matrvat para-daresu

[Guest guest]

Note: those who are bereft of vedic culture sometimes use "bahinaji" or "didi"

(sister) for respectful dealings but this are not acceptable terms. Canakya

pandit says matrvat (mother).

 

741004SB.MAY Lectures So in India, especially, women are still

respected. Therefore Canakya Pandita says, matrvat para-daresu: "Any woman who

is not your wife, she should be treated as your mother." This is moral

instruction. Matrvat. At the present moment, they have invented the word

bahinaji, "sister." No. In the Vedic culture, there is no such thing as

"sister.Mother," that is Vedic culture. Because mother is always respected,

so any woman, if she is called "Mother..." The brahmacari would go to the

householder's house and address the ladies, "Mother. Mother, give us some

alms." So from the childhood, a brahmacari is trained to address all women as

mother. Therefore, when they are young, they cannot see women in any other way.

This is Vedic culture.

 

740806BG.VRN Lectures Even in moral principle, as Canakya

Pandita said, matrvat para-daresu. "All women should be treated just like

mother." Not like the present society. Formerly, every woman should be

addressed as "mother," Mataji. And now they have invented "Bahinji." No. Woman

should be addressed as "mother." Matrvat para-daresu.

 

740806BG.VRN LecturesDevotee: When you address a woman do you

use the word "Mataji"? Is that the right, proper word for her?Prabhupada:

Mataji. Yes, very good. "Mother."

 

720918SB.LA Lectures So senses are so strong. Balavan

indriya-gramah. It is prohibited. What to speak of others. Therefore, the

common moral teachings and the Vedic civilization is to accept any woman except

his own wife as mother. Matrvat para-daresu. Para-daresu. Everyone is supposed

to be married. Dara means wife. Para-daresu, other's wife. It doesn't matter if

she is younger or older, but she should be treated as mother. Therefore it is

the system in Vedic culture, as soon as one sees another woman, she (he)

addresses her, "mother," Mataji. Immediately, "mother." That makes the

relationship. The woman treats the unknown man as son, and the unknown man

treats the unknown woman as mother. This is Vedic civilization. So we should be

very careful. In our society, you are all Godbrothers, Godsisters. Or those who

are married, they are like mothers. So you should be very careful. Then you

will remain dhira, sober. That is brahminical qualification, brahminical

culture. Not that "Because I have got facilities to intermingle with nice

girls, so I shall take advantage and exploit them." Or the girls should take...

No. Therefore our restriction: no illicit sex.

 

740107SB.LA Lectures So Pariksit Maharaja had no desire to

fight, but he got the news that the Kali has entered. His grandfathers, the

Pandavas, left the kingdom, that "Now the Kali is coming. Let us retire timely.

So the next king, our grandson, will look after it." Not that everyone should

remain at home until he is forced by death to get out of home. That is not very

nice principle. One should retire timely. That is the system, Vedic system.

Brahmacari... Suppose one lives for hundred years. Twenty-five years remain

brahmacari at the shelter of guru, twenty-five years. So guru teaches him to

remain brahmacari, naisthika-brahmacari. Just like my Guru Maharaja,

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. He was brahmacari. He was

brahmacari, strict brahmacari, ideal personality. So that is recommended for

everyone. Up to twenty-five years' age, nobody should have any connection with

woman. That is brahmacari. Strictly. That brahmacari rules and regulation are

there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that he would go door to door for collecting

alms for his spiritual master, and address every woman as mother, from the very

beginning. From five years old, if a child is trained to call all woman as

"Mother," naturally his culture is different. Because he has learned to call

all woman as "Mother." He has no other idea. A small child, any woman comes

before him, he knows "(S)He is my mother." So this was the practice. That is

not only religiously, but morally, it is so good, to look upon all woman as

mother. That is the system still in India, any unknown woman who has no

introduction with you, (s)he is addressed "Mataji." Address her. She may be

just like daughter or granddaughter, but one would address, as a respect to the

woman, as "Mother, Mataji." This is Indian system. Now some rascals have

introduced "Bhaginiji, sister." But that is not shastric. In the sastra, all

the woman, except one's wife, should be addressed as "Mother."