Host:
Today at Shanti Kunja, we have found one of our spiritual brothers (Guru Bhai). He has traveled from quite a distance. He will introduce himself. Please go ahead.
Surjokanto Mishra:
Namaskar. At this auspicious moment, I offer my respects to my Mantra Guru, my Diksha Guru, the Guru who gave me life, and my parents who gave me birth, as well as to all the viewers. Today, I have come here to Baba for the well-being of everyone.
Surjokanto Mishra:
Specifically, I have come to pray for the eternal health and well-being of my father and mother. Based on what I have learned, I have tried my best so that people can live in good health and stay well. I hope we can all live together in peace, forgetting anger, conflict, and malice. This is what I hope for everyone.
Guru:
Well said. So, during Ganesh Chaturthi, did you perform any rituals?
Surjokanto Mishra:
Yes, I did. An acquaintance of mine invited me to perform a puja. I told him, "Look, I do perform puja, but one must have the proper authority to do so. I don't know how much authority I have attained, but without my Guru, I cannot say much. Without my Guru Baba, I don't know what I have achieved." He replied, "No, whatever you do from your heart, I will accept that."
Surjokanto Mishra:
After performing the daily rituals of a Brahmin—like bathing, the morning rites, Gayatri mantra, and Sandhya-Annik—one should perform the Ganesadi Panchadevata Puja (Puja of the five deities). Even if I perform a puja with only Panchupachar (five offerings) on a special day, I believe it is acceptable. Baba knows better than I do.
Guru:
Yes, even if you don't do the full sixteen offerings (Shodashopachar), a puja can be done with five offerings.
Surjokanto Mishra:
Yes, with fragrance, flowers, incense, a lamp, and food offerings (Gandha, Pushpa, Dhupa, Deepa, Naivedya). There are various offerings of flowers: one's own flower offering, the offering from the five elements, and the selfless flower offering. If we can do these while following Baba's teachings correctly, I believe we will reach the right destination.
Guru:
Tell me first, where have you come from?
Surjokanto Mishra:
I have come from Tamluk, Purba Medinipur, from the Tamluk police station area. My name is Surjokanto Mishra.
Guru:
How did you find me?
Surjokanto Mishra:
To tell the truth, about 18 or 19 years ago, my aunt (pishi-ma) used to live in Sonarpur Khurigachi. I used to visit there often. At that time, I lived in Kakurgachi, Kolkata, and I used to perform puja there. Due to some worldly circumstances, I got involved in family life, but I regularly visited my aunt's place from there because she had no sons. My uncle also loved me very much.
Guru:
So, you performed the Homa (fire ritual) for about four to five hours today?
Surjokanto Mishra:
I didn't do it, Baba. You and Mother (Divine Mother) made me do it; that is why I could do it. Otherwise, it is impossible for a person to sit continuously like this.
Guru:
I have seen very few people perform Homa for five hours like this.
Surjokanto Mishra:
Without your grace, it wouldn't be possible for anyone to sit for so long and do this.
Guru:
That is true. It is a major feat. You sat there from 12 o'clock and only just finished. It's quite something to perform Homa for four or five hours in this heat.
Guru:
I liked it. Every mantra was pronounced well. Generally, people don't do this for so long, but I sat and watched you for those five hours. I liked your puja and rituals. I like it when you perform puja and rituals like Homa. You should come sometimes; it's not always possible every day. I bless you—may you stay well and become a great scholar of the Vedic Sanatan Dharma.
Guru:
You know many mantras that many others don't. Even I have forgotten some of the mantras you recited because I have grown old.
Surjokanto Mishra:
No Baba, don't say that. It is because of you that I can do this.
Guru:
Still, I enjoyed hearing those mantras. Now that I am old, I can't do them myself, so I enjoy listening when someone else recites them. I bless you to become an even greater scholar.
Guru:
There is a great lack of true scholars and Brahmins in this country.
Surjokanto Mishra:
The saddest part, Baba, is that even among those who know a little, the Vedic or Tantric traditions and the rituals of our Sanatan Dharma are fading. A Brahmin is like a scientist. If a Brahmin does not attain the proper qualification and perform his duties, everything will gradually disappear.
Guru:
It is already disappearing. But I can see you are maintaining it, and that feels good.
Surjokanto Mishra:
I have another uncle who was a professor at Sanskrit College. My nephew is also currently at Kakdwip College, and another nephew has completed his MA in Sanskrit. While people work for their livelihood, I feel that if we all looked into our Sanatan scriptures occasionally to see what our ancestors left for us, we would realize that scripture and modern science are not different.
Guru:
I always say that. Science and spirituality are one. In fact, spirituality is ahead of science.
Host:
With that, we conclude today's program. We offer our respects to Baba and our spiritual brother. Namaskar.