Never called women mataji

[Guest guest]

> Dandavad. Prabhupada kijaya!

>

> I think if you look carefully you will find that these are all references

> to elderly Indian women. I have searched and cannot find any reference

> where Srila Prabhupada uses "Mataji" with any of his disciples.

>

Well, I'm not an "elderly Indian woman", but walk with me through Mayapur,

and every resident, male and female, will address me the same: "mataji". I

live here, and that's how I'm always addressed. I'm talking about the

villagers, the locals, those raised in that culture, not because they've

"learned" to say it through ISKCON. It's nothing to do with Prabhupada

creating a precedent; nor is it an ISKCON-ism. It's in Mayapur, Navadwip --

even Calcutta. I walk through New Market, through the city, and they will

call me "mataji" -- at least the older ones will. The younger ones think

it's clever to call me "Aunty" . In a more familiar context, my maid, who

is older than me, calls me "Mashi", which is aunty; not mata or mataji. But

that's an informal address.

 

Incidentally, my guru never called me "mataji", although every other

sannyasi I know does. He called me by the name he gave me, every time. I

know of other female disciples of other gurus of whom this is also true. I

think perhaps there is a different mood there, and your reference to Srila

Prabhupada calling his disciples "mataji" is in this same mood. I also have

never seen Prabhupada refer to his own disciples as "mataji", even though he

was insistent that women be seen, and addressed as, mother.

 

Can someone who's more familiar with the etiquette of the guru/female

disciple etiquette please comment on this?

 

Your servant

Braja Sevaki dd