Gurudev's Faith Was Hurt? A Supernatural Event at Shantikunj

Narrator: Gurudev!

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, tell me.

Narrator: Gurudev, a lady has come to our Shantikunj today. So, Ma, if you could please tell us a bit about yourself—where you’ve come from and how you came here. Did you have a dream or something? Please tell us in detail.

Devotee: I came with a sister of mine. She saw a video on YouTube and told me about Baba. We came here last Friday to see him. Baba told me that he would give me initiation (diksha) today. But before that, I had a dream. I really wanted to take the Shakti Mantra. Ma told me in the dream, “I will take you to the right place at the right time.” Then I went back with those sisters that day. Today, that sister was supposed to come, but she couldn’t. Even this morning, I wasn’t sure if I would come. But in the early morning, I saw two snakes in my dream. They were calling me, saying, “Don't you have somewhere to go?” I said, “Yes, I have to go to Baba today.” I woke up at 3:30 am and then I came here by train at 5:00 am. My biggest wish was to take diksha from Baba, and that has been fulfilled today.

Narrator: And after that, Gurudev, a supernatural event occurred.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, right after the diksha, she suddenly went into a trance (bhor). Now, I don't really like these trances because I’m a bit of a scientific person. So I told Tapanda to sprinkle some Ganges water (Ganga jal) so that the trance would break. And it did. She apparently has these trances quite often. When you have these trances, how do you feel? What do you feel before it starts?

Devotee: I don't understand anything. I just fall down while standing. I lose all consciousness. Then what Ma does, I can't say. But I’ve heard that when Ma comes to me, she makes me dance with my foot on a pitcher. I don't know that myself, but I’ve heard it. I can't say how or what happens to me.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: How many times a month does this happen?

Devotee: Whenever I remember Ma on Saturdays and Tuesdays, it happens. And if I hear the drums (dhak) playing, I can't stay still. Ma just throws me into it.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Right, right. And it happened right after the diksha here.

Narrator: Yes, it happened right away. She was trembling. I noticed it. She was shivering and seemed scared. I don't know why. She stood up even before the diksha was finished. I made her sit down again. There were more mantras to be recited, so I made her recite them. Right after I finished, she fell down here. Someone who was with her said she was in a trance. Now, as I said, I’m not really a believer in these things, so I don’t fully trust them. But it could be. That’s why I asked her what she feels before the trance starts. She said she felt her hands and feet trembling severely and then she lost consciousness. I made her sit down again, but she was trembling and scared. I told her, “Why are you scared? Sit down, the mantras aren't finished yet.” Anyway, the trance started right after the mantras were done.

Narrator: Ma, if you could tell us—before coming here, did you only have that one dream, or had you seen Gurudev in any way before coming here?

Devotee: Yes, I had a glimpse. Then my sister showed me Baba on YouTube.

Narrator: So, the person you saw in your dream was the same person?

Devotee: Yes, exactly the same. I didn't tell my sister anything because Ma had forbidden me. Even today, Ma didn't let me contact my sister, otherwise, she would have come too. Ma brought me here alone. I don't know why she didn't let her come.

Narrator: Gurudev, we have witnessed many supernatural events in our Shantikunj.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, we have seen many. Another one happened today after the diksha. This could also be called supernatural. As I said, I don’t really believe in these trances. I have an allergy to them, you could say. I’m not scientific in that sense, but I try to look at things scientifically. But I see these things happen. Even while I was giving her diksha, she was restless, trying to get up again and again. I made her sit down and finish the mantras. Right after that, she fell down. My boys caught her. Then I understood what was happening. I told Tapanda to sprinkle some Ganges water and she would be fine. And she was.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: I’m very curious about these trances, you know. I still haven't been able to grasp what they are, because they don't happen to me. But they happen to others. Why they happen, that's the real question. I still can't fathom it. Many people have had trances here, I know. But I haven't been able to figure out the reason. What she’s saying might be right, I don't know. When Ma comes into her body, she has these trances. How long do they last?

Devotee: There's no fixed time. It depends on Ma’s will.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: But it could happen on the street too.

Devotee: No, Ma has taught me a mantra to bind my body so it doesn't happen on the street.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Oh, Ma has taught you a mantra to bind your body? So it doesn't happen on the street?

Devotee: It's painful, but Ma doesn't throw me down on the street. It only happens at home. Or wherever Ma is.

Narrator: So Ma has given you a way to handle it if it happens on the street. Ma has taken care of everything, you could say.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: She said that she would give you a guru at the right time. You’ve been wanting diksha for a long time. You were looking for a guru. She saw me in her dream. Then she saw me on YouTube. Then she became convinced that I am her guru. She came all the way from Bardhaman alone to take diksha. She came, and I gave it to her. This is a supernatural event in my life too. I’ve seen this happen three or four times here.

Narrator: If you could tell us about the other events, even briefly.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Once, someone from Mehendiganj came and fell into a trance. He abused me a lot for giving diksha. "Why are you giving diksha? Don't you know who I am?" All sorts of things. But that didn't happen in her case. It was different. I know another person who had a trance. I don't always remember these things. One event after another happens, and they fade from my memory. I don't know who is coming and how. This makes me think sometimes.

Narrator: Friends, you saw this. Our Shantikunj has been a witness to another supernatural event. Everyone who came here at 10 am today has witnessed this. So, Shantikunj has added another supernatural event to its name.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: That's it. I don't really like these trances. I have a bit of an allergy to them. I'm not scientific, but I try to keep science in front of me. But I see these events. Even while I was giving her diksha, she was restless, trying to get up. I made her sit and finish the mantras. Right after that, she fell down with a thud. My boys caught her. Then I understood. I said, "Sprinkle some Ganges water, she'll be fine." I told Tapanda to get some Ganges water and sprinkle it on her. And that's what happened.

Narrator: Gurudev, when such trances happen, many questions are answered which later turn out to be true.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, she has trances at her home too, and people come to her. She told me that, but I don't know, I haven't seen it. She said she has trances and people come.

Narrator: Ma, has it ever happened that someone asked you a question during a trance and then later told you about it? If you could share anything like that with us.

Devotee: Once, someone’s mother said that her son had a problem. Ma said he had an accident coming up. 15 days later, she came back and said, "Yes, Ma, it happened, but Ma saved him a bit." That kind of thing.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, Ma does save people. Ma said she would save him, and she did. Then they came back and offered puja to Ma. I acknowledge Ma's existence. And if I ever see her, I'll give her a piece of my mind! Just kidding. But I hear these things all the time. Many people are taking diksha on Ma’s instructions. Many people from far and wide. People from outside India are also taking diksha. People from America, from Europe, have taken diksha or are taking it. Someone came from Canada and took diksha. Someone from England also came. Then someone from Australia. Boys from all over are coming and taking diksha. This is a supernatural thing. Ma’s immense grace is on everyone, there's no doubt about that. I don't want to acknowledge the trances, but they might be real. I don't know, and there's no point in disregarding them. Whatever is happening, let it happen. But if I ever see Ma, I'll give her a piece of my mind. I’m looking for Ma. I see her sometimes, but I'll give her a piece of my mind. I told her that. You tell Ma, if I ever see her, I'll give her a piece of my mind.

Narrator: Gurudev, why will you give her a piece of your mind? Please tell us that too.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: It's about settling the accounts! A settling of accounts. I've been worshipping Ma for so long—what did I get, and what did I give Ma? It's a balance sheet. What I gave Ma and what Ma gave me, it's a matter of settling accounts. It's called a balance sheet. When a business runs, you have to have a balance sheet. It's the same here. A balance sheet is made. How much I gave Ma, and how much Ma gave me. This is a detailed analysis between a seeker and the Goddess. This shouldn't be said, but it's a detailed analysis, and a solution is found there. It's found.

Narrator: So, friends, today you heard about a supernatural event at Shantikunj. If anything like this happens again, we will bring it to you.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: I couldn't take a picture during the trance. It would have been good if I had. Then I thought, just sprinkle some Ganges water and it'll be gone.

Narrator: Gurudev, you said it was only for a short while.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Yes, just for a short while. I could tell something was happening to her even while I was giving her diksha. I thought she might be scared. Many people cry during diksha, they feel scared. I thought it was something like that. But later it turned out to be a trance. Tapanda can tell you, he saw it. Tapanda, tell us a bit about what you saw and understood about the trance.

Tapanda: After she took the diksha, when she came out of the door, I saw her trembling. I immediately caught her. I couldn't hold her, she had so much strength. Anyway, by Ma’s grace and Guru’s grace, I was able to catch her. Then I told her to sit near Ma. While sitting there, she was completely like—with her hair loose—she was spinning her head for about a minute. After spinning her head for a minute, she suddenly let her body go and lay down. I gently laid her down. Then when I asked about the water, Gurudev said to sprinkle some Ganges water and she'd be fine. I immediately took some Ganges water and sprinkled it on her face and eyes, and wiped them. Then she slowly came back to her normal self.

Narrator: Did this last for a long time, or just about two or three minutes?

Tapanda: About two or three minutes. Then I told Baba, "Baba, she's in a trance."

Narrator: So, this is the experience. Seeing it with your own eyes. You were inside, and she had a trance in front of Ma. Then I told Baba, and Baba told Tapanda to sprinkle some Ganges water and she'd be fine. That's exactly what happened. After the Ganges water was given, she slowly came back to her normal self. This is a big realization at Shantikunj today.

Narrator: Gurudev, I just want to ask one thing—does a trance go away if you sprinkle Ganges water?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: From what we know, if you sprinkle Ganges water on someone in a trance, the trance breaks. That's what we know. And that's what I do. It's happened three or four times here, and I do the same thing. I sprinkle Ganges water and they become fine again. They come back to their normal self. Now, why it happens and how, I still haven't been able to grasp that, being a scientific person.

Narrator: Gurudev, I have a thought. This sprinkling of Ganges water—is it something like the high and low tides? Is it related to that?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: It could be something like that. I've seen many things.

Narrator: Anything else you'd like to say?

Guru Shyama Khyapa: No, that's all. We've witnessed a supernatural event at Shantikunj today. That's it.

Narrator: We’ve shared as much as we could with our viewers. Pronam, Gurudev. Pronam, Ma.

Guru Shyama Khyapa: Pronam, Pronam. Go ahead.

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