Devotee:
Gurudev, Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, baba. Pranam.
Devotee:
Gurudev, in this holy land of India, we have seen many great souls and gods take human form for the welfare of humanity and the establishment of religion. In that regard, we have come to know of a great man who remarkably balanced being a celibate (brahmachari) on one hand and a householder (grihi) on the other. That great soul's name is Durgaprasanna Paramhansa Dev. Today, we would like you to enlighten us about him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, first, I offer my respects to him. You see, the Shree Guru Ashram in Naktala, near my house, is where he stayed for many years and built that ashram. Previously, the ashram was in Tollygunge and Polashi. It still exists in those places, but Naktala is the main center. He was born in Rajapur, Barisal. His father, Umacharan Chakravarty, was a great tantric and a devout soul who had attained a vision of the Divine. He was a worshiper of Radhagovinda (Govinda Ji). He prayed to Govinda to be blessed with a son who would bring fame to the world and become a great tantric and brahmachari.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
His father was not a wealthy man. His mother was Chintamani Devi. Later, when he married, his wife's name was Bimala Devi, and they had a daughter named Kashi.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We speak of three great generations in this lineage: Sadhak Bamakhepa, Nigamananda Paramhansa Dev, and then Durgaprasanna Paramhansa Dev. Nigamananda was Durgaprasanna's guru, and Bamakhepa was Nigamananda's guru. This is widely known.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When he was in Rajapur, his father ran a small shop to support the family. Durgaprasanna would sell goods at a higher price, but he provided A-class quality—honest weight and genuine products. His father used to say, "I take a high price, but I give the truth in weight and quality."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As Durgaprasanna grew up, his father wanted him to marry and settle into a household life. He married Bimala Devi. After the marriage, he set out on a spiritual journey across India, visiting Kailash and Mansarovar. He was a yogi. While at Mansarovar, he wouldn't eat anything unless a sadhu offered him some flour mixed with water. He never asked anyone for food.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
After traveling through the Himalayas, he returned to Rajapur. At that time, his guru, Nigamananda, instructed him to perform a yagna (ritual sacrifice) to stop a cholera outbreak that was killing many people in the neighboring village. He obeyed his guru's command and left his wife and daughter to perform the yagna.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When he returned home after the yagna, he found that both his wife and daughter had contracted cholera. His daughter, Kashi, had already passed away. His wife, Bimala Devi, was on her deathbed; she passed away right after he arrived, resting her head on his feet. He was left with no one.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Later, he performed a massive yagna for world peace and human welfare during Durga Puja (on Ashtami) in Rajapur. It was during this yagna that he had a vision of Goddess Durga. She appeared in her ten-armed form and blessed him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are many miracle stories. Once, a disciple who couldn't conceive came to him, and through his blessings, they were able to have children. His name became famous across Rajapur. He taught people to create a "Krishna's household"—one free from envy, malice, or cunning. He wanted every home to be a temple.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
His yagna was unique because it combined Tantric and Vedic rituals. This is a very rare occurrence. After the death of his wife and daughter, he became a full brahmachari. He felt he would not return to this world again, so he went to Brahmakashi in Badrinath to perform the pind daan (funeral rites) for his wife and daughter to ensure their souls attained liberation and wouldn't have to return to this world.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is another story about his disciple, Bibananda. Once, while staying in a dark village at night, Bibananda needed to use the bathroom but was terrified of the darkness. He called out to his Gurudev. Suddenly, the door opened, and Gurudev appeared, and the whole room and the area outside were filled with a divine light. Bibananda saw Gurudev not as a man, but as Lord Shiva himself. Gurudev gave him his kamandalu (water pot) and told him not to be afraid.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He had immense respect for women. He wanted girls to be educated. He even provided scholarships for girls' education. Even after he passed away, his legacy continues, and many girls in South 24 Parganas receive scholarships in his name.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
During the Hindu-Muslim riots in Rajapur, he took his deity, Radhamadhav, and asked, "Where should I go?" It is said the deity spoke to him and told him to go west toward Kolkata. He brought the deity to Kolkata and established it there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He was a Paribrajaka (wandering monk). He believed in finding God while living within a household, though he acknowledged it is difficult due to the complications of worldly life.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Many of his disciples still visit me. One disciple, Narayan Babu in Behala, celebrates Gurudev's birthday every year with great devotion, performing yagnas and rituals. He has a collection of about 70 to 80 Saligram Shilas. I go there every year to perform the yagna. Narayan Babu believes that if I perform the rituals, his Gurudev will be satisfied.
Devotee:
It's wonderful to hear that his disciples still seek you out.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I can't say everything on YouTube as it's already been about 25 minutes, but this is what I know. I ask for forgiveness if I made any mistakes in speaking about such great souls. Compared to Bamakhepa, Nigamananda, and Durgaprasanna, I am just the dust beneath their feet.
Devotee:
We have learned so much today. We offer our respects to Durgaprasanna Paramhansa Dev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Offer your respects to all three: Jai Bamdev, Jai Nigamananda, Jai Paramhansa Dev. And don't mention me; I am nothing compared to them.