Devotee:
Greetings, Gurudeb. Recently, we shared the news of your illness on our channel. We informed everyone that you were not well and that you had requested some time for recovery. Hearing this, many people have been coming to see you, either at your home or here at the temple. Similarly, a devotee has arrived today. We all know him as Aghori Baba, though he has another name as well. Baba, could you kindly tell us your name?
Aghori Baba:
Greetings. I am Maharudra Nath Aghori. I was at Tarapith when I first met Gurudeb under the "Mundamali" tree. Later, he left Tarapith, but I stayed back for some spiritual work. While there, I saw a video on YouTube about "Khepa Baba" (Gurudeb) being seriously ill and being advised bed rest by doctors. Without wasting a moment, I returned from Tarapith to my home. This morning, I decided I must meet him. I believe that no matter how great an Aghori I may become, seeking the company of such a person is a blessing.
Aghori Baba:
I rushed here this afternoon, but when I didn't find him at the ashram, I planned to go to his house. However, the assistants at the ashram, like Tapan and others, were there. Just as I was preparing to leave for his house, I saw Pradip Babu bringing Gurudeb here in his car. I am extremely happy that I didn't have to go all the way to his house and could see him right here at the ashram. It is my great fortune. Without the grace of Mahakal and Mother Tara, I wouldn't have been able to see him today. I pray for his swift recovery.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, despite your illness, you still come to the temple.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You know I cannot stay away from the Mother. She is my only support. Seeing her makes me feel better. That is why I had to come. It's quite hot this afternoon, so I thought I'd come now rather than in the morning. Even though we announced my illness on YouTube, the number of people coming hasn't decreased. People come with various problems—jobs for their children and so on.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is a reason for my illness. A girl was bitten by a cobra. By the grace of the Mother and Mahakal, and through spiritual rituals (kriya), she is now recovering. She is eating well and will soon be released from the hospital. But I had to take on a "danda" (a spiritual toll or penalty) for this. These things happen when you go against the laws of nature.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Recently, a doctor came to me. He was desperate because his mother was suffering terribly and was on the verge of death. He said, "I have searched everywhere, but only you can help. Please perform a ritual to help her pass away peacefully." I performed a ritual in front of the sacred fire (homa). Three or four hours later, news came that she had passed away. The doctor was a man of science, but he fell at my feet in gratitude because his mother found peace.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When I perform such tasks, there is a penalty to pay. When that girl was bitten by the snake, she was unconscious for four or five days. Once she got better, I fell ill. A doctor came to see me today and said, "I have been to many places, but only you have the power to help."
Devotee:
So, through the Mother's grace and your actions, the girl is healthy now. We saw the doctor here too, and he seemed very relieved.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, he was even considering suicide because he couldn't bear to see his mother in such pain. Since she was a COVID-19 patient, he couldn't even go near her despite being a doctor. I told him to bring a photo of his mother. I performed a ritual over the photo, and within four hours, she passed away peacefully. It gives me satisfaction to help, even if it costs me my own health.
Devotee:
Friends, you often comment that the sound quality isn't great or that the surroundings look strange. You must understand that this is a cremation ground. There are various sounds here. Moreover, Gurudeb is ill. He just explained that he comes here because he cannot stay away from the Mother. Even in his illness, he spends his time helping others. Now, I want to ask Aghori Baba about his experiences. Have you ever experienced anything supernatural?
Aghori Baba:
I don't know how much I have achieved in my practice, but whenever I feel the urge, I go to Tarapith. Following my Guru's instructions, I sit in the Tarapith cremation ground for meditation. Recently, during a new moon, I was performing a ritual at the "Shivabot-tola" in the middle of the night. As soon as I lit the sacred fire, I saw six "Bhairavs" (spiritual entities) surrounding me. One was white, and the other five were black.
Aghori Baba:
I tried to offer them food and calm them down. But every time the fire flared up, they would scream.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is a sign of danger. In such situations, one should stop the ritual immediately, or great harm can come.
Aghori Baba:
Exactly. Gurudeb is right. Since it is the land of Mother Tara and Bamdev, I stopped the work. As I was leaving the cremation ground, a massive tree branch fell right in front of me out of nowhere—there was no wind or rain. For the next two days, I suffered from a very high fever. I realized that the person I was doing the work for was not honest. I want to tell everyone through this episode: never go to Tarapith to perform any negative rituals.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That's true. If you help someone who has done wrong, you have to take the punishment. I have experienced this many times. I have even vomited blood after some rituals. I've been hospitalized six times because of this.
Devotee:
So, you sacrifice your own health to save others. That is a great service.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
What is there to gain? I don't take money, and I don't go to their houses to eat. I do it, and I bear the penalty. I wasn't going to come today, but I felt a pull in my heart.
Devotee:
You wear black, while Gurudeb wears white. You follow different paths, yet you always come to him. Why?
Aghori Baba:
It is a bond of love. Even though I follow the Aghori path and stay at cremation grounds, I am drawn to Gurudeb. Some might think that because I am an Aghori, I wouldn't seek him out, but that's a misconception.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Many people, including Muslims, come to me for initiation. It doesn't matter what the path is; it's about the spirit.
Aghori Baba:
I once performed a ritual where both my legs were severely burned. My Guru told me it was because I took on the consequences of the person I was helping. I have resolved never to do negative work in a cremation ground again.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I say the same thing every time I suffer, but when people come with their pain, I cannot turn them away. It is a cycle. A doctor once called me "Number 1 in the world" after a successful ritual, but I told him to stop such talk. There are many great souls in the world. I just try to help. I look at who deserves to live—like that young girl—and I help them. But if an 80-year-old is ready to go, I tell them to focus on God instead.
Devotee:
Friends, you have heard from these two spiritual practitioners. We hope you found their discussion insightful. Greetings, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings to you all.