Prabhu

[Guest guest]

Dear Sridhari Prabhu,

 

Please forgive me if you don't like this address. Srila Prabhupada asked us

to call other devotees this way. Srila Prabhupada taught his female disciples

to call each other Prabhu. It is male disciples that are to call all women,

except for their wives, Mataji. I never heard any ladies calling each other

'mother' or 'mataji' until 1993 when I visited the Holy Dhama of Mayapura for

the 5th time. I did notice that the women devotees from South America, Germany

and Singapore were the main ones who were saying 'Prabhus' when referring to

only male devotees. Never before had I heard this done, including in my 4

previous visits to India, Vrndavana and Mayapura, and I have been a devotee

since 1973.

 

Saying that women can not be called Prabhu is a later addition. Upon

inquiring it seems to have been started by Atma Tattva Prabhu. When I asked

him about it he agreed that it had been his understanding, and like me he had

noticed that his point had been misused. He also agreed at that time that

Srila Prabhupada's usage should be followed. You would probably also agree

that Srila Prabhupada's teachings on this matter are the most authoritative.

Thankyou,

 

ys,

Lola dd

 

Sridhari dd wrote:

> BTW; Although you mean to offer me great respect by calling "Prabhu,"

> I humbly request you to call me "Mataji." Just like in Spanish,

> if you call me "Señor Sridhari," that would not be very proper,

> whereas "Señora Sridhari" would be.

> In the very same way, "Prabhu" is the masculine gender,

> whereas "Prabhvi" is the feminine. But in Vedic culture,

> one honors the chaste woman by calling her "Mataji."

> So if you *really* want to express respect for this

> humble soul, please kindly do not call me "Prabhu."

 

>