Answering Fans' Questions: Homa, Purity, and Spirituality vs. Science

NARRATOR: (Ritualistic music and chanting of the Gayatri Mantra: “Om bhur bhuvah svah, tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo nah prachodayat”)

REPORTER: Pranam, Gurudev.

GURUDEV: Pranam, my son.

REPORTER: We see that Homa (fire ritual) is performed daily here in your temple. Today, a special Homa has been organized. Could you tell us a bit about this?

GURUDEV: Well, the Homa is performed every day for world peace and human welfare. We perform Homa daily; however, sometimes special Homas are showcased. My disciples often suggest that we upload videos of the larger rituals to YouTube, so we do that. Otherwise, there is no need to show the daily rituals.

REPORTER: I see that one of your most devoted disciples is sitting beside you. Sir, would you like to say something?

GURUDEV: First, let me introduce him. Many people know him; he is Biswaroop Bhattacharya, the President of our Shantikunj. He knows everything. He comes here every day. Yes, go ahead and say something.

BISWAROOP BHATTACHARYA: Many people from all over West Bengal, India, and even from abroad come to Gurudev with various problems. Gurudev always tells them one thing: “Whatever you have to say, say it to the Mother (Goddess).” I have personally realized that he has a ‘hotline,’ a direct connection with the Mother. He presents the problems of his devotees to the Mother to find solutions. I have witnessed many miracles—unbelievable events—after which people returned with smiles on their faces to thank Gurudev. But he tells them, “Don’t thank me; thank the One you spoke to before.” This man is a supreme seeker. Seekers first try to know themselves, and then they understand their relationship with God and dedicate themselves to human service. You can see how simply he lives, yet how extraordinary he is. Today, in this Homa for world peace, prominent people like meteorologist Dr. Sujit Kar and frontline Covid warrior Dr. Neelanjan Bhattacharya are participating. Many such distinguished individuals come to the Mother through Gurudev to pray for the welfare of humanity.

GURUDEV: Civilizations are changing, and people are becoming helpless. A ‘biological war’ seems to be ongoing. People are crying out just to survive. Human character is changing, and selfishness is increasing. That is why we constantly pray at Shantikunj. Even when the Covid situation was at its peak, Gurudev never stopped his prayers for a single day, despite his age and physical illness.

REPORTER: Gurudev, I want to discuss a specific topic with you. Some people comment on social media asking why some participants perform Homa while wearing shirts and trousers. Do you have anything to say about that?

GURUDEV: Look, we are Tantrics. We believe in the mantra: “Apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato'pi va, yah smaret pundarikaksham sa bahyabhyantarah shuchih.” (Whether pure or impure, or in any state, one who remembers the Lotus-Eyed Lord becomes pure both internally and externally). Clothing is just an outer covering. People get distracted by it, but the internal state is what matters. In South India or Mecca, there are rules about unstitched cloth, but we don't follow those same restrictions. We call the Mother while wearing shirts and trousers. Some say you can’t use anything but wood from the Bael tree. But what do you need more—the Bael wood or the fire? We need the fire and the mantra to submit ourselves to the Mother. This debate about clothing shows a lack of knowledge. I have seen many ‘Sahibs’ (Westerners) meditating in caves along the Narmada River while wearing trousers, and they attained visions of the Mother. People are moving away from God by focusing on these trivial things like what to wear or not wear.

BISWAROOP BHATTACHARYA: I believe purity (shuchita) is related to spiritual practice, but purity is mental and physical, not about the clothes. One’s submission must come from the heart.

GURUDEV: Exactly. What do clothes have to do with the mind? Some people are just busy criticizing others. We go everywhere and perform rituals in this attire. Fire is the essential element. People get stuck on whether the ‘egg came first or the chicken,’ or ‘the rasgulla or the syrup.’ It’s tragic that people haven't reached a deeper understanding yet. In South India or Mecca, they have their rules, but we have our own.

NARRATOR: (Chanting continues: “Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche... Om Jaianti Mangala Kali Bhadrakali Kapalini... Om Namah Shivaya...”)

REPORTER: Bhattacharya sir, you introduced a meteorologist and a doctor earlier. They are men of science. Why are scientists drawn to this spiritual Homa?

BISWAROOP BHATTACHARYA: As it is written here at Shantikunj: “Science will seek the shelter of Spirituality, but Spirituality will never seek Science.” Science is a specific viewpoint based on certain data. But science has limits. For instance, when Covid first hit, science had no information on how to handle it. We must continue our research, but we also must call upon the Supreme Power for a remedy. Spirituality is actually a higher form of science. High-level seekers consider spirituality to be the ultimate science.

REPORTER: Gurudev, why do you look so joyful during the Homa?

GURUDEV: This is a Vedic ritual. Fire is Jatavedas (the knower of all births). Through fire, much can be achieved. In ancient times, sages always lit fires. Even today, fire is required for marriages and sacred thread ceremonies. Fire and the Sun are interconnected—fire has ten attributes and the Sun has twelve. A person who is complete in all sixteen kalas (attributes) cannot be burnt by fire or drowned by water. Spirituality is that advanced. I have students here training in Tantra. I told them you can't just jump into it; you must observe the rituals first. Tantra training takes a long time—at least 12 years—to reach maturity. If a Tantric ritual goes slightly wrong, it can even lead to death. Nowadays, some ‘Gurus’ give their disciples titles after only three days of training. That is not right. It takes years of practice under a Guru’s watchful eye to ensure no mistakes are made in the mantras.

BISWAROOP BHATTACHARYA: I have noticed that during and after the Homa, the Mother’s face takes on a wonderful glow of peace.

GURUDEV: Everyone notices that. The Homa makes the Mother joyful. You might not believe it, but during intense Homas, I have even seen sweat on the idol’s face. When the heat is too much, I tell them to lower the flame because the Mother is ‘perspiring.’ These are things you realize over time.

REPORTER: Gurudev, thank you for the message you’ve given the people today. Please bless us all.

GURUDEV: I bless everyone. “Sarva Mangala Mangalye, Shive Sarvartha Sadhike.” We perform this Homa for the welfare of the entire world, not for any individual. We call upon all the sages and celestial spheres.

REPORTER: Pranam, Gurudev.

GURUDEV: Bless you, my son.

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