Composing…
Composing…
माताजी
1878–1973 CE · Paris — Pondicherry
Tradition: Integral Yoga (with Sri Aurobindo)
Continuation of Sri Aurobindo's integral yoga after his passing; descent of the Supramental into earth's consciousness; transformation of the body cells as final yoga.
Born Mirra Alfassa in Paris to Jewish parents; deeply spiritual from childhood; married Paul Richard; arrived in Pondicherry in 1914; recognized Aurobindo as her spiritual master; settled permanently in 1920; left her body at age 95.
Co-founder and director of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram (1926-1973); founded Auroville (1968) — the universal city; led Sri Aurobindo's yoga work for 23 years after his physical departure.
The Mother (Mirra Alfassa) stands within the lineage of Integral Yoga (with Sri Aurobindo). Understanding a saint requires understanding the school of thought, the lineage of teachers, and the historical context that shaped them. The Integral Yoga (with Sri Aurobindo) tradition has shaped Hindu spiritual life through its philosophical foundations, its liturgy, its scriptures, and the institutions its founding ācāryas built and sustained across generations.
Saints in this tradition are not abstract figures from history — they are the living chain through which the tradition transmits itself. To read The Mother (Mirra Alfassa) correctly is to read both the writings (where they survive) and the institutions they founded, the disciples they taught, and the practices they reinterpreted. Where written works are listed above, they remain the primary source for studying their thought; for the practical transmission, one studies under a teacher of the same lineage.
The dates and biographical details preserved in tradition often differ from those accepted by modern academic historians. Where the difference matters for interpretation, both views are noted; otherwise the traditional account is given with sources cited.
Awaiting scholar verification. If you spot a factual error in dates, lineage, or teaching, please write to us.