Birth Centenary of Mother – Pondicherry (1878-1973)
Technical Data
| Stamp Set | Birth Centenary |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | February 21, 1978 |
| Denomination | 25 p |
| Quantity | 3,000,000 |
| Perforation | comb 13 |
| Printer | Security Printing Press, Nashik |
| Watermark | No Watermark |
| Colors | Brown | Grey |
| Catalog Codes |
Michel IN 751 Stamp Number IN 788 Yvert et Tellier IN 547 Stanley Gibbons IN 878 |
| Themes | Anniversaries and Jubilees | Famous people | Philosophers | Women |
Born on February 21, 1878, in Paris, The Mother was the second child of Maurice and Mathilde Alfassa. From her early years, she displayed remarkable perceptions, and by 1890, she had an extraordinary experience known as the “Revolution of Atoms,” a realization of the truth of Matter. Alongside her spiritual journey, she pursued intensive studies, music, art, and physical activities like tennis.
The Mother came into spiritual contact with several teachers and had her first internal vision of Sri Aurobindo in 1904, a decade before meeting him physically in Pondicherry, India. Upon arriving in India in 1914, she felt an immediate connection, describing India as her true country. Meeting Sri Aurobindo solidified her conviction that her place and work were with him.
Together, Sri Aurobindo and The Mother embarked on the research of the transformation of Matter through the Supermind, aiming to guide humanity towards universal harmony and the evolutionary mutation of man into a supramental gnostic being. They addressed the current evolutionary crisis faced by humanity.
During the First World War, The Mother had to stay away from India and spent much of this time in Japan. However, in 1920, she returned to India permanently. She played a pivotal role in the establishment and leadership of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, and later, Auroville.
The Mother’s life can be summarized in her own words: “I came to India to meet Sri Aurobindo. I remained in India to live with Sri Aurobindo. When he left his body, I continued to live here in order to do his work, which is by serving Truth and enlightening mankind, to hasten the rule of the Divine’s Love upon earth.”
Recognized as a world teacher, The Mother’s embodiment was seen by Sri Aurobindo as an opportunity for the earth-consciousness to receive the supramental into it and undergo transformation. She left her physical form on November 17, 1973.
The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department takes pride in issuing a commemorative postage stamp on the birth centenary of The Mother, honoring her significant contributions to spirituality and humanity.