76 WOMEN AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE
thought of a reward. They knew the meaning of every part of the
ceremonies, and Shri Laxman Shastri translated every mantra in very
lucid Hindi and Insisted on the parties understanding every word that
they repeated.
Contrary to his wont, Gandhiji did not address his remarks to the
married couples in the presence of the audience, but privately. But
they will interest all married couples and I summarize them here as
best I can. — M. D,]
" You must know that I do not believe in ceremonies
except to the extent that they awaken in us a sense of
duty. I have had that attitude of mind ever since I began
to think for myself. The mantras you have repeated and
the vows you have taken were all in Sanskrit but they
were all translated for you. We had the Sanskrit text
because I know that the Sanskrit word has a power under
the influence of which one would love to come.
" One of the wishes expressed by the husband during
the ceremony is that the bride may be the mother of a
good and healthy son. The wish did not shock me. It does
not mean that procreation is obligatory, but it means that
if progeny is wanted, marriage performed in a strictly
religious spirit is essential. He who does not want a child
need not marry at all. Marriage for the satisfaction of
sexual appetite is no marriage. It is vyabhichara —
concupiscence. Today's ceremony, therefore, means that
the sexual act is permitted only when there is a clear
desire by both for a child. The whole conception is sacred.
The act has, therefore, to be performed prayerfully. It is
not preceded by the usual courtship designed to provide
sexual excitement and pleasure. Such union may only be
once in a lifetime, if no other child is desired. Those who
are not morally and physically healthy have no business to
unite, and if they do, it is vyabhichara — concupiscence.
You must unlearn the lesson, if you have learnt it before,
that marriage is for the satisfaction of animal appetite. It
is a superstition. The, whole ceremony is performed in the
presence of the sacred fire. Let the fire make ashes of all
the lust in you.
"I would also ask you to disabuse yourselves of
another superstition which is rampant nowadays. It is