Devotee:
Guru Dev, pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, pranam.
Devotee:
In a recent episode, you said something that deeply resonated with everyone. You mentioned that amidst this ongoing COVID-19 environment, people are living in great fear. You offered a solution: to perform the Adyashakti Mahamaya Puja and Homa (fire ritual) in every household. Many people, both men and women, are curious about this. A gentleman named Partho Bhattacharya has specifically requested you to explain the procedure for performing this Homa at home—how to start, what mantras to use, and the overall method.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, regarding Adya Puja, as far as I know, it is traditionally performed by women. Men generally do not perform it. Although men do perform the puja at Adyapith, it is fundamentally intended for women. She is Maha Saraswati, the Adyashakti (Primordial Power).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When people recite the Adya Stotra, what do they gain? The Stotra describes how and where the Mother has been worshipped throughout time. Whenever a crisis has befallen the world, people have worshipped Her. The Stotra mentions various forms: she was worshipped as Subha in the house of Kubera, and as Katyayani in Vraja. You will see that she has been worshipped under different names in different places. In the netherworld (Patal), she is worshipped as Bhadrakali.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
While something exactly like COVID may not have happened before, humanity has faced such immense suffering many times. Whenever people fall into such distress, they seek refuge in God. Today, science is highly advanced—there is no doubt about that—but we are reaching a point where science feels inadequate. This disease has been claiming lives for over a year and a half. Even this morning, I received news of two or three deaths due to COVID. Last night at 2:00 AM, I heard of another passing. The scale of death is unnatural. Even though the infection rate might fluctuate, people who were infected and seemingly recovered are suddenly passing away.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In this situation, COVID-19 can be seen as a harbinger of a great transition or "Pralaya" (dissolution). I mentioned long ago that a biological war has begun. We don't know what form it will take next, especially with talks of a "Third Wave" which is said to be even more dangerous. This creates a sense of fear.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We perform our rituals and stay close to the Mother. I didn't use a mask last time, and I haven't this time either. Many people have commented on this, but we are worshipping the Adyashakti. Durga is that Primordial Power. Humanity cannot easily invoke such a great power. We call upon Her during the Sandhi Puja for 48 minutes. She arrives for a fraction of a second—the time it takes for a mustard seed to fall from a cow's horn. That is when Adyashakti Mahamaya descends. She is hidden within the worship of Durga.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Invoking Her during Sandhi Puja is essentially the worship of Adyashakti. She doesn't come unless She is specifically called. You or I are not such great souls that she will appear just because we call. As I said, Adya Puja is traditionally for women. If I am wrong, please forgive me, but it was originally a practice for women that men later adopted.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I suggest that you worship Her just as you perform Lakshmi Puja every Thursday. Like the way you change the holy pot (Ghat), use fresh mango leaves, and offer a fruit or a banana—I want the worship of Adya to be done in that same simple way. Use whatever mantras you know. There is one primary mantra for the Mother: "Kleem." This is the single-syllable seed mantra (Beej Mantra) for the Primordial Power. We use it for Krishna as well, as He is also a manifestation of that power. We say, "Kleem Kaali Kaala-Roopini Beeja-Roopa Namostute." This "Kleem" is the Beej of Adya. We use it in Narayan Puja and Kamakhya worship as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, perform the puja with simple offerings of fruits and sweets, just like Lakshmi Puja. Women should lead this. I am not suggesting that you perform elaborate Homa rituals yourselves.
Devotee:
But Guru Dev, people are specifically asking how to perform the Homa ritual at home.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Homa should ideally be performed by a Brahmin. An ordinary householder shouldn't simply throw three wood-apple leaves into a fire and call it Homa. If you are worshipping using only a holy pot (Ghat) and a photo, Homa is usually not performed. If you have a consecrated idol, then you can perform Homa.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are specific forms of the Mother available at Adyapith or Dakshineswar, but those are artistic representations. No one truly knows Her original form. Her presence is found in the Chandi and during the Sandhi Puja. That is the true worship of Adyashakti.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
For Homa, it is best to have a Brahmin perform it. There are specific mantras for lighting the fire, and mantras related to the eight colors/flames of the fire. These cannot be simplified or explained casually.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I suggest a simple path: let the women of the house worship Her with the same devotion they show to Goddess Lakshmi. Keep a photo of Adyashakti alongside Lakshmi. Perform the puja in the evening, recite the Adya Stotra, and pray for the world to be freed from this virus.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look at how Muslims pray. Do they need flowers or wood-apple leaves? No. They offer a collective, sincere prayer to the Almighty, asking for guidance and protection. We Hindus often get caught up in the "inferiority" of ritual—thinking that if we don't have flowers or 32 specific items, the puja is flawed. This is a misconception. Even Ramprasad Sen said that worshipping a clay idol is a delusion if the heart isn't involved.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We use many ingredients—Ganges water, specific leaves—but the core is the Adya Beej within the Durga Puja. Pray to Mother Durga to invoke Adyashakti.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Lastly, there was a question about the name "Raghuvir." When Hanuman brought the mountain with the Vishalyakarani herb because he couldn't identify the specific plant, Lord Rama addressed him as "Raghuvir." He told Hanuman, "You have done for me what my brother Bharata would have done." Many people recite the Hanuman Chalisa but don't understand the meaning of these references. They argue without knowing that Rama himself gave Hanuman that title.
Devotee:
Guru Dev, we have had a wonderful discussion today and learned so much from you. We conclude here for today. Pranam to the Mother and pranam to you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, pranam.