The Mother was born in Paris on February 21, 1878.
Her father, Maurice Alfassa, was a wealthy Turkish banker from Adrianopolis and her mother, Mathilda Ismalun, came from Cairo.
A year before her birth her parents settled in France.
The Mother’s childhood name was Mirra. From the beginning Mirra was an unusual child. At a very young age she became conscious of her mission upon earth.
Mirra went to school in Paris. Even at the age of five, she felt that she must know herself and be master of herself and not a mere plaything in the hands of other forces.
With her studies Mirra started playing tennis, a sport she remained fond of throughout her life.
Mirra took an interest in everything but was especially fond of music and painting.
Mirra was always grave and busy with her work. Her fellow-students called her the Sphinx. They came to her for advice, to settle some quarrel or even to take up their case before the authorities.
Although Mirra knew little of Indian philosophy and religion at that time, she called this special Being ‘Krishna’. She was firmly convinced that one day she would meet him on earth. This Being was none other than Sri Aurobindo.
During 1905, Mirra met a Polish Jew, Max Théon, and his wife Alma. Both of them were very advanced in occultism and lived at Tlemcen, near the Sahara in South Algeria. Mirra spent about two years at Tlemcen, practising occultism.