By B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami http://www.vrindavan.org

Translated by Manah Siksa devi dasi
To read this article in Spanish, click HERE

This is a warning of great earnest to all matajís who use synthetic saris.

Vrindavan, Wednesday 15th of January 2003

Dear mothers,

Please, accept my blessings.

We all know that a candle can cause a fire, and where a candle is lit, we have to have a maximum of security so it will no fall, or that the surface where we put it, is not combustible, etc. But few imagine that a candle can kill a person within just two minutes, thanks to the synthetic saris, which now are available.

The synthetic saris, when getting in touch with the fire, ignite in such a speed, that it is impossible to put a stop to.

We had an accident of mortal danger here in the Vamsi Kunja temple, an evening when the electricity had gone and, as is the habit, one lit candles. Mother Kunti (native of Mexico, and recently engaged with Nanda Dulal das), passed close to a candle with her sari, and before you could say Jack Robinson, she was lit like a giant flame. Fortunately, the devotees were singing in front of the altar and Nanda Dulal, without thinking a second, jumped to pull off the sari, which was burning the body of the mother, but because this sari was plastic, that practically instantly transformed to an ardent petrol pulp, Nanda pulled off the liquid fire that stuck on to his hands, ignoring this fact, he continued to take away from the mother the rest of the burning sari.

A blessing in disguise was, that on the mother were burns only on her leg, back and some on her hand. The fingers of the prabhu resulted much affected, but considering that he saved the life of his fiancée, these burns were of insignificant dimension.

So, imagine or not, despite the intense pain, they were also capable to laugh and thank Krishna that a big karma, or a sure death, was reduced to a big fright and a little weeping. All devotees were very proud of the courage of Nanda Dulal, who will be studying for some days, meanwhile the hands are healing.

You must remember that I already have been warning about synthetic saris many times. Many years ago, a spiritual sister of mine, died by an accident of this kind, and in another similar case, another spiritual sister, was seriously wounded.

So, if you accidentally or in an important event, are using these synthetic saris, be strict and absolutely far away from all flames.

And the most secure advice is to use them to decorate the walls, and not to dress in. Because you cannot be so sure to have a Nanada Dulal close to you when such a terrible thing occurs.

I would not like to disturb you with this news, but I think that it is good to share it, since we often use gas-stove, candles and also elements that at some moments could be very dangerous.

I wish you a lot of enthusiasm in your preaching.

Always your well-wisher,

Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti