A.B. Purani

(A. B. Purani:) “The second time I met Sri Aurobindo was in 1921, when there was a greater familiarity. Having, come for a short stay, I remained eleven days on Sri Aurobindo's asking me to prolong my stay.
         ... The greatest surprise of my visit in 1921 was the ‘darshan’ of Sri Aurobindo. During the interval of two years his body had undergone a transformation which could only be described as miraculous. In 1918 the colour of the body was like that of an ordinary Bengali – rather dark — though there was lustre on the face and the gaze was penetrating. On going upstairs to see him (in the same house) I found his cheeks wore an apple pink colour and the whole body glowed with a soft creamy white light. So great and unexpected was the change that I could not help exclaiming:
         “What has happened to you?”
         Instead of giving a direct reply he parried the question, as I had grown a beard: “And what has happened to you?”
         But afterwards in the course of talk he explained to me that when the Higher Consciousness descends from the mental level to the vital and even below the vital, then a transformation takes place in the nervous and even in the physical being. He asked me to join the meditation in the afternoon and also the evening sittings.”

(Amal Kiran:) “He was the most fiery inmate of the Ashram [in the early days]. He had been famous as one of the inspirers of young Gujarat in the Nationalist struggle against British domination, an expert wrestler, a fearless fighter, an all-round heroic personality. I remember Amrita telling me: “Purani has a gigantic vital being, something approaching the Mother's.” He had also some occult powers.”

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See also

• Evening Talks with Sri Aurobindo