Narrator:
Happy Akshaya Tritiya with love and best wishes. World Peace Home for Human Welfare.
Narrator:
[00:00 - 00:50] Sound of ritual bells and fire crackling. A group of people is chanting in unison: Om Namah Bhagawate Baamdevaye Maheshwaraye Cha Anugulabhya Swaha. Om Namah Bhagawate Baamdevaye Maheshwaraye Cha Anugulabhya Swaha. Om Namah Bhagawate Baamdevaye Maheshwaraye Cha Anugulabhya Swaha.
Devotee:
[00:51] Tell us, what are you saying?
Devotee:
Gurudev, today is a very special day for Bengalis, Akshaya Tritiya. We would like to hear a few words from you regarding this day.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Hope is what keeps the farmer alive, but there is no point in just hoping. Look at how COVID is spreading and how many people are dying. Before anything else, I want to pray to the Almighty for their souls. May they attain eternal peace in heaven on this auspicious day. For those who have lost their lives to COVID, I pray to God that they find an undiminished place in heaven.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[01:32] Akshaya Tritiya is a very good day. On this day, people engage in buying and selling; many buy gold and jewelry, believing it will never diminish, Akshaya. But the most important aspect of this day is charity and meditation, Daan-Dhyan. Just as it is important for us, it is equally important in the Muslim community. They practice charity extensively; they call it Zakat. In our language, we call it Daan-Khairat, charity. Performing charity on this day is considered extremely virtuous because the merit earned from it remains eternal.
Devotee:
[02:11] Gurudev, one moment. Could you explain in more detail why this day is considered so good?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have explained this many times before. The word Akshaya means that whatever good deeds you perform on this day, whether it is charity or praying to God, will remain undiminished and eternal. This is a very significant day. Those who do business value this day greatly.
Devotee:
[02:44] Gurudev, regarding our prayers today, which deity should we focus on? We have Lakshmi, Ganesh, Shiva, and Maa Tara.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is best to worship Lakshmi and Ganesh. Today is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Many people go to the banks of the Ganges for charity and prayers. This day is essentially a day for giving. Whatever you give today, you will reap the benefits of that charity in your next life. That is the tradition.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[03:23] Now, show the Homa (sacred fire ritual).
Devotee:
Yes Gurudev, I will show the Homa and then come back to you.
Narrator:
[03:32 - 04:30] The ritual continues with continuous chanting of the Sanskrit mantra: Om Namah Bhagawate Baamdevaye Maheshwaraye Cha Anugulabhya Swaha.
Devotee:
[04:31] Gurudev, what is the special significance of performing the Homa on Akshaya Tritiya?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We perform Homa every day for world peace and the welfare of humanity. However, today is a special day, so this Homa will have an eternal impact. Akshaya Tritiya falls on the third lunar day after the New Moon. Today, as the third-day moon rises, it also happens to be the month of Ramadan, and I believe Eid has been declared today as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[05:10] So, today is a great day for both Muslims and Hindus. If anyone performs charity or gives Zakat today, it becomes eternal.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[05:29] But I must say again, my heart goes out to those who died of COVID. I pray for their souls to reach heaven. Seeing how many people are passing away, it feels terrible. Regardless, I pray to the Goddess and the Almighty that they attain an eternal place in heaven. May they all find peace.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[06:02] I am speaking for everyone in the world who has passed away. May their souls find peace and reach heaven. This is my prayer to the Mother.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[06:23] This is a heart-wrenching situation for me. So many people are dying; it makes me feel very sad. That is why I am constantly praying for their souls to find an undiminished place in heaven.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[06:50] I have been praying for this since the morning. My mind is restless. I keep telling the Mother, those who died of COVID, please grant them eternal peace.
Devotee:
[06:58] Gurudev, through you, the people of West Bengal and all our followers have learned about the significance of this day.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I don't have much else to say. I am not in the mental state to speak further while this Homa is ongoing and so many people are suffering. It makes me wonder, what is there left to say? I only seek peace for the departed souls. May they go directly to heaven. I don't want to say anything else today. I repeat: for those who died of COVID, especially those who didn't receive proper last rites, may they find eternal peace in heaven.
Devotee:
[07:47] With that, we offer our respects to our followers in West Bengal. We offer our Pranam to Gurudev and Maa Tara. We conclude today's episode here.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, let it be so.
Narrator:
[07:55 - 08:05] Final sounds of the ritual fire and bells.