Mother/Mataji (Not Prabhu).
The First Training
A brahmacari is advised to go begging alms door to door, addressing all women as mother, and whatever he collects goes to the benefit of the guru. (SB 7.6.9)
They call all woman, “Mother.” “Mother, give me some alms.” (Bg 4.21/ Bombay/ April 10, 1974)
Formerly, brahmacaris would have to go from door to door to beg alms for the ashram, and they were trained from the very beginning to address every woman as mother. (TLK, V 20)
So therefore the first training is given, to become austere, tolerate, how to tolerate, how to call other women as “Mother.” He is learning from the beginning, a small child. He is trained up to call any woman, even of his own age, not “sister,”--”Mother.” This is the training. Matrvat para-daresu. This is education. Matrvat para-daresu. Canakya Pandita, the great politician, has given the definition of a learned scholar. Who is learned scholar? He has given the definition. What is this? Matrvat para-daresu. To see every woman except his wife as mother. This is education. This is education, perfection of education, when you can see all women except your wife as mother. (Bg 1.26-27/ London/ July 21, 1973)
The address should be “Mother.” Practice. This is practice, the brahmacari’s practice. He goes to every householder’s wife: “Mother, give me some…” Just like this child. If he is taught from the very beginning of his life that “Address all women as mother…” (SB 6.1.23/ Honolulu/ May 23, 1976)
And they used to call every woman from the beginning of life, “Mother.” This is training. Matrvat para-daresu. From the very beginning of life, all women they are treated as mother. That is the system, Vedic system. Everyone will call a woman as “Mother.” Never mind whether she is younger or older. It doesn’t matter. Woman has to be addressed as “Mother.” That is Canakya Pandita’s instruction. Who is learned scholar? Who has got three qualification, he is learned scholar. What is that? Matrvat para-daresu: “To treat all woman as mother”…The etiquette is to address every woman, never mind whether she is young or old, as “Mother.” (Bg 4.16/ Bombay/ April 5, 1974)
This brahmacari, he is taught. He is taught to address all women as “Mother.” The brahmacari goes to collect alms from door to door. Small boys. So how do they address? “Mother, kindly give us some alms.” (SB 1.3.13/ Los Angeles/ September 18, 1972)
Similarly, if a brahmacari is taught from childhood, from boyhood address all woman as “Mother,” he cannot see otherwise. “[S]he is my mother.” (SB 1.3.13/ Los Angeles/ September 18, 1972)
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….In the sastra, all the woman, except one’s wife, should be addressed as “Mother.” (SB 1.16.10/ Los Angeles/ January 7, 1974)
Brahmacari will go door to door, “Mother, give me alms,” and they’ll give. (SB 3.25.8/ Bombay/ November 8, 1974)
They would have to go beg door to door, brahmacari: “Mother, give us some alms for our asrama.” So they were trained from the very beginning to address any woman as “Mother.” (SB 3.25.20/ Bombay/ November 20, 1974)
Gurukula means every student should go to gurukula and learn to become very simple and obedient and self-controlled and learn how to address every woman as mother. This is guru…from the very beginning. They would go every home. Small children or big children, they will address, “Mother, give us some alms.” (SB 6.1.21/ Honolulu/ May 21, 1976)
A brahmacari is practiced. He goes to every householder’s wife, “Mother, give me some…” Just like this child, if he is taught from the very beginning of his life that “Address all woman as mother,” that training and intermingling with anyone, that is a different way. (SB 6.1.22/ Honolulu/ May 22, 1976)
The first educational symptom is that except one’s own wife, any woman is mother. (SB 6.1.22/ Chicago/ July 6, 1975)
So the system is any brahmacari or any sannyasi goes to a householder, “Mother, give me some alms. I am brahmacari,” [s]he will at once give. (SB 7.7.29-31/ San Francisco/ March 15, 1967)
No. That is also imperfect. Anyway, it is something. Amanitvam adambhitvam: they from the very beginning of their life, they address other’s wife as “Mother,” you see? Matrvat paridaresu. This is culture, to see every woman except his own wife as mother. (Morning walk/ Bombay/ December 17, 1975)
And they are taught that all women should be addressed as mother. (Room conversation/ New Mayapur/ July 31, 1976)
Address as “Mother/Mataji”
Prabhupada: These are all bogus things. One should train himself that matravat para-daresu, all women, “my mother.” Then it will be possible to live… Therefore the etiquette is to address every woman, “Ma, ma, mother.” That is the etiquette.
Brahmananda: You say like “Mother Rukmini”? There’s a devotee named Rukmini. You say, “Mother Rukmini”? How do you address a woman? Do you say, “Mother,” and then the name of the devotee?
Prabhupada: No. “Mother,” simply.
Brahmananda: Just “Mother.”
Prabhupada: Yes. They should be addressed, “Mother.” That will train.
Indian man (4): In our Indian culture they don’t call the name of the mother never, children don’t.
Prabhupada: No. “Mother,” simply “Mother,” that’s all. And if the woman treats man as son, then it is all right. It is safe. (Morning Walk/ Nairobi/ November 2, 1975)
Devotee: When you address a woman, do you…
Prabhupada: Hm?
Devotee: 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.” All right. Chant. (end) (Bg 4.14/ Vrndavana/ August 6, 1974)
Must address all woman as “Mother.” (SB 1.3.13/ Los Angeles/ September 18, 1972)
Any woman except his own wife is mother. Any woman. It doesn’t matter whether she is elderly or young. No. That is the way. Still in India, any woman by unknown person, he can address any woman “Mother.” The first relationship is mother….Mother. Everyone should be addressed. We should learn this. Except one’s one wife, all women should be addressed as “Mother.” (SB 1.16.23/ Los Angeles/ July 13, 1974)
In India still, women, especially in ashrams, any woman, visitor, she is addressed as “Mother” by all the… She may be young girl, but she is addressed as “Mother.” This is the etiquette. “Mother, what can I help you?” (SB 3.1.10/ Dallas/ May 21, 1973)
As soon as you see one woman except your married wife, you immediately address her “Mother.” (SB 5.5.3/ Vrndavana/ October 25, 1976)
Everyone’s wife should be considered, para-dara, para means other’s wife, matrvat, mother. Therefore the Vedic system is when we address another woman, “Mother.” No other address. “Mother, can I do this? Would you like this?” The address should be “Mother.” Practice, this is practice. (SB 6.1.22/ Honolulu/ May 22, 1976)
What is that? Matrvat para-daresu: “Everyone’s wife should be considered…” Para-dara. Para means others’ wife. Matrvat, mother. Therefore the Vedic system is, when we address another woman, “Mother,” no other address. “Mother, can I do this? Would you like this?” The address should be “Mother.” (SB 6.1.23/ Honolulu/ May 23, 1976)
Pandita means matrvat para-daresu: “to accept all women as mother,” para-daresu. Dara means wife, and para means others’. Except his own wife, he should treat all women outside, taking them as mother. Therefore, still in Hindu society, every woman is addressed by an unknown man, “Mother.” It doesn’t matter if a person is unknown. He can speak with another woman, addressing him first…addressing her first, “Mother,” Mataji. Then nobody will be offended. This is the etiquette. That is taught by Canakya Pandita. Matrvat para-daresu. Woman should be addressed as “Mother.” (SB 6.1.56-57/ Bombay/ August 14, 1975)
A brahmacari should always address every woman as mother. (Letter to: Sankarasana/ Los Angeles/September 30, 1972)
She is woman, so you call her “Mother.” As soon as you call her “Mother,” that I am so fallen “please save, you are so great,” then she will be very pleased. (Letter to: Cyavana/ Vrindaban/ September 4, 1975)
Treat as Mother
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[sic] 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. (SB 1.3.13/ Los Angeles/ September 18, 1972)
Every woman--mother. Except his married wife, every woman is mother. (Morning walk/ Mayapura/ March 4, 1974)
In general the understanding is, except your wife all woman is your mother. That is the instruction of Canakya Pandita. Matrvat para-daresu: “All women should be treated as mother.” (Room conversation with Scientists/ Melbourne/ July 2, 1974)
Brahmananda: Actually you’re supposed to see other women as mother.
Prabhupada: Yes. (Morning walk/ Vrndavana/ September 6, 1975)
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, should we call all the women “Mother”?
Prabhupada: Yes. And treat it like mother. Not only call, but treat it like mother. (Morning walk/ Mauritius/ October 25, 1975) ”
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