Host:
Dear friends, I begin today's episode by paying my respects to Shantikunj and Mother Bamatara. A warm welcome to those new to the Guptasadhak Shyamakhyapa YouTube channel, and thank you to our long-time friends for staying with us.
Host:
Pranam, Gurudeb.
Gurudeb:
Pranam, my son.
Host:
Gurudeb, today our discussion will be about the Saptarishi (The Seven Sages). We will talk about them, but first, please say a few words.
Gurudeb:
Certainly, I will. But before that, I want to say something to those watching this episode. Not many people are subscribing. Over 15 million (1.5 crore) people have viewed my content, yet I haven't even crossed the 100,000 subscriber mark.
Gurudeb:
This is quite sad for me. It seems very few people are actually subscribing, while the rest just watch. I've had 15 million viewers over two or two and a half years, but the subscribers aren't there. I request everyone to please subscribe; it helps the channel survive. That is my request to the people. Now, tell me what you wanted to ask.
Host:
Gurudeb, today I want to hear from you about the Saptarishi. I want to know about these seven sages who are sitting in the cosmos, absorbed in meditation.
Gurudeb:
What specifically do you want to know about the Saptarishi?
Host:
Gurudeb, we heard you once mention that you are one of the sages from the Saptarishi realm.
Gurudeb:
Those aren't my own words. I shouldn't be the one saying it. A high-level spiritual practitioner once whispered this in my ear. He told me, "You are no ordinary man; you are one of the sages of the Saptarishi circle." Later, the head priest who performs the Saptarishi Puja in Varanasi came to see me. He insisted on performing a puja and arati for me. I asked him, "Why, father? What is the reason?" He replied, "You are one of the Saptarishi; I want to show my devotion to you."
Gurudeb:
So, I don't say it myself. Others have told me. A high-level seeker told me that I am one of those seven sages.
Host:
Gurudeb, we see a link here. One high-level practitioner told you this, and then the head priest of the Saptarishi temple in Varanasi came, sat by you, and wept while embracing you. From this, our viewers can decide for themselves whether this is truth or myth. One person called you a sage of that realm, and then a priest came to worship you.
Gurudeb:
Many great seekers come here. Even yesterday, someone came from Haridwar—you'll see it in an upcoming episode. People come because they love me. This person from Haridwar came specifically to offer puja to me. I asked him why he traveled all that way. He said, "I heard you are a great soul, and I wanted to meet you." I took care of him as best as I could.
Gurudeb:
People come from far and wide. They are the ones who say these things; I don't claim them. You might think I'm making this up, but I'm not. Someone is making me realize that I belong to that realm. Sometimes these things come out during a conversation. For example, did you see the episode on Shivdarshan?
Gurudeb:
That was a very true story. I hadn't shared it for a long time because I worried about what people would think—that I was boasting or being eccentric. But everything I say, I try to keep it rooted in truth. I don't want to resort to lies. People ask me if I know my history or my past lives. I tell them I don't need to know, but they insist on telling me. They tell me my name from a past life, where I was born, and where I practiced my spiritual disciplines.
Host:
You did an episode called "Memories of Past Lives." There, you mentioned that one shouldn't try to force back those memories, and only high-level seekers can truly recall them. Many people want to know how you remember your past life.
Gurudeb:
Look, I am a seeker, a sadhak of a certain rank. I'm not lying about that. The spiritual community has given me that recognition. You all know this. Great saints and monks come here and tell me things that leave me astonished. Even regarding my past life, they told me my name, sat me down, and explained where I had meditated. Later, I looked into it and found that everything they said was accurate. There was nothing incorrect about it.
Host:
You were telling a story about the Saptarishi the other day. Would you share that with our viewers?
Gurudeb:
The Saptarishi are in the heavens. We speak of the Loke-Saptarishi (the earthly ones) and the Saptarishi in the sky. They receive worship from here. You likely know their names: Atri, Vashistha, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Marichi.
Gurudeb:
They are worshipped every day. In Varanasi, there is a specific place for this. As I mentioned, the priest who performs that puja came and told me clearly, "I am telling you, you are one of them." Now, only those who perform the worship can truly say; I cannot claim it for myself. I only repeat what they tell me.
Gurudeb:
It feels good when they say these things. It makes me wonder—am I really that? Look at Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Before he was born, he visited the realm of the Saptarishi. He embraced one of the sages and requested, "I am going to Earth; you must come too." He was speaking to Vivekananda. To us, Vivekananda is one of those seven sages. Ramakrishna, even as a child-soul, went there and asked him to join him on Earth.
Gurudeb:
Many people don't know this story. It's natural they wouldn't. When I did the episode about Sarada Ma's Guru, people attacked me. They told me to stop the episode, saying I didn't know what I was talking about. But later, a senior monk from the Ramakrishna Mission called me and said, "Don't stop. You are right. Others are speaking out of ignorance, but you have spoken the truth." Many people act as if they gave birth to Ramakrishna themselves just because they read two books, but it is very difficult to truly understand him.
Host:
You mentioned that Ramakrishna, as a child-soul, requested a sage to come to Earth for the welfare of humanity. That sage was Swami Vivekananda. So, can we assume that the Saptarishi sages take human form to serve people?
Gurudeb:
Absolutely. Even if they reside there, they descend and take birth here. I'll say it again: they come down to help mankind. They take birth for the benefit of others, and once they have served, they return to the Saptarishi realm.
Host:
Then, Gurudeb, considering what people have said about you being one of them, you have also come here to do good for people.
Gurudeb:
I am doing it. You can see it for yourselves; it needs no explanation. I am helping as many people as I can every day. I shouldn't boast about it, but I must do it. It is a divine command that cannot be ignored.
Gurudeb:
I don't care what people say, but those who don't understand often make bad comments. The other day, a boy called me and said, "I said many harsh things about you, please forgive me." I told him, "You said them, it's fine. It doesn't bother me." But he kept pleading for forgiveness because he had argued with his friends and spoken ill of me.
Host:
Gurudeb, my reason for this episode was to learn about the Saptarishi. Since others have identified you as one of them, we can see the parallel with Swami Vivekananda, who also worked for human welfare.
Gurudeb:
He always said, "Your birth is for the welfare of humanity. Serve the people." That is the divine order.
Gurudeb:
If I don't help people, the Divine Mother will get angry. She will say, "Give me back my power. If you won't use it to help people, I will give it to someone else who is waiting and praying for it." So, there is a fear—a fear of losing that power. It is because of this power/grace that people come to me from all over the world. If the power goes, everything goes.
Gurudeb:
Great saints come and bow at my feet. It's a strange thing, and I try to stop them, but they do it anyway. Yesterday, a monk from Haridwar prostrated before me. I told him not to, but he said, "You are a great soul, you have everything." I don't want ego to set in. Power often brings ego.
Gurudeb:
Just as money can make a person blind, power can do the same if used incorrectly. The consequences are terrible. So, as long as I have this grace, I must use it carefully.
Host:
Gurudeb, we loved this discussion today. I'm sure our friends listening will feel the same. Pranam, Gurudeb.
Gurudeb:
Bless you, my son.
Spiritual Insight
In this profound conversation, Guru Shyama Khyapa reveals the extraordinary recognition he has received from spiritual practitioners who identify him as one of the Saptarishi (Seven Sages). Through the testimony of the head priest from Varanasi's Saptarishi temple and high-level seekers, Gurudev illuminates how these celestial sages descend to Earth for the welfare of humanity—just as Vivekananda responded to Ramakrishna Paramhansa's call. His humble yet profound sharing offers a glimpse into the sacred lineage of divine servants who take human form to guide and uplift mankind.