The Eternal Call of Narmada: Searching for Siddhas in Kali Yuga

Devotee: Pranam, Gurudev. Pranam, Maharaj. Our Maharaj has returned here after two years, Gurudev. If you could tell us a bit about your experiences...

Guru Shyama Khyapa: It is a great thing that you remembered me. I have been traveling across the country and abroad—yesterday in Kamakhya, today in Rishikesh, the day after in Benares. I’ve visited many places, but the thirst isn’t quenched. I told him, "Go to the banks of the Narmada, to Ma Reva." There, you will find many great saints. You might not be able to reach them on your own, but if they take you, you will get there. There are many supernatural saints there who may not give you initiation, but they will show you the way. He has been searching; he said he visited Kamakhya, Haridwar, Rishikesh...

Traveling Maharaj: I have covered almost all of South India—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. I visited all four states. There, I met someone very special, Swami Shantananda Tirtha. He belongs to the Tirtha sect and has had the Darshan (divine vision) of Shirdi Sai Baba. He is a follower of Trinath and Dattatreya Muni.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: You will find Dattatreya near Ma Reva (Narmada) as well. He is there. You can have his Darshan there. If you try, you can have the Darshan of the Mother at Narmada. It is such a place. I have traveled everywhere and finally reached Narmada and had the Mother’s Darshan. There’s no point in lying; I received her Darshan. I want to spend the rest of my life near Ma Reva. I am preparing to return to Narmada. I have performed penance there; everything is done. But now, the pull is only toward that place. It’s the best place. If you can, go to the banks of the Narmada.

Traveling Maharaj: I would request that whenever you go, please leave an address.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Listen, there is a doctor there, he has a house. He asked me to come over. His house is very close to the Narmada. He has a car and can drop me off. My formal "Sadhana" (disciplined practice) is over; I don't have much left to do. Now, I am only occupied with Kriya Yoga. I have left behind traditional rituals and worship. Sometimes, I feel God gets annoyed with too much ritualism. But Kriya Yoga feels very good to me; I am always immersed in it. After doing so much, I realized Kriya Yoga is the best. And as for the place, the banks of the Narmada are the best. You will have a vision of God there.

Traveling Maharaj: You will see saints who are like God themselves. I am telling you what I have seen. Dattatreya is there in the "Mother’s Garden." I met a saint there who told me, "A person like you has come; just sit on a stone under any tree, and you will have the Mother’s Darshan." It was extraordinary. I sat there as he instructed, and in about half an hour, I had the vision. I realized the Mother still wanders there in the mornings and evenings. That place is not yet spoiled. You will also find Bhrigu Kund and the Saptarishis (Seven Sages).

Guru Shyama Khyapa: These seven rishis haven’t died; they are still alive. They wander in various places. Hanumanji is there, Kripacharya is there, Ashwatthama is there—many are still alive. You might encounter them. They are spiritually thirsty and elevated. Many from the Mahabharata era, like Ashwatthama and Kripacharya, are still here. King Bali is there. They will remain until the end of this Kalpa (eon).

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Now, Kaliyuga is ending. According to the scriptures, Kaliyuga is over, and Satyayuga has begun. There will be a struggle between truth and falsehood. Swami Vivekananda said—and you know this—that a "mighty Shudra Yuga" (age of the common people/workers) is coming. I don’t know why he used the word "mighty," but it is coming. The "Shudras" will now rise. The Brahmin will lose his "Brahmin-hood." This is mentioned in the Bhagavat as well.

Traveling Maharaj: "Shudra" doesn't just mean by birth; there are Shudras by temperament too. It’s the influence of the Tamo Guna (quality of darkness/ignorance) where falsehood prevails over truth. We see this in society every day. If you speak the truth, you become everyone's enemy; if you lie, you are liked.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Why should we lie? Truth will be revealed sooner or later. Since Satyayuga has started, falsehood will end. We don’t want to engage in deceit. What we know, what we have read, and what great men have said—based on that, there is no need for falsehood. You are a Maharaj; you will be respected everywhere. But tell me, after all this traveling, have you found anything?

Traveling Maharaj: To be honest, I haven't found anyone who can "give something in hand" (direct realization). I have traveled to the North, East, South, and West of India over the last two years. Only Kashmir is left. Otherwise, I’ve been to Arunachal, Assam, Bengal...

Guru Shyama Khyapa: You won't find much in Kashmir except Vaishno Devi. Pilgrimage sites are everywhere, I admit, but I haven't found a "Siddha" (perfected saint) who can give clear direction to people. I haven't found a clear answer to the questions I carry.

Traveling Maharaj: It’s not easy to find. No one will tell you easily. In Gyan Ganj, saints are doing a specific Kriya—they want to see what is inside the sun, what it is made of. The great Mahatmas there, some 2,000 or 3,000 years old, are observing the sun. We say the sun is the soul. They are investigating why the sun sustains humans and plants. NASA has sent a probe to the sun, but the analytical power of a machine isn’t as advanced as human consciousness. A machine only analyzes elements and density. Our saints are trying to reach the "Sun-world" and understand the sun's power.

Traveling Maharaj: I have heard from Surya Dev Maharaj about "Surya Yoga." He spoke about an event involving Babaji Maharaj. It is said that in the near future, the world will face a great disaster, and only solar energy will protect those who survive.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: We have been saying this repeatedly—a crisis is coming that will be hard to survive unless the gods intervene. But the gods have left this earth. There are no great saints left. You won't get good advice from anyone anymore. I have traveled everywhere and finally sat down here. You won't find it easily, Maharaj.

Traveling Maharaj: But we must keep searching. You don't know which stone hides the Lord (Narayan). As Kabir Das said, "Jinn Khoja Tin Paiya" (He who seeks, finds). I haven't stopped searching.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Keep searching. You’ve been searching for two years? I’ve been searching for 25-30 years and I’m still at it! You are young; you have plenty of time. You will definitely find it.

Traveling Maharaj: I started searching after meeting Lakshman-guruji. I’ve met some good people. My experience is that every temple has a different vibration—be it Tirupati, Meenakshi, or others.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: One thing that feels very bad, Maharaj, is the influence of money. If I have to pay to see God, I won't. I won't look at the face of such a God.

Traveling Maharaj: To this day, I haven't bought a VIP ticket in any temple. In Kamakhya, there’s a 501-rupee ticket; in Tirupati, there are tickets. If you pay, you get a faster Darshan. I haven't done it once.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: People want to buy God with money. They don't have time to sit with Him for five or ten days. They just pay, look, and leave. What will they get? Can anything be gained without Sadhana? They just take a couple of photos and leave. Now, even cameras are often banned.

Traveling Maharaj: True consciousness is realizing that you don't need money to see God. God reveals Himself. Until people realize this, nothing will happen. Money is the root of all evil, and we don't want to see God through money. If we don't see Him in this life, maybe the next. You can see an idol with money, but God won't manifest that way.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: That’s why we say, "Don't give a single penny in this temple." See God, take what you need from Him. When you go to God, say, "Mother, I have come as a beggar; give me alms." No one says that anymore. People show their ego and wealth to God. That won't work. I am a beggar, and I’ve come for alms—that is the attitude one should have.

Traveling Maharaj: People have wealth, muscle power, and the support of priests (Pandas). They think they’ve achieved something by catching a glimpse of the deity. They’ve achieved nothing. I’ve seen it all and decided to just sit here and pray for the well-being of people. People are helpless and confused about where to go for peace.

Traveling Maharaj: The world needs "humanity." But where are the "humans"? There are a few in Gyan Ganj, but you won't get their Darshan easily. We don't have the merit (Punya) of previous births to meet such people. Still, I hope someone will appear. There is a sage there, thousands of years old, and Babaji Maharaj is there. Even Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is said to be in such a place where one can find peace.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: It’s good. We also like to talk to people like you about God. Let me tell you a funny story. Umananda Bhairav is the Bhairav of Kamakhya. I went to the Umananda temple. There are two small temples nearby. I was sitting and chanting the name of the Lord. Suddenly, a priest started shouting, "Don't talk! Don't talk loudly!" I said, "I’m sitting quietly, I’m not talking." Then he said, "Don't talk, there is a Naga Devta (snake god) here!" I thought, "Well, there must be a snake in a Shiva temple." Then he started shouting, "It’s a live snake! Be careful!"

Guru Shyama Khyapa: It turns out a snake was wrapped around the Shiva idol. The priest was in tension, thinking it might bite. He was jumping around. He had no faith in God. After a while, I decided not to disturb him and got up to leave. He then brought a donation plate and kept it at the gate. Everyone started shouting, "Naga Devta has come!" Everyone was bowing and putting money in the plate. The priest just wanted to get me out so he could set up the donation box! People had no interest in Shiva; they only wanted to see the "live snake."

Traveling Maharaj: We love the extraordinary so much that we ignore the divine. I’ve seen snakes in many Shiva temples; they never harm anyone. But priests use them to scare people into giving money.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Saints and snakes are similar—neither stays in one place for long. That is the rule. Supernaturals exist, Maharaj, but we don't always have the capacity to understand them. Vibration exists where God is. And I believe that without a "Sadhak" (seeker/practitioner), God doesn't manifest. It is the seeker who keeps God "awake." The Veda says, "Stay awake; if you sleep, the world sleeps, the gods sleep." Seekers are told they have no right to sleep.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, you have time. Go to Narmada. In Madhya Pradesh, there are many great saints, all devotees of Shiva. You will see many supernatural things there. They have a certain Yogic power. I’ve even seen them clap their hands and have food appear. There are many mysteries near the Amarkantak road.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: What is there to say? It’s all about the vision of God. At Bhrigu Kund, there is water on a high mountain. There’s a stone with water in it. Not everyone finds it. A Maharaj from Bharat Sevashram told me to first pray to Sage Bhrigu and then put my hand in the hole to find water. And I saw the water sparkling inside the stone. Legend says when Sage Bhrigu was meditating there, he asked the Mother for water. She told him, "I will enter your Kamandalu (water pot)." After his penance, the pot turned into stone, and that is where the water comes from.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: May you be blessed. You are in your youth, not old yet. You have time. You will surely find what you are looking for.

Devotee: Friends, you heard this beautiful discussion. We were mesmerized and listened in pin-drop silence. Gurudev, thank you for including us. Maharaj, thank you as well. Pranam, Gurudev. Pranam, Maharaj.

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