Devotee:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, tell me.
Devotee:
Gurudev, in just two days, there will be a major event here at our temple. We are filming this episode today, on Sunday. Today, Bamdeb Baba himself has arrived here. While we have always had Bamdeb Baba's picture with our Mother, this experience is something entirely new for us. How do you view Bamdeb Baba's arrival, and what are your feelings about it?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, I go to him every time. I go to Baba and invite him. I hold his feet and ask him to come. Every time there is a puja at my place, I go to him. However, this time I couldn't go. My health was very poor; I was in the hospital and only recently returned. Since I couldn't go to him, it is a miracle that Baba himself has come to me. This is truly amazingāthat Bamdeb Baba came on his own. I have requested him many times before, but this time he understood and came himself.
Devotee:
Gurudev, for the sake of this video, I want to mention that we attempted a live stream a little while ago. You previously mentioned that some things are not meant to reach everyone. We experienced that just now; as you were speaking about certain aspects of Bamdeb Baba, the live stream kept failing. Would you say this is truly Bamdeb Baba's wish?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Absolutely. Nothing happens outside of his wish. I tried many times, but it wouldn't work. Even when I was writing my book on Bamdeb Baba, I faced many hardships. One boy almost lost his life during that time; I had to pray to Baba to save him. It was a massive ordeal.
Devotee:
I have heard similar thingsāthat when people say too much in front of a camera, they often face obstacles if it isn't Baba's wish. Gurudev, one thing people often ask is how to correctly chant Bamdeb Baba's mantra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is: "Om Shri Bhagawate Bamdebaya Maheshwaraya." Baba is Maheshwar (Shiva) himself. Baba is "Shri" himself. So, chanting this is enough: "Om Shri Bhagawate Bamdebaya Maheshwaraya."
Devotee:
Gurudev, the way we perceive Bamdeb Baba through books is one thing, but the way you know him as a Guru is much more personal. Is there any personal experience or "Leela" of Baba that you feel wasn't captured in the books?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
What can I say? Baba's Leela is impossible to fully grasp. He has the power to turn the world upside down. We know his immense power. I have seen it in my own lifeāmajor tasks being completed, debts being clearedāeverything.
Devotee:
You once mentioned an incident at Tarapith, where someone was sleeping in front of the gate where Baba resides...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, Ma Tara was there. A young man was sleeping across the gate. At around 12:30 AM, Baba appeared and kicked him. Baba looked so fierce and terrifying in that moment that the boy screamed in horror. The monkeys and birds nearby all fled in fear. He barely survived, only by Baba's grace. That is Baba's power.
Devotee:
These days, Tarapith is crowded with people. Many go for various reasons, but looking at Tarapith today compared to when you first started your spiritual practice, how do you feel?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Those days are gone. I don't even feel like going there anymore. It has become full of hypocrisy and cheating. People like us wouldn't even find a place to sit there. I don't feel the need to go. Ma is here, and now Baba has come here too. The one I used to go there for is now here.
Devotee:
Gurudev, there are eight forms of Tara (Ashtatara) located in different places. Is it possible to invoke all of them here?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Invoking one Tara is enough to invoke them all. The eight Taras are in different formsāNil Saraswati, Ugratara, and even Ma Durga is a form of her. They are all present. If you call upon one, you have called upon all.
Devotee:
We will end this episode here for today. We will record more in the coming days. As we saw, Bamdeb Baba seemed to limit what we could record today; perhaps he wants to keep this joy private for now. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam.