Matji iSCKON slang ???

[Guest guest]

>

> > But addressing a

> > > lady as "Mataji", ie. mother, is a sign of respect. Why are you trying

> to

> > > change that? These two postings seem to lack any understanding of

> > > Vedic culture.

> >

> > Prabhuji, in iSCKON slang the expression "mataji" very often

> > carries quite some meaning and connotations, like: "a woman",

> > "a stupid one", "a low class one". Like that.

> >

> Hare Krsna:

> All the glories to Srila Prabhupada.

> With all respect for you Mataji, I disagree with you comments on the

> matter.

> What we have to change is the mentality of the devotees or the people not

> the word. And I don't agree that is an IKSCON slang, may be where you live

> is, but not in India where hundred if not thousand of devotees live, and

> not in south-america where I live, for sure. Why do so many people believe

> that the whole planet would need to mold Krsna conciousnees to AMerican

> manners? Why not better to mold ourselves to Vedic teachings, without

> looking what outsiders (Godless) would believe?

> Srila Prabhupada was suggested to avoid the regs, specially that one of

> no meat, because western people wouldn't accept it, do you remember this?

> Do you remember also what did SP answer to that? He said that if they

> don't accept it would be their problem but he wouldn't change the basis

> and principles of KC. Can someone quote this please?

>

> ys, Sridhari dd

 

I have to largely agree with Sridhari dd's points on Mataji.

 

In India, Bangladesh and for that matter all over Asia it is quiet common to

respectfully address a lady as Mother. In Hindi, Bengali and many other

languages that translates into "Mataji". It is a cultural heritage and no

stigma should be attached to it. Just like women are addressed as "devi"

which means goddess or divine female. Men are never addressed as "deva" in

India. So women are given a higher cultural and quality rating then men in

Indian areas. Many Pandits said a man should see all women other then his

wife as mothers. This is because in Indian and Asian culture the mother is

highly respected. Maybe in the west where parents are respected being

called a mother means less. Or maybe in the west people shouldn't say the

hindi Mataji, but say Mother in the local language. In Spanish it is quite

common to address a women as "Madre" and to do so is considered a highly

respectable form of address.

 

Of course Arjuna addressed an Apsara (heavenly damsel) as Mother and refused

to look above her feet. This angered her since she didn't want to be dealt

with as a mother, but wanted to have sexual relations with Arjuna. He

avoided it by considering her as his mother. This is another reason to

address ladies as Mother to not see them as objects of sense gratification

which a more familiar form of address would permit.

 

AS has been said:

 

> Prabhuji, in iSCKON slang the expression "mataji" very often

> carries quite some meaning and connotations, like: "a woman",

> "a stupid one", "a low class one". Like that.

 

Any word can be distorted or someone can say a perfectly innocent word in a

sarcastic manner or in a snide way. That doesn't change the definition, but

is a defect of the speaker. Change the word and I am sure the same sarcasm

and offensiveness can be applied to almost any other word you can come up

with. For that matter I have heard the same kind of sarcasm and

offensiveness used many times with the word "prabhu". "The "prabhu's" (said

with sarcasm and a smirky expression) are all sleeping in late today." or

something like that. In India I have never heard anyone say "Mataji" with

that kind of sarcasm. In the west they can say anything with sarcasm if

they want to "Guru", "GBC", "Prabhu's", "Mataji's", etc., etc. To ban a

word and change a cultural tradition of thousands of years because some

demented persons use a word improperly seems to be counter productive and

unnecessary.

 

RAther we should educate our devotees on the proper meanings of words and to

deal with each other in proper vaisnava etiquette avoiding all offenses.

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your ever well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami