Devotee:
Gurudev, greetings.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings, son.
Devotee:
You recently returned from Tarapith after visiting Mother. Dr. Sujit Kar accompanied you on this trip, and he is here with us today. I have a few questions for him. Sujit-da, you've been to Tarapith many times before, but what was particularly special about this trip with Gurudev?
Dr. Sujit Kar:
Even though I've visited Tarapith before, I've always had a deep desire to truly understand its spiritual significance and visit all the sacred sites. This time, that wish was completely fulfilled. Every spiritual aspect of Tarapith was felt so beautifully. It felt as if someone had meticulously planned the entire trip for us, and we just followed that plan perfectly. We felt Mother's boundless love and affection at every turn. Reaching the point of "Matri Darshan" (seeing the Goddess) is something beyond words; it can only be experienced. Being so close to her was a spiritual thirst that was finally quenched. We also visited Mundamalinitola and witnessed a fire ritual there. The whole experience felt like a beautiful, vivid dream, even though we weren't there for long.
Devotee:
One thing I've noticed in the past is that whenever Gurudev goes to Tarapith, he becomes very restless, almost as if he is in a trance. He doesn't seem like his usual self. After visiting Bamdev Baba's shrine, he suddenly decided to go to the cremation grounds, walking barefoot over sand and stones—even though it isn't a paved path anymore. Did you observe any of this restlessness?
Dr. Sujit Kar:
Yes, I did. When we arrived at the cremation ground and visited the temple, Gurudev seemed quite agitated. Even after we returned to our room, that feeling persisted, so we left him alone for about an hour. He just sat by himself until he felt more settled. On the night of the ritual at Mundamalinitola, Gurudev was actually quite unwell, yet he could not bear the thought of missing the fire ritual. Despite his illness, he came and personally guided us throughout the entire process with such precision.
Devotee:
Gurudev, a question for you. You have mentioned before that once your prayers are finished, you feel as though Mother is telling you to leave. Can you explain that?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, it is a very real feeling. Once the puja (prayer ritual) is over, I feel an intense urge to return home. I simply cannot stay in Tarapith any longer after that point. It is a unique characteristic of Mother Tara; once the connection is made and the prayer is offered, there is a strong push to leave. That is why I always save the puja for the very last day of my trip.
Devotee:
You also promised Mother on your last visit that you would return soon.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I told her I would return. My previous trip with a large group of 30 people felt very chaotic. There was a lot of disturbance, and I didn't feel that I truly received Mother's "Darshan." I stood at her door and promised her I would come back after the elections. This time, despite my health issues and other obstacles, I felt a powerful pull to go. Because I had given my word to Mother, I had to be there.
Devotee:
Was it a coincidence that Dr. Sujit Kar was your traveling companion this time?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I would say it was more due to his insistence! He was the one who pushed for the trip, organized the car, and took care of everything. The journey was incredibly smooth—we reached there in just five hours, which I never thought was possible. We first stopped at Bamdev Baba's house, where his son, who is very devoted to me, hosted us for tea. They even invited us for a meal, but I promised to come back another time since I was traveling with a group. After visiting Bamdev and then Mother Tara, everything felt perfectly complete.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I always prefer to go on a Wednesday so I can have my Darshan on Thursday. I avoid the busy weekend crowds because I want to be able to talk to Mother in peace. Many people come to me with their troubles—illness, poverty, and other hardships—and I carry those burdens with me. My restlessness comes from the need to convey all of these prayers to Mother. Once I have spoken to her and shared these burdens, I feel at peace, and I inevitably see things starting to improve for those people afterward.
Devotee:
Friends, you've just heard about Gurudev's profound journey to Tarapith and Dr. Sujit Kar's experiences. It is clear that this trip was deeply meaningful for both of them. Gurudev, our respects to you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to all.