A spiritual leader of India, Mirra Alfassa was born on today in 1878. She was a collaborator of Sri Aurobindo and inspiration to many writers and spiritual personalities.

She was born in Paris into a Jewish family. Her father Moise Maurice Alfassa was a Turkish Jewish and mother Mathilde Ismalun belonged to an Egyptian Jewish. At the age of 15, she finished her schooling and enrolled herself at Academie Julian, Paris to pursue a course in art.

She first heard of Aurobindo from her second husband Paul Richard, who had visited him in Pondicherry in 1910 and in 1914 the Mother reached Pondicherry to meet him in person. There, she immediately recognized him as a mentor.

She founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and later, established Auroville as a universal town. It emerged as a unique and multicultural confluence.

To honor her India Post has issued 25 Paisa commemorative stamps in 1978.

Image Source: Mintage World

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