Lesson - 24
Vasumati (1)
[Vasumati’s mother would leave the house before sunrise daily. One day, observing her going out-]
Vasumati: Mother, where do you go out daily, early in the morning?
Mother: To nun’s place.
Vasumati: What for mother?
Mother: To have darshana of nuns.
Vasumati: How will it benefit you?
Mother: Daughter, their darshana provides us peace of mind and an opportunity to learn good behaviour.
Vasumati: Then I too shall accompany you.
Mother: Very good. You must come along. (Taking a white band of cloth), now let us leave for the nun’s place.
Vasumati: What is this piece of cloth for?
Mother: Daughter, it is called Muhapatti.
Vasumati: What for mother?
Mother: While bowing to the nuns, one must not speak with uncovered mouth.
Vasumati: What is the reason?
Mother: While speaking with uncovered mouth, the living beings of air may die from the hot breath of the mouth. One must always cover the lips with muhapatti or with a handkerchief.
Vasumati: I too shall have muhapatti with me.
[With their muhapatti, they leave for nun’s place, bow to the nuns by uttering tikkhutto text, and then sit at the end of the women’s row.]
Vasumati: Mother! Why are you sitting here? Let us sit close to the nuns.
Mother: No, dear, it is not proper to go ahead of the women who have arrived there earlier.
Vasumati: Mother, what do you intend to cook today in our kitchen?
Mother: Daughter, look, such household talks should be avoided here. We have come here for religious purpose and not for household talks. Now sit properly, I shall teach you a mantra. Get it by heart.
[Vasumati at once gets Namaskara Mahamantra by heart. She stays there for some time, bows to the nuns and returns home with her mother.]
Questions:- Why did the mother take muhapatti with her?
- What did Vasumati learn from her mother?
- What do you gain from the darsana of nuns?
