Devotee:
Gurudev, Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, Pranam. Speak.
Devotee:
Your YouTube channel, "Gupta Sadhak Shama Khapa," has completed its first year. During this time, you have discussed many topics, and your viewers have asked several questions. I would like to ask some of those on their behalf today. My first question is: Why do people die?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Death is a mystery. Our body is made of five elements (Pancha Bhoota): earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Among these, the "Bom" (ether/space) is a gaseous substance that resides in our body. The lungs (Phush-phush) are very significant. When the functionality of the lungs decreases and a person can no longer breathe or take in oxygen—sometimes external oxygen is provided—the person moves towards death.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Our entire body runs on air. Just as there is "Prana Vayu" (life breath), there is also "Mrityu Vayu" (death breath). There are five types of air in the body: Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana. All 24 cosmic principles (Tattvas) depend on air. When the air leaves, the person is dead. This gaseous substance, which we call "Bom," leaves the body through various openings: the nose, ears, eyes, mouth, navel, or the lower gates. Death is a great mystery that no one has fully unraveled. No doctor can say exactly where the "battery" that runs us is located. The five elements build the body, and eventually, they consume it, ending with the final air, the "Vyana Vayu," which is the breath of death.
Devotee:
Gurudev, your close disciple, Doctor Babu, is sitting next to you. Doctor, after hearing Gurudev, what is your perspective?
Doctor:
From a medical standpoint, death can be defined in two ways: brain death and heart (organ) death. Sometimes the brain is dead, but the heart is still functioning. In such cases, it is difficult to decide what to do. Death is indeed a great mystery. Despite all our medical knowledge and efforts, we cannot always save a person. It is uncertain when it will come for someone.
Devotee:
Thank you. Gurudev, another question: Which deity did Lord Krishna worship?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He worshipped Ma Durga. His Guru was Lord Shiva, and Ma Durga was his Guru-Ma. Before the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna went to Indra's court and performed to obtain weapons, but Krishna was not satisfied. He told Arjuna those weapons wouldn't be enough. He sent Arjuna to Kailash to perform penance and seek the Pashupat weapon from Lord Shiva. Even then, Krishna insisted that without Ma Durga's blessings, victory in the war was impossible. So, Arjuna worshipped Durga and received her blessings.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Krishna is Narayana himself. It is said that Ma Durga once carried Narayana in her womb; therefore, she is his mother in that sense. Krishna worshipped her with great devotion. He was an "Ati-Manav" (Superman/God), but he still followed the path of devotion to the Mother.
Devotee:
Gurudev, people want to know: In your life of Sadhana, whose grace did you receive first? Bama Baba or Ma Tara?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama Baba. There is no question about it; Ma Tara's grace came much later. Without Bama, she doesn't come. We first had the vision of Bama Baba at the great cremation ground, and much later, we received the Mother's grace. I had to perform Sadhana for both. After Bama Baba, I focused on Ma Tara and attained Siddhi. Bama and Tara have a deep, inseparable connection. What Bama eats, Tara eats, and vice versa.
Devotee:
We know Sri Ramakrishna also worshipped the Mother (Bhavatarini). How would you compare him and Bama Baba?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Their lifestyles were very different. Bama Baba lived in the jungle and the vast cremation grounds of Tarapith. Ramakrishna lived in a palace-like setting in Dakshineshwar under the patronage of Rani Rashmoni. He had many protocols to follow. Bama Baba was a wanderer; he didn't have many requirements for food and lived a very raw life. However, in terms of their "Sadhana" (spiritual practice), both were equal. Their central point was the same. While Ramakrishna had a select circle of disciples, thousands of people from all walks of life went to Bama Baba for his grace and healing.
Devotee:
One last question for now. You previously mentioned that when your sister passed away, you kept your heart strong. However, a viewer commented that when Swami Vivekananda's sister died, he was moved to tears. Why the difference?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is wrong to compare these things for public show. Vivekananda's situation was different; he came from the Dutta family and faced many struggles. He loved his sister dearly. Naturally, one cries when a loved one dies. Whether you show it or not is a different matter. I don't feel the need to show my tears to the world. I have shed many tears in the Mother's temple. But if I break down, then the 70 or 80 people who come to me daily for help will also lose hope. I stay strong for them. As the saying goes, "Who are you, and who is yours? Do not cry, O living being." Tears won't bring back the departed. Those who dwell on it are not truly wise.
Devotee:
That is a fair point. Vivekananda was a great scholar, so his tears might have had a deeper meaning.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Tears come when there is a deep separation. They grew up together, played together. A little emotion is natural. But I don't like public displays of grief.
Devotee:
Gurudev, there are two more questions. Why is a "Red Moon" being seen lately?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
According to the scriptures, a red moon is an omen of bloodshed or high mortality. We have seen the red moon for about three consecutive full moons recently. While scientists might talk about oxides or chemical changes, scripturally, it indicates conflict and loss of life. We are seeing a lot of that happening now.
Devotee:
What is the difference between a "Sadhu" and a "Sannyasi"?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A "Sadhu" is one who follows the eight-fold path (Ashta Marga): right thought, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Anyone who maintains these qualities is a Sadhu.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
"Sannyas," however, is something one must formally take. It involves rituals like shaving the head and performing the Viraja Homa. It is very difficult to take Sannyas while parents are still alive, although Sri Chaitanya and Shankaracharya did it by convincing their mothers. A mother cannot easily bear to see her son become a Sannyasi. It is a very serious path that requires great preparation.
Devotee:
And what is the difference between those who wear saffron (Gherua) and those who wear red?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Saffron is a symbol of sacrifice and renunciation. Red is a symbol of power and energy, but it can also carry ego. One must be egoless to wear saffron. Red can represent "Bhoga" (enjoyment/power), whereas saffron represents "Tyaga" (sacrifice).
Devotee:
Thank you, Gurudev, for answering all these questions so clearly. Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, Pranam.