Many may think that the symbol refers to The Mother, or Mira Alfassa herself. In reality, the symbol is a representation of the Mahashakti or Supreme Mother in Indian scripture, the source of all manifestation.\u00a0As Sri Aurobindo recognized in Mira Alfassa a direct incarnation of that original source, it is also the symbol associated with her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The central circle represents the Divine Consciousness, the Supreme Mother, the Mahashakti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The four central petals are the four aspects of The Supreme Mother\u2014and the twelve petals around it, Her twelve attributes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Four Aspects <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The four central petals represent the powers or personalities of The Divine Mother. These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maheshwari<\/em> (Wisdom) \u00a0 Mahakali <\/em>(Strength) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mahalakshmi<\/em> (Harmony) Mahasaraswati<\/em> (Perfection).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0For those not familiar with the significance of these 4 aspects, you can find what Sri Aurobindo writes of them here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Twelve Attributes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The twelve attributes represent the powers The Mother manifested in Her work.\u00a0Here are the explanations of these attributes given by The Mother (Mira Alfassa):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sincerity <\/strong> : To be sincere is to be pure. As Sri Aurobindo tells us, \u2018Desire nothing but the purity, force, light, wideness, calm, Ananda of the Divine Consciousness, and its insistence to transform and perfect your mind, life and body.\u2019<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Humility<\/strong> :\u00a0 True humility is humility before the Divine. It is a precise, exact, living sense that one is nothing, one can do nothing, understand nothing without the Divine\u2026 Even if one is exceptionally intelligent and capable, this is nothing in comparison with the Divine Consciousness.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gratitude<\/strong> : \u00a0There is nothing which gives you a joy equal to that of gratitude. One hears a bird sing, sees a lovely flower, looks at a little child, observes an act of generosity, reads a beautiful sentence, looks at a setting sun \u2013 no matter what \u2013 suddenly, this kind of emotion comes upon you so deep, so intense, that the world manifests the Divine, that there is something behind the world which is the Divine.<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perseverance <\/strong>:\u00a0 The road of yoga is long. Whatever method is used, persistence and perseverance are essential.<\/em> A yoga like this needs patience, because it means a change, both of the radical means and of each part and detail of our nature.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Aspiration :\u00a0<\/strong> One must have a fixed and unfailing aspiration, vigilant and constant \u2013 an aspiration of the entire being \u2013 an aspiration that takes hold of you completely, an aspiration to unite with the Divine\u2026 to give oneself totally to the Divine, not to live outside the Divine Consciousness, so that the Divine may be all in all.<\/em> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Receptivity<\/strong> :\u00a0 This means\u2026 to receive the Divine Force\u2026 and allow it to work, guiding one\u2019s sight, will and action.There must be a complete and never-failing assent, a willingness to let the Divine Power do with us whatever is needed for the work that has to be done.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0Progress<\/strong> : \u00a0The very first condition of inner progress is to recognise whatever is or has been a wrong movement in any part of our nature \u2013 wrong idea, wrong feeling, wrong speech, wrong action \u2013 and by wrong is meant what departs from the truth, from the higher Consciousness and the higher Self, from the way of the Divine. Once recognised, it is offered to the Divine for the Light and Grace to descend and substitute for it the right movement of the true Consciousness.<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Courage<\/strong> : As Sri Aurobindo says: \u2018The forces that stand in the way of the sadhana \u2013 the spiritual discipline \u2013 are the forces of the lower mental, vital and physical nature. Behind them are the adverse powers of the mental, vital and physical worlds\u2026. All I say is, keep the mantra of success, the determination of victory, the fixed resolve\u2026 and go bravely on with your yoga\u2026. The inner doors will open.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Goodness<\/strong> : One should not be good with an interested motive\u2026. One should not be good so that others may be good to you. It is always the same lesson: One must do as well as one can, the best one can, but without expecting a result. One must be good for the love of goodness<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Generosity :<\/strong> It is to give unstintingly, selflessly, without bargaining or any expectation. It is to give for the joy of giving. It is an opportunity that the Divine gives us for the liberation of the ego and the servitude to self-indulgence, replacing it by the joy of participation in the divine work upon earth, for a true and beautiful and harmonious equipment and ordering of a new, divinised mental, vital and physical existence in whatever way the Divine Mother herself decides in her creative vision.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Equality<\/strong> : The very first necessity for spiritual perfection is a perfect equality\u2026. The perfect equality of our Spirit and nature is a means by which we can move back from the troubled and ignorant outer consciousness into the inner kingdom of heaven and possess the Spirit\u2019s eternal kingdoms of greatness, joy and peace\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Peace<\/strong> : In the liberation of the soul from the Ignorance, the very first foundation is peace, calm, the silence and quietude of the Eternal and Infinite\u2026A consummate power and greater formation of the spiritual ascension takes up this peace of liberation into the bliss of a perfect experience and realisation of the eternal beatitude, the bliss of the Eternal and the Infinite.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Incorporation of the Symbol into Life in Auroville<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will find this symbol everywhere in Auroville and if you ever come to visit, you might meet people who keep it close to their body to remind themselves of their spiritual purpose. Rings, tattoos, bracelets, earrings<\/a> \u2013 you name it! There are several jewelers in Ashram and Auroville who specialize in The Mother and Sri Aurobindo\u2019s symbol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Schools of Auroville and the Ashram incorporate the 12 qualities into classes and give children a place to explore them as guiding stars for life. For example in the Ashram, children explore on of the qualities through art and then take care of the plant representing that quality for 6 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are curious about how children relate to The Mother\u2019s qualities, you can have a look at this report<\/a> of what the 8th grade Auroville School students\u2019 say of the qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/adventure.auroville.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/700px-Mothers_Symbol_12_colours.jpg\")
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