Host:
Greetings. Today, we have Suprilisha sitting here with us next to Gurudev. She is effectively Gurudev's daughter. It is a remarkable story, which we will hear directly from her, with Gurudev adding his insights along the way. Sister, please tell us the whole story.
Suprilisha:
Greetings to everyone. Regarding Gurudev—we often say that the person who gives you birth is your father, but that isn't always true. The person who gives you life is also your father. My biological father is currently in the hospital, but the person who gave me my life is sitting right here. In that sense, he is my father. From the very first day in 2005 that I met him, he has been a father to me. And fathers don't change. Many people call him Gurudev, but for me, "Baba" (Father) is what comes out naturally.
Suprilisha:
I was in extreme distress starting from 2004—actually, I've been in pain since 1994, but it peaked in 2005. A disciple of his, Sandip-da, whom I barely knew, asked me one day, "Why don't you go to my Gurudev?" I said, "Take me there." He replied, "I won't take you, but I'll give you the address and you can go." At that time, I didn't know Kolkata very well. He gave me some guidelines.
Suprilisha:
I arrived and started searching for him. I didn't know his name or his identity. All I knew was that there was a temple opposite a cremation ground. I searched and searched but couldn't find a temple; there seemed to be nothing there. I sat near the cremation ground and asked people, but they said no one was there. I sat there from 11:00 AM until 3:30 PM, convinced he must be there. I told people, "He wears a white kurta-pyjama, that's all I know." They said many people wear that. Eventually, someone from a shop told me there was a temple further inside.
Suprilisha:
I went in, touched his feet, and said, "Baba." He said, "Who are you? Get out of here!" I said, "I haven't come to leave. I've been sitting outside since morning to see you." When I told him about my past, he accepted me. From that day to this, this place has been my home.
Suprilisha:
I can also say that as a father, he performed my Kanyadaan (the ritual of giving away the bride). There is no greater fortune than that. Once, I told Baba that I didn't want to live my life anymore and wanted to just stay with him as his assistant. To be honest, I'm not good at formal prayers or rituals; my mind wanders. But I know my soul is good because I am here with him. I don't do traditional worship, but I listen to his songs and his YouTube channel while I cook. I just try to be a good person and not hurt anyone.
Suprilisha:
One day, I told Baba I was leaving, and he said, "Wait, someone is coming for you." Within two months, someone did come into my life. When I told Baba about him, he told me to let him come. My husband, who is South Indian, said he wanted to marry me. I told him I would only say yes if "he" (Baba) agreed.
Suprilisha:
We came to the temple—the temple was smaller back then. My husband, Rolando, was standing behind Baba's back. Without even looking at him, Baba said, "Come in, you've come after many years; you should have come much sooner." Because he said that without even seeing him, I married that man blindly. Honestly, I am very happy. He takes great care of me. We have a daughter who has Baba's blessings. Whenever I'm in trouble, I come here.
Host:
It's amazing because now, with YouTube, so many people know Gurudev. But back in 2004, you found him with no name and no address, just through your persistence. Gurudev always says nothing happens before its time.
Gurudev:
It is a unique history. She was going through a divorce. Before the divorce, I had actually visited their house once. I saw her through a window or a door, but we weren't introduced. Later, when the divorce happened, she came to me in a state of great suffering. She is Punjabi, not Bengali. Her story was so heart-wrenching it moved me to tears. She was very young then, about 18 or 20 years ago. I felt a deep pity for her and told her not to worry, that a man would come to marry her.
Gurudev:
Then this South Indian man, Rolando, arrived. He agreed to my conditions. He mentioned they marry in a church. I told him the venue didn't matter—I would go wherever the wedding was. I just told him, "Promise me you will never hurt my daughter. Give her a beautiful life." He has kept that promise. They live in Raniganj now and visit occasionally. I call her my eldest daughter. I went to the church in Andal for the wedding.
Suprilisha:
The wedding was on this very day, July 24th.
Gurudev:
Yes, it was on this day. I went to Andal. It was a formal church wedding with a priest. I had to perform the Kanyadaan.
Suprilisha:
We actually had three ceremonies: a Hindu ceremony in the temple where Baba first gave me away, then a registry marriage, and finally the church wedding. But my "real" marriage was the one where Baba gave me away in that small temple. My biological parents were there, but it was Baba who performed the ritual. That was in 2007.
Host:
This is a bond we haven't seen before. Baba, you seem to have known everything beforehand.
Gurudev:
Everything happened exactly as I said it would. At that time, she was being neglected by her family and her brother's family. I kept her close like my own daughter. When my son-in-law appeared, I felt a great sense of peace because he promised me he would never cause her pain. He has kept that word; he loves her very much.
Suprilisha:
Baba also told me once that the Great Mother (Goddess) herself had entered this temple and taken initiation from him. I got goosebumps hearing that—that the Mother sat in this small temple and took initiation. It's almost impossible to imagine.
Host:
There are so many supernatural stories here.
Suprilisha:
It's all about faith. Without faith, nothing happens. It's not about instant miracles; it's a matter of belief.
Host:
Friends, today you saw Gurudev and his daughter sitting together. We were able to capture this beautiful story on camera. I had never met her in the year I've been coming here, so I feel like a witness to something special today.
Suprilisha:
When I was struggling, I used to work in an office and go straight to Baba's house afterward. His wife would cook for me—simple things like dal and poppy seed potatoes. That bonding gave me life. I will never forget it.
Host:
We will end today's episode here. Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam.