Their First Meeting on 29 March 1914
29 March 2026 at Auroville
This is the knot that ties together the stars:
The Two who are one are the secret of all power,
The Two who are one are the might and right in things.
The Mother, Mirra Alfassa, travelled from Paris to Pondicherry with her husband, Paul Richard, to meet Sri Aurobindo on 29 March 1914. It was Sunday. Their journey included a sea voyage to Colombo, followed by crossing to India at Dhanushkoti. From there, they took a train to reach Pondicherry. Paul Richard was returning to Pondicherry to stand for election to the French Chamber of Deputies. This journey marked the beginning of their stay in India, which lasted until February 1915. Upon arrival, they stayed at the Hotel d’Europe. Mirra later rented a house nearby (now the Archives office).
On 29 March 1914 morning itself Paul Richard met Sri Aurobindo for the Mother to meet him. The time was fixed at 3.30 in the afternoon. The Mother wanted to meet Sri Aurobindo alone. They met in what is now called the Guest House at 41 Rue Françoise Martin, in the Veranda on the first floor. She sat on the floor beside him.
In her meditation with Sri Aurobindo the Mother saw a new world; she then asked him if it would manifest. His immediate imperative was “Yes”. And the world started descending. We may say that it was the birth of Auroville, the City of Dawn.
The immediate result of this visit of the Richards was the launching of a bilingual publication as a philosophical monthly Arya. This was decided on 1 June 1914. The first issue came out on 15 August 1914, on the occasion of Sri Aurobindo’s birthday.
After meeting Sri Aurobindo on 29 March the Mother wrote the following in her diary:
In the presence of those who are integrally Thy servitors, those who have attained the perfect consciousness of Thy presence, I become aware that I am still far, very far from what I yearn to realise; and I know that the highest I can conceive, the noblest and purest is still dark and ignorant beside what I should conceive. But this perception, far from being depressing, stimulates and strengthens the aspiration, the energy, the will to triumph over all obstacles so as to be at last identified with Thy law and Thy work.
Gradually the horizon becomes distinct, the path grows clear, and we move towards a greater and greater certitude.
It matters little that there are thousands of beings plunged in the densest ignorance, He whom we saw yesterday is on earth; his presence is enough to prove that a day will come when darkness shall be transformed into light, and Thy reign shall be indeed established upon earth.
O Lord, Divine Builder of this marvel, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude when I think of it, and my hope has no bounds.
My adoration is beyond all words, my reverence is silent.
The featured image is the Guest House where the divine Rendezvous took place
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