DEVOTEE:
Gurudev, my respects to you.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Yes, my blessings.
DEVOTEE:
Gurudev, after today, tomorrow is the full moon. From Saturday, the Ambubachi period begins, and it will end on Tuesday. The rituals of entry and exit will take place then. So, the next time to see you will be on Wednesday. I will inform the audience about this clearly.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Yes.
DEVOTEE:
Gurudev, please tell us a little bit about this Ambubachi. During this time, the Mother's temple remains closed, we don't disturb her, and certain prayers cannot be performed.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
In Kamakhya, this is observed on a grand scale. The Kamakhya temple remains closed, and many sadhus and saints who practice Tantra come from all over India. They perform their spiritual practices there. Since the Mother's temple is closed for three to four days—actually, it stays closed for four days—the doors are not opened. On the fourth day, the temple is opened, cleaned, and the rituals resume. This is the tradition.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
The word Ambu means water. Bachi comes from vachana, which means to follow or observe. So, Ambubachi means following the discipline related to water. Michael Madhusudan Dutt used this word Ambu. He wrote, "Who doesn't know Ambubimba, the reflection in the water, the truth in the mouth of water?" We see that he used this term.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Ambubachi is essentially about observing the water. During this time, the Earth is said to be menstruating. It would be wrong to just say "Mother"; the Earth itself is menstruating. The Mother and the Earth are one. When the Earth is in this state, the rain that falls penetrates deep into the soil, and all the dormant seeds and sprouts begin to grow. This is why it is forbidden to dig or disturb the soil during Ambubachi—so that the sprouts and seeds are not destroyed.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
There is a saying: "In the sprout flows the essence of life, sweet and pure." This essence is spreading now. The seeds are slowly turning into plants. Because this is such a sensitive time, our ancestors and saints forbade hitting or digging the ground. In the past, even vehicles didn't run during this time. Now, of course, everything runs. It's a sign of the times, a lack of discipline. Some people don't follow these rules anymore.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Widows, however, still follow this very strictly. They avoid hot foods and eat only fruits and cold items for these four days. In the temple, all kinds of food offerings are placed inside before the doors are closed. When the doors open on the fourth day, that food becomes the prasad (blessed offering).
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Some dishonest people put red cloths inside the temple area. When the temple opens, they take them and sell them in villages, claiming they are pieces of the Mother's cloth for 50 or 100 rupees. I have seen this. It happens a lot in Kamakhya. But let me tell you, the actual cloth used in the temple rituals—if it were ever to leave the temple, it would cause a catastrophe. It would be a disaster for the whole world. That cloth never leaves the temple. If it did, the world would pay the price.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
We tell people not to buy these cloths. People just cut up any red cloth and sell it. It's heartbreaking to see the Mother's name being used like this.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
There is also a myth that the water turns red during this time. I lived in Kamakhya for a long time, right near the Mother, and I never saw the water turn red. It's just a story people tell. There is a specific water source inside the temple, and people claim it turns to blood, but I have never witnessed it. Even the great scholars I sat with said this doesn't happen. There's no point in discussing things that aren't true.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
The real significance is that the Earth is menstruating. Nature is in a state of creation. The rain falling on the Earth helps the seeds grow. That is why we must "follow" or "observe" (bachana) this period. We tell everyone to live mindfully during these four days because Nature is creating life.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Just as women are advised to rest and avoid certain activities during their cycle to ensure healthy offspring, the same principle is applied to the Earth. In the old days, people were warned not to perform puja or travel.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Nowadays, people have turned it into a business. You wouldn't believe it. There is so much food—trucks of bread and other supplies arrive. It's hard to even find a place to stand. People occupy spots around the temple and on the streets to do business.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
During these days, we offer the Mother milk and mangoes every day. Since she is considered to be in a weakened state due to her cycle, we put the milk and mangoes under the curtain for her and pray that she accepts them.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
But the commercialization is shameful. People are selling God. It's a business now. I don't like it at all. Selling things in the name of the Mother, showing off rituals for money—I tell everyone to be careful. If the Mother's actual "garment" were to leave the temple, the world would face a cataclysm. These people selling red cloths are just exploiting the uneducated and the ignorant. They buy it for 50 or 100 rupees and wear it as an amulet. It does nothing. It's useless. I've scolded those sellers so much that they don't even come near me anymore.
DEVOTEE:
Well, you've heard from Gurudev about Ambubachi. He has spoken about this before, and he has clarified it again today. Essentially, from tomorrow, Friday, until Tuesday, Gurudev will not be seeing anyone. The full moon is tomorrow, followed by the weekend and the Ambubachi period. It ends on Tuesday.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Yes, I won't be doing anything during Ambubachi.
DEVOTEE:
He will resume on Wednesday. We are informing you through this video.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Yes, from Friday the meetings stop. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. On Tuesday, the Ambubachi ends. We will see people again from Wednesday.
DEVOTEE:
So, from June 21st to June 25th, it remains closed. Please keep that in mind. The usual rules apply after that.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Exactly.
DEVOTEE:
We will end it here. May you all stay well and healthy. My respects, Gurudev.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
My blessings to all.