Gurudev Answers Questions Selected by Devotees

Devotee: Greetings, Gurudev.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Greetings, child. Come in, come in.

Devotee: Today, I have brought some comments and questions from devotees on YouTube. I have written them down to ask you.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, go ahead.

Devotee: One devotee asks, What is your opinion? Can God be seen? What do you think?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Look, of course, God can be seen. But one must keep oneself pure—very pure. The mind must be kept clean and elevated to a high level. There is no reason why one shouldn't find Him. Some people ask me if a substance like God truly exists. I tell them, yes, He exists. There is a matter of perception and feeling. If you are fortunate, you can have a vision of God. It is not an impossible thing.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Look, when the great Trailanga Swami was asked if God exists, he looked at the sky and asked, God, are you there? The reply came, No, I am not. People said, See? God doesn't exist. Then another group of people came and asked the same question. He looked at the sky again and God replied, Yes, I am here. They said, See? He is here.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: So, this presence or absence depends on your own heart's belief. It is not something determined by others. If your personal belief is strong—that a presence called God exists—then a vision of God is definitely possible. However, you won't see God in a way where He is literally feeding you by hand; it's a different kind of feeling, a vibration. It can happen in a dream, while awake, or while sleeping. If your Third Eye is not open, you won't recognize Him even if He stands before you. He usually comes in human form; He doesn't come dressed up in the way you see in pictures. If your Third Eye is open, you will find Him. There is no doubt about it. You must open that eye, my child.

Devotee: Many people perform Panchanana Puja when they are unable to have children. Could you speak a little about that?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Many people who have trouble conceiving come to us. At least twenty children have been born through our assistance. We perform rituals through Homa (sacred fire). This was the Vedic method in ancient times—obtaining children through the power of the sacrificial fire. We have followed this path. As I said, at least twenty children have been born, and many more people are waiting. The ritual must be performed with the correct procedure.

Devotee: Yes, I know. Someone called you yesterday from Bangalore to say they had a son.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, you heard that. He sat by the sacred fire for an hour and offered ghee. I told him to offer ghee, and he did. Now he has a child. He said he wants to come and visit me, but I told him, There is no need to visit me; go and show the child to the Mother Goddess first. This is God's grace and the result of Vedic traditions. These days, these traditions have faded, and everything has become Tantric. Very few follow the Vedic path. Through these ancient methods, major illnesses are cured, and children are born. But it must be done selflessly. If someone says, Give me this much money and I will give you a child, that will not work. It must be done without greed. If someone performs the work selflessly, it succeeds.

Devotee: For those who have not taken initiation (Diksha) or are not Brahmins, can they chant mantras or pray to God?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Look, just as you need a teacher to study in school, you need a Guru to enter the realm of God. You cannot do it without a Guru. Just as you have teachers for education, you need a Guru for spiritual initiation. You must have a Guru to truly know God. If anyone says otherwise, they are lying. According to our Vedic scriptures and the Puranas, the Guru tradition is essential.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Someone once asked me, What is a Guru? Just worship Jesus. I asked him, Is there no one else in the world but Jesus? I told him, I don't know if there are three fools like you in this world. Don't you have a father? Your father is your first Guru. Why don't you speak of him? He was a total fool.

Devotee: In the era of the Mahabharata, there is a saying that Krishna went to the Mahakal temple in Ujjain. Did he really go there?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Absolutely. There is no doubt. When he went to Dwarka after the war, he saw that the sea had swallowed the place where he intended to build his home. You know, the Mahakal temple sometimes gets submerged even now. It is on the coast of the Arabian Sea. There are no large waves, but there are tides. Sometimes the temple is submerged, and then it rises again.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: When Krishna went to Dwarka, he saw the land was underwater. He called upon the Sea God and asked him to move back so he could build the city of Dwarka and bring the Gopis there. Following Krishna's command, the sea receded, and Dwarka was established. Krishna's Guru is Lord Mahadeva (Shiva) himself. He had to go to his Guru. Mahadeva's favorite name is the name of Rama. First the Guru, then the disciple; then the disciple becomes the Guru. This is the eternal tradition.

Devotee: One devotee asked if you could say something about the Shatabhisha Nakshatra (constellation).

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Shatabhisha is a star. We often talk about dates and times, but the stars are the essence. Every star is associated with a planet. The combination of planets and stars is very important. Sometimes a star is anti or opposed to a planet, and that is when a person suffers. This is what we call Astronomy or Astrology. You have to match them. If the star you were born under is opposed to the ruling planet, there will be trouble. If the star is favorable to the planet, it is good for you. Stars cause the harm. That is why it is said, Forget the date and time; the star is the essence. Align your stars, and you need nothing else.

Devotee: This is a very good question that many people have: when we go to a priest, the first thing he asks is, What is your Gotra (lineage)? Why is it so important to give our Gotra name?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: It is DNA. Plain and simple, it is DNA. Your father's blood flows in your body. Science accepts DNA; it proves your parentage. If a different DNA is found, then that person is not the father. Gotra refers to the lineages of the many great sages (Rishis) born in India. We carry the blood of these sages in our veins.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: When a marriage is arranged, the Gotra is checked. For women, there is a Gotrantar (change of lineage), where they move from their father's Gotra to their husband's. This is all about DNA. If people of the same Gotra—meaning the same bloodline—marry, the marriage often fails, or they struggle to have children. Identical DNA cannot successfully reproduce with itself; it must be different. That is why the Gotra must be changed.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: In Alipore Zoo, there were white tigers. As they continued to breed within the same family (same DNA), their color started fading and their behavior changed. They had to bring a white tiger from Africa to mix the bloodlines, and those cubs were healthy. So, DNA or Gotra is a major factor. Each of us carries the blood of a specific Rishi. If you read the scriptures on lineage, you will understand.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Nowadays, people marry without checking Gotra or blood compatibility. This is why we see children born with heart defects or other issues. We Brahmins insist on checking the Gotra. Today, out of every 100 people who come to see me, 90 are divorced. This lack of lineage matching is the reason.

Devotee: A final question for today: a devotee asks about the Mahatara Kavach and the Mahamrityunjaya Kavach (protective amulets).

Guru Shyama Khyapa: We generally do not give the Mahamrityunjaya Kavach unless we are certain someone is on the verge of death. We suggest that people listen to the Mahamrityunjaya mantra every day; that alone does a lot of work and an amulet isn't necessary.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Furthermore, making a Mahamrityunjaya amulet is very difficult. There are strict rules about diet and timing. It can only be made on perhaps two specific days in an entire year. If you make it whenever you want, it won't work. We have received Siddhi (spiritual power) from the Mother Goddess, so we can make them when needed, but those without such power produce ineffective ones. Reciting the mantra is just as beneficial.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: The Tara Kavach is different. It helps improve a person's financial condition or assists if Jupiter is poorly placed in their birth chart. But Mrityunjaya is serious. It is only for those facing death. We have given it to very important people who are now doing well. But it is hard to maintain because of the dietary restrictions. Today, people eat anything and go anywhere; the Mrityunjaya is not for them. It would actually cause harm.

Devotee: Thank you, Gurudev. This was wonderful. I offer my deepest respects. The more we ask, the more we want to learn; you are an ocean of knowledge.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Remember one thing: Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah—may everyone in the world be happy. This is what you should pray for. This is from the Vedas: May all be happy, may all be free from disease, may all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer. I pray that I never see anyone's harm in my lifetime and that I can always cooperate with others. This is what the Upanishads teach. You can offer this prayer to the Mother at any time.

Devotee: I have no more words. I bow to you and the Mother Goddess. Stay well, everyone.

Greetings, child. Come in, come in.

Interviewer: Today, I have brought some comments and questions from devotees on YouTube. I have written them down to ask you.

Gurudev: Yes, go ahead.

Interviewer: One devotee asks, "What is your opinion? Can God be seen? What do you think?"

Gurudev: Look, of course, God can be seen. But one must keep oneself pure—very pure. The mind must be kept clean and elevated to a high level. There is no reason why one shouldn't find Him. Some people ask me if a "substance" like God truly exists. I tell them, yes, He exists. There is a matter of perception and feeling. If you are fortunate, you can have a vision of God. It is not an impossible thing.

Look, when the great Trailanga Swami was asked if God exists, he looked at the sky and asked, "God, are you there?" The reply came, "No, I am not." People said, "See? God doesn't exist." Then another group of people came and asked the same question. He looked at the sky again and God replied, "Yes, I am here." They said, "See? He is here."

So, this presence or absence depends on your own heart's belief. It is not something determined by others. If your personal belief is strong—that a presence called God exists—then a vision of God is definitely possible. However, you won't see God in a way where He is literally feeding you by hand; it's a different kind of feeling, a vibration. It can happen in a dream, while awake, or while sleeping. If your "Third Eye" is not open, you won't recognize Him even if He stands before you. He usually comes in human form; He doesn't come dressed up in the way you see in pictures. If your Third Eye is open, you will find Him. There is no doubt about it. You must open that eye, my child.

Interviewer: Many people perform Panchanana Puja when they are unable to have children. Could you speak a little about that?

Gurudev: Many people who have trouble conceiving come to us. At least twenty children have been born through our assistance. We perform rituals through Homa (sacred fire). This was the Vedic method in ancient times—obtaining children through the power of the sacrificial fire. We have followed this path. As I said, at least twenty children have been born, and many more people are waiting. The ritual must be performed with the correct procedure.

Interviewer: Yes, I know. Someone called you yesterday from Bangalore to say they had a son.

Gurudev: Yes, you heard that. He sat by the sacred fire for an hour and offered ghee. I told him to offer ghee, and he did. Now he has a child. He said he wants to come and visit me, but I told him, "There is no need to visit me; go and show the child to the Mother Goddess first." This is God's grace and the result of Vedic traditions. These days, these traditions have faded, and everything has become Tantric. Very few follow the Vedic path. Through these ancient methods, major illnesses are cured, and children are born. But it must be done selflessly. If someone says, "Give me this much money and I will give you a child," that will not work. It must be done without greed. If someone performs the work selflessly, it succeeds.

Interviewer: For those who have not taken initiation (Diksha) or are not Brahmins, can they chant mantras or pray to God?

Gurudev: Look, just as you need a teacher to study in school, you need a Guru to enter the realm of God. You cannot do it without a Guru. Just as you have teachers for education, you need a Guru for spiritual initiation. You must have a Guru to truly know God. If anyone says otherwise, they are lying. According to our Vedic scriptures and the Puranas, the Guru tradition is essential.

Someone once asked me, "What is a Guru? Just worship Jesus." I asked him, "Is there no one else in the world but Jesus?" I told him, "I don't know if there are three fools like you in this world. Don't you have a father? Your father is your first Guru. Why don't you speak of him?" He was a total fool.

Interviewer: In the era of the Mahabharata, there is a saying that Krishna went to the Mahakal temple in Ujjain. Did he really go there?

Gurudev: Absolutely. There is no doubt. When he went to Dwarka after the war, he saw that the sea had swallowed the place where he intended to build his home. You know, the Mahakal temple sometimes gets submerged even now. It is on the coast of the Arabian Sea. There are no large waves, but there are tides. Sometimes the temple is submerged, and then it rises again.

When Krishna went to Dwarka, he saw the land was underwater. He called upon the Sea God and asked him to move back so he could build the city of Dwarka and bring the Gopis there. Following Krishna's command, the sea receded, and Dwarka was established. Krishna's Guru is Lord Mahadeva (Shiva) himself. He had to go to his Guru. Mahadeva's favorite name is the name of Rama. First the Guru, then the disciple; then the disciple becomes the Guru. This is the eternal tradition.

Interviewer: One devotee asked if you could say something about the Shatabhisha Nakshatra (constellation).

Gurudev: Shatabhisha is a star. We often talk about dates and times, but the stars are the essence. Every star is associated with a planet. The combination of planets and stars is very important. Sometimes a star is "anti" or opposed to a planet, and that is when a person suffers. This is what we call Astronomy or Astrology. You have to match them. If the star you were born under is opposed to the ruling planet, there will be trouble. If the star is favorable to the planet, it is good for you. Stars cause the harm. That is why it is said, "Forget the date and time; the star is the essence." Align your stars, and you need nothing else.

Interviewer: This is a very good question that many people have: when we go to a priest, the first thing he asks is, "What is your Gotra (lineage)?" Why is it so important to give our Gotra name?

Gurudev: It is DNA. Plain and simple, it is DNA. Your father's blood flows in your body. Science accepts DNA; it proves your parentage. If a different DNA is found, then that person is not the father. Gotra refers to the lineages of the many great sages (Rishis) born in India. We carry the blood of these sages in our veins.

When a marriage is arranged, the Gotra is checked. For women, there is a "Gotrantar" (change of lineage), where they move from their father's Gotra to their husband's. This is all about DNA. If people of the same Gotra—meaning the same bloodline—marry, the marriage often fails, or they struggle to have children. Identical DNA cannot successfully reproduce with itself; it must be different. That is why the Gotra must be changed.

In Alipore Zoo, there were white tigers. As they continued to breed within the same family (same DNA), their color started fading and their behavior changed. They had to bring a white tiger from Africa to mix the bloodlines, and those cubs were healthy. So, DNA or Gotra is a major factor. Each of us carries the blood of a specific Rishi. If you read the scriptures on lineage, you will understand.

Nowadays, people marry without checking Gotra or blood compatibility. This is why we see children born with heart defects or other issues. We Brahmins insist on checking the Gotra. Today, out of every 100 people who come to see me, 90 are divorced. This lack of lineage matching is the reason.

Interviewer: A final question for today: a devotee asks about the Mahatara Kavach and the Mahamrityunjaya Kavach (protective amulets).

Gurudev: We generally do not give the Mahamrityunjaya Kavach unless we are certain someone is on the verge of death. We suggest that people listen to the Mahamrityunjaya mantra every day; that alone does a lot of work and an amulet isn't necessary.

Furthermore, making a Mahamrityunjaya amulet is very difficult. There are strict rules about diet and timing. It can only be made on perhaps two specific days in an entire year. If you make it whenever you want, it won't work. We have received Siddhi (spiritual power) from the Mother Goddess, so we can make them when needed, but those without such power produce ineffective ones. Reciting the mantra is just as beneficial.

The Tara Kavach is different. It helps improve a person's financial condition or assists if Jupiter is poorly placed in their birth chart. But Mrityunjaya is serious. It is only for those facing death. We have given it to very important people who are now doing well. But it is hard to maintain because of the dietary restrictions. Today, people eat anything and go anywhere; the Mrityunjaya is not for them. It would actually cause harm.

Interviewer: Thank you, Gurudev. This was wonderful. I offer my deepest respects. The more we ask, the more we want to learn; you are an ocean of knowledge.

Gurudev: Remember one thing: Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah—may everyone in the world be happy. This is what you should pray for. This is from the Vedas: "May all be happy, may all be free from disease, may all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer." I pray that I never see anyone's harm in my lifetime and that I can always cooperate with others. This is what the Upanishads teach. You can offer this prayer to the Mother at any time.

Interviewer: I have no more words. I bow to you and the Mother Goddess. Stay well, everyone.

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