Narrator:
Amritvahani will never be satisfied | Why did Gurudev say this, the secret seeker Shyama Khyapa? YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycK0GTnrmrs
Narrator:
Here is the clean, punctuated, and well-formatted transcript of the audio, translated into English:
Devotee:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, son. Tell me.
Devotee:
Gurudev, today we have all gathered here to learn about Mother Ganga from you. We all know that Ganges water is considered the holiest. What is the reason behind this? Why is the Ganges considered so sacred?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Our Ganges is called "Amritbahini" (the flow of nectar). It will never dry up. Both the Ganges and the Godavari are called Amritbahini because they never dry up. In ancient times - though many may not know this - there were sages who were born and still reside beneath the Ganges. Through a practice called "Trikut Kumbhak," they have kept the Ganges water pure. Trikut Kumbhak is a specific yogic breathing technique, and through it, they maintain the sanctity of the water.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Drinking this water is beneficial for one's health. It contains no chemicals naturally. Of course, nowadays, chemicals from factories are being dumped into the river, causing some pollution. However, because of the ebb and flow of the tides caused by the moon's attraction, the pollution doesn't settle as much.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Ganges is called Amritbahini because of those who live beneath its surface, practicing Trikut Kumbhak to keep it purified. Not only that, the plants and vegetation growing under the river are very important. We don't realize how many sages are meditating beneath the Ganges, and it is their spiritual power that makes the water so holy.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Sages and saints all revere the Ganges. Those residing beneath the river perform Kumbhak constantly to keep the water pure. This is why it is called Amritbahini.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Ganges originates in the Himalayas from glaciers. It descends through Gaumukh and flows through Rishikesh. In ancient times, there was a king named Sagar. He was unable to cultivate his land because the seawater was salty. He decided he needed to bring freshwater - the Ganges - down from the mountains.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
His descendants attempted to bring the river down, but the force of the water was so great that many were swept away, and many died trapped under rocks. For three generations, they tried to bring the freshwater down, but failed. Sixty thousand of King Sagar's descendants were lost in the attempt.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Finally, his descendant Bhagirath resolved to bring the Ganges to Earth. He was blessed by the sage Ashtavakra, who told him he would succeed. Bhagirath was born as a "clone"—he didn't have a traditional skeletal structure. When the kings of his lineage went to the mountains, they left their queens behind, and Bhagirath was born through a spiritual union. Despite his physical irregularities, with the blessing of Ashtavakra, he set out to bring the Ganges down.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The sage Kapil Muni was also involved. When the kings went hunting, Kapil Muni warned them not to hunt in his kingdom. Despite being kings, he told them they could not kill animals there. When the kings ignored him, he cursed them, saying they would only find salvation if the Ganges came to Earth. Sixty thousand of Sagar's descendants would be liberated—not resurrected, but spiritually freed—if the Ganges touched them. This is why people go to Gangasagar for the salvation of their ancestors.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bhagirath realized that the methods of his ancestors would not work. He began a deep penance to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was pleased and appeared before him, asking what he desired. Bhagirath asked to bring Mother Ganga to his land because they only had salty seawater. Shiva granted the wish but told him to wait for the right time.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
At that time, Ganga was at the feet of Lord Narayana. Shiva let out a roar for Ganga to descend, but she did not listen at first. After several roars, Narayana told Ganga she must go, as Shiva’s "Tandava" (dance of destruction) could destroy everything if he became too angry.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When Ganga descended, Shiva caught her in his locks. We imagine this as hair, but scientifically, these "locks" represent the glaciers. Ganga struggled to get out, but Shiva set a condition: she must follow Bhagirath to the mortal world. Ganga was reluctant, saying she was pure and did not want to descend to the world of sinners.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Shiva blessed her, saying that those who have committed the gravest sins—killing parents or friends—would be purified by her touch. He called her "Sukhada" (giver of happiness) and "Mokshada" (giver of salvation). Reassured by Shiva's words, Ganga followed Bhagirath, who led the way by blowing a conch shell.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Scientifically, Sagar is considered male and Ganga is female. The place where the female river meets the male sea is called Gangasagar. This confluence is quite dangerous; sailors and steamers often avoid the exact meeting point because of the intense whirlpools and currents.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Historically, the Ganges used to flow through this Rajpur area. About 150-200 years ago, it was a wide river here. Over time, it silted up and receded, eventually becoming small ponds. As the riverbed dried, people from East Bengal and other areas settled here, building houses on what used to be the riverbed.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Evidence of the river's past remains. Large iron chains used for mooring ships have been found here. If you dig deep, you can still find the ancient wood used in shipbuilding, which remains remarkably preserved. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu traveled this path on his way to places like Kultali and Baruipur. The story of Behula and Lakhindur also involves this route; she traveled this way to reach the "Netai Dhopani Ghat."
Devotee:
Gurudev, despite the pollution from factories and the dumping of waste and bodies, will the sanctity of the Ganges remain? There are many government projects now to clean it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Ganges is being dredged now. It has become jammed with silt from Varanasi downwards. There was once a plan to link all the rivers in India, but it seems to have stalled due to a lack of funds. However, dredging is happening in parts.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Large ships can no longer reach the Kolkata docks because the river is too shallow. They have to stop mid-river or at Diamond Harbour to unload goods into smaller vessels.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In the past, the air near the Ganges was considered so healthy - containing ozone - that doctors would recommend TB patients spend time by the river or the sea. That belief has faded now with modern medicine, but the health benefits of the river were once widely recognized.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As the sea pushes inland, the Ganges water is becoming saltier. Plants that typically grow in the saltwater of the Sundarbans are now appearing along the banks of the Ganges. Despite everything, we still call the Ganges and the Godavari "Amritbahini." They will not dry up because of the spiritual power of the sages who remain beneath them.
Devotee:
Friends, you have heard from Gurudev about the Ganges. We all want the Ganges to return to its former glory. The government is taking steps, and if you can contribute to its preservation, you should. We must protect the purity of the river.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is the duty of every human. If the Ganges and Godavari dry up, imagine the consequences. But they are Amritbahini; they will endure because of the sages practicing Trikut Kumbhak. The Ganges will remain holy, no matter how much people try to pollute it.
Devotee:
Just as we need the Ganges, the Ganges needs us to keep it pure. With that, we conclude. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, son. Pranam.