The Four Aspects of the Mother and Tennis

As a tennis coach, I am always working on ways to help my students improve their tennis game. Like any sport, tennis has different key aspects to it that are each equally important. And while on the court today, I was reflecting on how these different parts of the game can easily be seen in the context of the four aspects of the Mother – Maheshwari, Mahakali, Mahasaraswati and Mahalakshmi – wisdom, power, perfection and beauty.

Maheshwari is “wide, tranquil, calm and grand,” and “she comprehends all things”. In terms of tennis, this corresponds to the player’s strategic intelligence and overview of the game. Before and during a match, a good player does not simply react; he/she observes patterns, anticipates the opponent’s moves, and constructs a long-term plan. This includes deciding when to play aggressively, when to conserve energy, and how to exploit weaknesses. Just as Maheshwari holds a “comprehending and sovereign knowledge,” the tennis player guided by this aspect rises above impulsive play and instead governs the match with clarity and foresight. Without this, even a physically strong player may lose due to poor judgment.

Mahakali, on the other hand, embodies force, intensity, and decisive action. “Not wideness but height, not wisdom but force and strength are her peculiar power.” She is “swift, direct and terrible in her action…There is in her an overwhelming intensity, a mighty passion of force to achieve…”. Mahakali is seen in the raw power and fighting spirit of the player. This is the energy behind a powerful serve, a heavy forehand, a decisive smash, or the courage to attack under pressure. When a player is down in score but refuses to give up, channeling fierce determination and speed, that is Mahakali at work. And she is not merely aggression, but has a focused and purposeful force that cuts through hesitation. A player lacking this aspect may have good technique but will falter in critical moments, unable to assert dominance or seize opportunities. In her, a tennis player finds the ideal of power and strength: “she is loved and worshipped by the great, the strong and the noble”.

Mahasaraswati is “The Mother’s Power of Work and her spirit of perfection and order.” She ensures precision and flawless execution. In tennis, this is the domain of practice, repetition and drills. Every stroke—forehand, backhand, serve, and footwork patterns—require careful refinement and lots of practice. A player improves not by random effort but through consistent practice, attention to detail, and correction of errors. Mahasaraswati is present when a player spends hours perfecting his/her serve or working on foot positioning. She is also the quiet persistence that sustains long-term improvement. “Always she holds in her nature and can give to those whom she has chosen the intimate and precise knowledge, the subtlety and patience, the accuracy of intuitive mind and conscious hand and discerning eye of the perfect worker.” Without this aspect, talent and power remain unpolished and inconsistent.

Furthermore, “The science and craft and technique of things are Mahasaraswati’s province.” For eg., to hit a forehand with more spin you need, among other things, to allow your wrist to be relaxed in the backswing. This detail of the wrist causes the racquet to fall behind the wrist, to ‘lag’ behind. And similarly for many other small details that are important. “Nothing is too small or apparently trivial for her attention; nothing however impalpable or disguised or latent can escape her. Moulding and remoulding she labours each part till it has attained its true form, is put in its exact place in the whole and fulfils its precise purpose.”

Mahalakshmi, represents beauty, harmony, grace, and love. In tennis, Mahalakshmi can be seen in the elegance and rhythm of the game. A beautifully executed rally, where shots flow effortlessly from one side to another, reflects this harmony. It is also present in sportsmanship—the respect between players, the appreciation of a good shot even from an opponent, and the joy of the game itself. A player guided by Mahalakshmi does not play with tension or harshness but with a sense of flow and balance. “Harmony and beauty of the mind and soul, harmony and beauty of the thoughts and feelings, harmony and beauty in every outward act and movement, harmony and beauty of the life and surroundings, this is the demand of Mahalakshmi.” The complete game of a tennis player is realized in Mahalakshmi. For, when a player has achieved a high level in his/her execution of game play, their game looks very beautiful and harmonious to watch.

Success in tennis depends on the integration of all four aspects. Strategy without power is ineffective; power without technique is erratic; technique without harmony becomes mechanical; and harmony without vision lacks direction. The greatest players embody all four: they think clearly (Maheshwari), play powerfully (Mahakali), play beautifully (Mahalakshmi), and execute precisely (Mahasaraswati).

In conclusion, the game of tennis becomes more than a sport—it becomes a living illustration of Sri Aurobindo’s integral psychology. The four aspects of the Mother provide a clear framework for excellence in tennis. Maheshwari guides the mind, Mahakali energizes the will, Mahalakshmi refines the experience, and Mahasaraswati perfects the execution. Together, they transform the game into an art and a discipline that extend far beyond the court into one’s everyday life. The court turns into a field where wisdom, power, harmony, and perfection interact dynamically. By understanding these aspects, a player can approach the game more consciously, striving not only for victory but for a balanced and integrated performance.

- Paul Sawh (India)

All extracts are from Sri Aurobindo, ‘The Mother’ (CWSA vol.32)