Born Mirra Alfassa on February 21, 1878, in Paris, The Mother was a gifted artist, musician, and writer from a young age. Her early interests in occultism and spiritual science led her to Algeria, where she studied with the mystics Max and Alma Theon. In her heart, however, she was always seeking the Divine. That quest brought her to Pondicherry in 1914, where she met Sri Aurobindo — instantly recognizing him as her inner guide. After a few years in France and Japan due to World War I, she returned to India in 1920 and remained at his side.

When the Sri Aurobindo Ashram was formally established in 1926, Sri Aurobindo entrusted The Mother with its material and spiritual leadership. Her unwavering guidance shaped the Ashram into a vibrant spiritual community. She later founded the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education in 1952, and in 1968, she gave birth to the international township of Auroville — a living experiment in human unity. The Mother left her body on November 17, 1973, leaving behind a vast spiritual legacy that continues to inspire and uplift.

Born as Kangali Charana Pati on April 30, 1924, in the village of Bharogole, Prapatti was a philosopher, teacher, and spiritual bridge between Odisha and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Gifted with intellectual brilliance, he became a professor of philosophy before permanently moving to the Ashram in 1954. The Mother named him ‘Prapatti’—the surrendered one—on his 46th birthday. As editor of Nabajyoti, he created a channel of divine communication for Odia devotees, enriching their connection with the Ashram. He passed away at the Ashram on June 28, 1989.

The goal of Integral Yoga is vast and all-encompassing—an enduring path of meditation leading to the divine life, where the grace of the Supreme Lord and the Divine Mother is the sole true guide for the sincere seeker. The compositions of Shri Biswambhara Samanta, deeply immersed in the radiance of Purna Yoga, form an inexhaustible treasure chest of the teachings and discourses of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. These writings cover a wide range of profound subjects—the ultimate goal of life, the sacred path, the meditations of Integral Yoga, the intricate challenges of human society, the spiritual mission of India, as well as the realms of education, culture, art, and literature.

This luminous collection stands as a beacon for aspirants and ardent seekers who earnestly tread the yogic path. It is the heartfelt wish that these articles will awaken and deepen the consciousness of the yogic life—guiding disciples, seekers, and followers inspired by the sublime ideals of Integral Yoga, illuminating their journey with higher wisdom and divine insight.

Dr. Alok Pandey, a psychiatrist by profession and a seeker at heart embarked on a profound journey through Integral Yoga. Confronted with the mysteries of life and death during his medical career, his quest for deeper meaning led him to the luminous vision of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. In their teachings, he found not just answers, but peace. Today, he serves at the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Integral Health and Research in Pondicherry, where he blends science and spirituality in the realm of holistic health.

Shobha Mitra’s life was a beautiful harmony of music and spirituality. Born to Amarendranath and Ashalata Mitra, she became a cornerstone of the music culture at Sri Aurobindo Ashram and later Auroville. As a teacher, composer, and spiritual seeker, her melodies carried the message of the Divine. Her work not only nurtured musical talent but also embodied the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother through sound and silence.

An inmate of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Bailochana Parida shares a deep spiritual bond with The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. With heartfelt devotion, he too authored a five-volume Odia biography of The Mother, making her life and vision more accessible to Odia-speaking devotees across the world.

Born in the serene village of Gharapada in Bhadrak, Odisha, Dr. Golak Bihari Sahoo dedicated his life to the pursuit of literature and education. A scholar of English, he served across several government colleges of Odisha, eventually retiring as the Head of the Postgraduate Department of English at Bhadrak Autonomous College in 2007. His doctoral research delved into the poetic evolution of Sri Aurobindo, offering a critical analysis of his short poems. A prolific writer, Dr. Sahoo has authored numerous books in both English and Odia, enriching the literary world with his deep insights and academic brilliance.