Guru Purnima and the Coming of Kalki

Disciple: Pranam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pranam, son. Pranam.

Disciple: Gurudev, in two days it is Guru Purnima. On that special day, disciples serve Gurudev in special ways. Could you tell us what disciples should do on that day?

Gurudev: See, we have 12 Purnimas (Full Moons) in a year. One Purnima is dedicated to the Guru—Guru Purnima. Out of the 12, there is Buddha Purnima and many others, but Guru Purnima is considered the best. Usually, on this day, people come to wash my feet and perform puja (worship), as you have seen.

Disciple: But what should a disciple specifically do on that day?

Gurudev: Listen to what should be done. There is a saying: if God is displeased, the Guru can save you. If any God is angry with you, the Guru can protect you. But if the Guru is displeased, even God does not have the power to save you. Always remember this. If the Guru gets angry once, even the "father of God" cannot save you. Do you understand? Therefore, there is no need to tell disciples what their duty is. Everyone comes, offers water to the feet, gives flowers and bael leaves, offers pranam, and leaves.

Disciple: What kind of food should they eat on that day?

Gurudev: Food doesn't matter at all. I don’t believe in those restrictions. What will people do in places where food isn't available? They will eat whatever they can find. That is the rule. So, I say: eat whatever you get. There is no need to be picky about what to eat or what to bring. Eat whatever is available.

Disciple: Gurudev, I want to ask something for the disciples. I have seen many disciples come to you and, after a few days, ask for Diksha (initiation). Later, you find out they already had another Guru and they hid the fact.

Gurudev: I always ask them, "Did you have a Guru before?" If they say yes, I don't give them Diksha. One shouldn't change Gurus repeatedly. Even if the previous Guru has passed away, the Guru never truly dies. A Guru lives on. It is possible that some might be "thief Gurus" or "dacoit Gurus" who don't know anything, but I don't want to get into that controversy. I only say that once you have accepted and welcomed someone as your Guru in your heart, you cannot deny it later. When you take Diksha, you take an oath. Once that is done, I don't give initiation again. A few people have mistakenly taken Diksha twice from me by hiding the truth, and they later suffer for it. They eventually come back to apologize, saying they hid the truth about their previous Guru.

Disciple: In such a case, which Guru should they go to on Guru Purnima?

Gurudev: That is their personal matter. I don't "sell" God. I don't care who comes or goes.

Disciple: Please don't compare yourself to others, Gurudev. I am just saying that many have taken initiation, and as you said, a Guru might be a "thief" or "dacoit" or lack knowledge, but since they gave initiation, they are the Guru.

Gurudev: Absolutely. One should remember them. I repeat: if the Gods are displeased with you, the Guru can save you. Even if Mahadev, Krishna, Narayan, or Brahma are angry, the Guru can save you. But if the Guru is displeased, the three Gods—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar—cannot save you. Now think about what a Guru is. A Guru is far above Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar. One must choose a Guru carefully after much thought. People often come later and say, "I don't like him, he knows nothing." Then why did you take initiation from him? That is an insult to the Guru. It's all a matter of fate.

Disciple: Gurudev, there are thousands of disciples who are far away and cannot reach you. How should they observe this day?

Gurudev: I have disciples in Malaysia, Kerala—all over. They called me yesterday from Malaysia asking what to do for Guru Purnima. I told them: just remember the Guru. That is enough. The Guru doesn't need your food or clothes. The Guru isn't waiting for you so he can eat. A true Guru doesn't sell God to survive. Whatever you do, have faith in the Guru. You don't need to show off how much devotion you have. Guru-bhakti is an internal matter of the heart.

Gurudev: Some people just show off. We say, "Worship God, don't worship people." You should worship God yourself, but don't try to "worship" others by showing off. People are committing sins one after another, and God is punishing them for it. People think they can get away with anything, but the Guru sees everything. He is Trikaldarshi (one who sees the past, present, and future). He is in the sky, on the earth, and in the world. He sees the whole world from where he sits. You only see as far as the trees in front of you. You don't have the "third eye" or the vision to see far. But we see everything happening in the world. We cannot say everything, but it hurts to see. God's creation is being destroyed by God himself. No one wants destruction, but people are doing such sinful things.

Gurudev: The lifespan of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years. But it is ending after only 5,000 years. Why? Because of sins—theft, deception, even incest. These sins have shortened the age of this era. If you kill a cow, or your parents—and these things are happening—the sins accumulate. It is calculated that 427,000 years have been "spent" because of the intensity of sin. This is the result of sin. Kali Yuga is ending early, and a new era will begin.

Gurudev: The Mahabharata war was never fully completed. One day of the war is still left. Many don't know this. Seventeen days were fought, and one day remains. These warriors will participate again. Kalki is coming with seven immortals, including Ashwatthama, Vibhishana, Kripacharya, and others. Parashurama has already been born. He will teach Kalki the art of warfare. Others like Ekalavya and Abhimanyu, who couldn't complete their roles in the previous war, will show their valor now alongside Kalki. It will be terrifying. Millions died in the 18-day war of the past, and it will happen again.

Gurudev: The countries that looted us will see their wealth returned sevenfold to India. You will see this; it’s only a matter of a few years. By 2029 or 2030, this era will end, and Satya Yuga will begin. There is so much sin and misconduct now. Adultery, sins against the Guru—every sin reduces the lifespan of the era.

Gurudev: Terrifying things are coming: massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and fire. Atomic bombs are now thousands of times more powerful than the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A single explosion could deplete the oxygen in the air. This is more terrifying than death itself. We have to witness this. Famines, epidemics—people won't have food. The earth will crack for lack of water. Look at the prices now: chilies are 400 rupees, tomatoes are 120 rupees. People will die of hunger.

Disciple: Gurudev, on behalf of your disciples, we request you to stay healthy. Don't do anything that makes you ill.

Gurudev: Many people come to me, even from Patna, seeking help. I have to perform my duties. They look to me to make them well. I am always occupied with these tasks. I take on the sins and sufferings of others, which is why my health suffers. You wouldn't believe the level of sin out there—killing parents, sending them to old age homes... these are the worst sins.

Gurudev: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to say that serving the Guru leads to heaven. The Guru should stay in his place, and the disciple's job is to remember him and keep him in their soul. If you cannot reach your Guru, feed a poor person in the Guru's name. That is a great deed. If you have the means, give food to the needy.

Gurudev: Here, we provide food for everyone who comes. We serve luchi, curry, and sweets. People come to worship, and we have jagya (sacrificial fire) and rituals. Tomorrow and the day after will be very busy.

Gurudev: I hate the idea of selling God or exploiting disciples. I have never wanted my disciples to suffer. My Guru was the world-famous Bamdev Baba. Because of him, I am known. Devotion is the only way. Stay on the path of Bhakti (devotion).

Disciple: Joy Guru. Pranam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pranam, son. Pranam.

Spiritual Insight

Guru Shyama Khyapa Baba discusses the profound significance of Guru Purnima, the sacred bond between Guru and disciple, and the terrifying prophecies of the coming Kalki Avatar as Kali Yuga ends early due to the intensity of human sin.