Appropriateness and inappropriateness of contact between male and female devotees narrated by Shree Hari.
Suvrat Said:-
Shri Hari, who was present in the assembly on the fourth day of the bright of half of the month (of Kartika), told his devotees, who were eager to know, as to how to guard themselves from the blemishes incurred by coming in contact with the untouchables. 1
Narayan muni said:-
Listen to me O all the ascetics and householders, those who have come to my shelter. I wish to tell something, beneficial to all of you. 2
There are two types of women: those who legitimate off springs of Dharma, known as Pati-vratas: chaste and faithful to husband, Sati (austere) Sadhvi (pious); and always pure. Others are known as off springs of unrighteousness: Adharma, sinners, enchantresses, unchaste (Kulata), harlot (Pumschali) and are named as ever-unholy. 3-4
Unfortunately, if a woman unknowingly touches a person not related to her, then the former (chaste woman) gets frightened, just as a human-being is afraid of a serpent. 5
If someone touches her on his own, then she gets tormented, just as she is afraid of the touch of a female ape or a blazing fire. 6
If someone touches the latter (unchaste) on his own, or otherwise, then she does not get distressed nor does she get afraid in any activity. 7
Thus, just as there are two types of women, similarly, there are two types of men. Those who are legitimate are meritorious. Those who are illegitimate off springs of Dharma. The former ones (men) are comparable to chaste women and are god-fearing. Other (men) are comparable to the enchantresses and they are not afraid of touching a woman. 8-9
Knowingly or unknowingly, if the incidence of touch takes place between a man and a woman, then certainly a blemish is incurred. It is sinful as well as sorrowful. 10
Hence, this discretion of tactility is beneficial to men and women. I hereby explain the same in detail to all of you on this earth. 11
That the body of a widow is impure among all impure things, and inauspicious in all the inauspicious things, has been established in the Puranas in various ways. 12
The men of the Uddhava sect as well as the householders should not touch the widows. 13
If unknowingly, a widow or a man touch each other, then, he/she should take a bath. If knowingly they touch each other, then both should observe a fast for one day. 14
If a widow touches a man, knowingly due to passion, two types of atonement are prescribed for her in the scriptures. 15
If she touches a man in privacy, she should observe fast for two day. If that incidence of touch is noticed by the people, then she should observe a Chandrayana Vrata. 16
If that woman, due to impudence or because of the fear of bodily suffering, does not observe the atonement, then she will certainly face lot of calamities. 17
She will suffer failure in this world; and after death she will suffer horrible torture. She will become a starving goblin: Pishachi, in the forest without water. 18
If a man, knowingly, touches a widow out of passion, then two types of atonement are prescribed as before. 19
If the incident of touch is not noticed by the people, then she should observe a fast for two days. If it is noticed by the people, then, she should observe, a Chandrayana vrta as instructed in the scriptures. 20
If a wicked man does not observe the said atonement, then he suffers a failure in this world and experiences horrible torture after death. 21
Then, he will suffer a life of a starving pisacha (goblin), for ten thousand years. He will keep wandering in the forest here and there devouring human excretion, urine blood and flesh. 22
Observance of celibacy is a prime duty of the widows. Incidence of touch of a man, results in the breach of a vow of celibacy. This is considered as a great offence. 23
Touch by herself, also results in the breach of the vow of celibacy. Touching a widow by a man is considered as a great offence indeed. 24
The offence incurred by a chaste woman through a contact with a strange man and a contact between a man and a widow are considered alike. 25
The offence incurred through a deliberate contact with a widow and a contact of a householder with an unrelated woman are undoubtedly alike. 26
The offence incurred through a contact between a strange woman and a house-holder, and just a touch between a non-householder and a woman are alike. 27
After the death of her husband, the celibacy of a widow should be unswerving. She should get scared by a touch of a man, like a celibate, by a touch of a woman. 28
While listening to holy- scriptures, giving donations, worshipping Brahmins at a holy place and public places, if she touches a man, then, she is not to be blamed. 29
If the incidence of touch takes place in privacy between a man and a woman who are the devotees of Shri Hari, both of them
are purified by observing the Chandrayana Vrata. 30
If a doctor touches her in case of ill-health and a barber while shaving her hair and if a third person is present there, then she is not to be blamed. 31
If an incidence of touch between a man and a woman, who are closely related is inevitable and essential, there is no blame on any of them. 32
Father, brother, uncle uncle’s sons and grandsons, mother’s father, maternal uncle, his sons and grandsons, husband of mother’s sister, his sons, husband of father’s sister and her sons, preceptor, his sons, server of meals, his sons, father-in-law, his brother and elder and younger brother-in-laws, their sons and daughters, son and son-in-law, one’s own sons and grandsons are considered as relatives. If they are religious, then there is no blame for their touch. 33-36
If a strange person touches woman, during the activity of buying and selling, or out of fear of water and fire and in agricultural activity, then there is no blame. 37
Similarly touch of an unrelated woman during the activity of buying and selling and similarly a touch of a person by a woman is not to be blamed. 38
While leaving the house etc., the sight of a widow is inauspicious. It is considered to be even more inauspicious than a wriggling serpent. It will not only mar the task undertaken, but will certainly cause death of oneself or one’s relative or it will result in loss of wealth and create a fear of fire. Hence to ward off the sin incurred by her sight, at once memorizing the name of Lord Shri Hari is recommended by those proficient in scriptures. 39-41
The blessings offered by them are comparable to the poison of a venomous snake. All the men should get scared of them just
as they fear the female demons. 42
Except in calamity, the person who is a devotee of Shri Hari, should not accompany in privacy young mother, young sister or young daughter. 43
Unknowingly, if they accompany each other in privacy, both of them should conscientiously observe a fast for one day to ward off the sin incurred by the incidence of a touch in privacy due to perturbed mind, both of them should perform Chandrayana Vrata. 44-45
A man should never walk alone with a widow on the free-way. If through oversight, he walks along with a widow, then he should observe a fast for one day for his own purification. This is prohibited for young men and women by all means the men who are related to a widow, such as father, son etc., should protect her from going to public places independently. 46 - 49
Women should be protected by all means in the society, social functions, at holy places, marriage ceremonies, walking along with the way-farers, with saints with those who are not accompanied by their wives. 50
Evil spirits with excessive passion, harmful demons and Yakshas are always present in such places (mentioned above) to snatch wealth and women. 51
Hence the God-fearing, related householder men, should try their best to protect women from Asura, Rakshasa, Yaksha etc. 52
The religious and intelligent men should also tactfully protect women by resorting to negotiation, donation or sowing dissentions. 53
They should not cut or harm the parts of their body or kill them and should not utter piercing words, which will induce them to commit suicide. 54
On this earth, the power of the king and the preceptor to protect one’s own and other’s religion as well, surpasses all others means. 55
The king having trained the subjects and the preceptor, his disciples, should try their best to protect the prescribed conduct for a widow, regarding man’s touch. If those two i.e. a king and a preceptor do not act accordingly, then, the sin incurred by the subjects and the disciples adheres to the King and the preceptor respectively. They reap the fruit of it, here itself. 56-57
Their deceased ancestors, who have already attained heaven, are undoubtedly drowned to hell because of their great sin. 58
Uddhava Swami, (Ramanand) in the past has led down the restrictions for those who cross the limits and are doomed to be dismissed from the righteous path. 59
If any man or woman crosses this limit; and behaves at own will, then, they will be utterly unsuccessful on this earth. 60 I, Nilakatha, hereby proclaim that, they will meet with censure in the end and reap in the hell undoubtedly. 61
Suvrat said:-
O Narendra, those all noble-minded people, were overwhelmed with joy, listening to this speech of Shri Hari, bowed down to Him, with folded hands and acknowledged Him with the words: ‘So be it’. 62
A man and a woman, who reads or listens to this colloquium on touch, will gain great wealth alo ng with prestige in this world, and reach the abode of Lord Krishna at The end. 63
Thus ends the twentyfifth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of description of the colloquim on touch’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra, (the rules of the code of conduct). 25