, I started staring at Mother’s Eyes hoping that she would cure me of the disease. I kept the flowers which were offered to them on my eyes. I had implicit faith in their curative powers.
I kept my fingers crossed when I met the oculist next time after a month.
To the surprise of everyone and the doctor, the condition of my eyes was improving and he assured me that my vision would be improve after some time.
I wept in happiness and thanked Aurobindo and Annai profusely for blessing me. Undoubtedly it is the enormous power of Aurobindo and Annai that has worked wonders with my eyes. I pray to them daily and seek their blessings for a comfortable life.