The central circle represents the Divine Consciousness.
The four petals represent the four powers of The Mother.
The twelve petals represent the twelve powers of the Mother manifested for Her work.
- The Mother
Sri Aurobindo on
The Mother's SymbolCentre and four powers, white. The twelve all of different color in three groups: top group red, passing to orange towards yellow. Next group, yellow passing through green towards blue. And third group, blue passing through violet towards red. If white is not convenient, the center may be gold (powder).
- March 20, 1934
Mother on Her Symbol
Q.: Mother, in your symbol the twelve petals signify the twelve inner planes, don’t they?
It signifies anything one wants, you see. Twelve: that’s the number of Aditi, of Mahashakti. So it applies to everything; all Her action has twelve Aspects. There are also Her twelve Virtues, Her twelve Powers, Her twelve Aspects, and then Her twelve Planes of manifestation and many other things that are twelve; and the symbol, the number twelve is in itself a symbol. It is the symbol of manifestation, double perfection, in essence and in manifestation, in the creation.
Q.: What are the twelve aspects, Sweet Mother?
Ah, my child, I have described this somewhere, but I don’t remember now. For it is always a choice, you see; according to what one wants to say, one can choose these twelve Aspects or twelve others, or give them different names. The same Aspect can be named in different ways. This does not have the fixity of a mental theory.
(Silence)
According to the angle from which one sees the creation, one day I may describe twelve Aspects to you; and then another day, because I have shifted my centre of observation, I may describe twelve others, and they will he equally true.
- November 10 , 1954
CWM Vol.4, page. 395
The Structure and Meaning
The symbol is built on a mathematical and spiritual progression: one center, four inner petals, and twelve outer petals.
The Central Circle
The innermost circle represents the Supreme Mother, the Mahashakti. She is the source of all existence and the link between the creation and the Unmanifest Divine.
The central circle represents the Supreme Mother, the Mahashakti.
- The Mother
CWM Vol.13
The Mahashakti, the universal Mother, works out whatever is transmitted by her transcendent consciousness from the Supreme and enters into the worlds that she has made; her presence fills and supports them with the divine spirit and the divine all-sustaining force and delight without which they could not exist. That which we call Nature or Prakriti is only her most outward executive aspect; she marshals and arranges the harmony of her forces and processes, impels the operations of Nature and moves among them secret or manifest in all that can be seen or experienced or put into motion of life. Each of the worlds is nothing but one play of the Mahashakti of that system of worlds or universe, who is there as the cosmic Soul and Personality of the transcendent Mother. Each is something that she has seen in her vision, gathered into her heart of beauty and power and created in her Ananda.
- Sri Aurobindo
CWSA Vol.32
The Four Inner Petals
These represent the four primary aspects (or "Personalities") of the Mother, which govern the workings of the universe
Maheshwari: Her personality of calm wideness, comprehending wisdom, and majestic greatness.
Mahakali: Her personality of height, force, and divine violence; she is the warrior who shatters all limits and obstacles.
Mahalakshmi: Her personality of vivid harmony, beauty, secret treasures, and profound opulence.
Mahasaraswati: Her personality of intimate knowledge, flawless work, and the spirit of perfection in all details.
The four central petals are the four aspects of the Mother...
- The Mother
CWM Vol.13
Four great Aspects of the Mother, four of her leading Powers and Personalities have stood in front in her guidance of this universe and in her dealings with the terrestrial play. One is her personality of calm wideness and comprehending wisdom and tranquil benignity and inexhaustible compassion and sovereign and surpassing majesty and all-ruling greatness. Another embodies her power of splendid strength and irresistible passion, her warrior mood, her overwhelming will, her impetuous swiftness and world-shaking force. A third is vivid and sweet and wonderful with her deep secret of beauty and harmony and fine rhythm, her intricate and subtle opulence, her compelling attraction and captivating grace. The fourth is equipped with her close and profound capacity of intimate knowledge and careful flawless work and quiet and exact perfection in all things. Wisdom, Strength, Harmony, Perfection are their several attributes and it is these powers that they bring with them into the world, manifest in a human disguise in their Vibhutis and shall found in the divine degree of their ascension in those who can open their earthly nature to the direct and living influence of the Mother. To the four we give the four great names, Maheshwari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati.
- Sri Aurobindo
CWSA Vol.32
The Twelve Outer Petals
...the twelve petals, Her twelve attributes.
- The Mother
CWM Vol.13
The twelve petals in the outer ring represent the twelve powers of the Mother manifested for her work in the world.
Sincerity, Humility, Gratitude, Perseverance
Aspiration, Receptivity, Progress, Courage
Goodness, Generosity, Equality, Peace
The first eight concern the attitude towards the Divine, and the last four towards humanity.