INTERVIEWER:
Today, sitting next to Gurudev is someone who has been with us for a very long time. I have seen her since I first arrived. She comes every Tuesday evening to cook the bhog (offering) for Mother. You may have heard a version of her story before, but today you will hear it directly from Gurudev and Shibani-di themselves. Gurudev, let's start with you. How did you first meet her?
GURUDEV:
It's a strange twist of fate. Fate brought her here. She came from a wealthy family, was a daughter-in-law in a house with a two or three-story building and plenty of money. But that house was sold. She ended up working in various places—a Brahmin's daughter—fate is cruel. Ask her for the rest.
SHIBANI:
My pranams to everyone. My life has been filled with immense struggle. Previously, my situation was very good, but then things became so difficult I could hardly bear it. Many people suggested I take diksha (initiation), but I said, "My Guru is out there; he will call me when the time is right." I used to wander around crying, wondering where my Guru was. Then I found Gurudev. As soon as I met him, I knew he was the one. He initiated me and told me, "You've endured so much, Mother, just endure a little more. Your good days will come."
SHIBANI:
I held onto that hope, and gradually, all my sorrows began to fade by his grace. Everything I had lost, I slowly regained. There were days when we didn't even have food to cook. There was a small temple across from the crematorium where I would go and cry. Gurudev asked why I was crying. I told him I had several dogs at home and nothing to feed them. He immediately gave me money and told me to go buy food for them. I told him I had even hit them out of frustration, and he said, "I understand your pain, go feed them now."
SHIBANI:
Later, I fell ill with a fever and couldn't even comb my hair. A small jata (matted lock) formed. I told Gurudev I had cut it off. He said, "You shouldn't have done that, but don't worry, it will return within seven days." By his blessing, it did. I even worked as a domestic help in people's houses during those hard times. Gurudev felt very pained by that. Then my husband fell into deep debt. Creditors would come to the house, and I would just hold Gurudev's feet and cry. I don't know how it happened, but I was able to pay everyone back. I am now debt-free.
SHIBANI:
Then there was my daughter's MA admission. I didn't have the money. On the day of admission, I came to Gurudev at 11:00 AM. Admission was only until 1:00 PM. He asked why I hadn't told him sooner. He arranged the money and told me to go. There was a terrible traffic jam. Gurudev called to check on me, and I told him I only had ten minutes left. He said, "You'll make it." I reached just two minutes before the counter closed. My daughter got her admission, secured a first class, and passed her MA.
INTERVIEWER:
We've heard so much about how she recovered from those situations. Gurudev, you mentioned this story in a video once without naming her. Can you tell us more about how she first came to the crematorium?
GURUDEV:
I used to go to Tarapith often. I had promised Vamdev Baba (a saint) that I would offer some dogs. I don't know what she promised, but she ended up bringing several dogs. One afternoon, around 3:00 or 3:30, she came here crying. I asked why. She said she couldn't feed the dogs and had hit them. I had 200 rupees in my pocket; I gave it to her and told her to feed them. They were a gift from Baba Vamdev. From that day on, things slowly changed. It pained me to see a Brahmin's daughter working in other people's houses. I have a daughter too; I looked at her as a daughter.
GURUDEV:
Regarding her daughter's MA fees—it was 6,000 rupees. I arranged it and told her to go. She made it just in time. The daughter used to say, "Grandpa (Gurudev) will write my exam for me." Shibani would say, "I just sit with the pen; Grandpa does the writing." That was her faith. Fate is unpredictable, but faith can change everything.
SHIBANI:
I want to tell everyone—I am very happy now. You just need patience and faith in your Guru. Everything is possible.
INTERVIEWER:
This whole story is supernatural.
GURUDEV:
Many people come here, but her situation was truly difficult. Even after working all day, she would come here at 9:00 or 10:00 PM just to do pranam before going home. Her faith was immense.
INTERVIEWER:
Why did you choose the crematorium as the place to come and cry? Your house wasn't that close.
SHIBANI:
My house was about 3 kilometers away. I first came to the small temple opposite the crematorium. That's where the connection began.
INTERVIEWER:
How did you find out about Gurudev?
SHIBANI:
My husband knew Gurudev's younger brother. He was the one who suggested bringing me here. When we first arrived, Gurudev asked, "Can you handle being stuck in 'sticky molasses' (spiritual devotion)?" We told him we would stay immersed in it.
INTERVIEWER:
The temple has changed so much since you first came. What is that change like for you?
SHIBANI:
It used to feel like a scary crematorium, but now it doesn't feel like that at all. Coming to Mother brings such peace. All sorrows vanish.
GURUDEV:
I asked her to cook the bhog for Mother. We used to feed 500 people daily, but now, due to financial constraints, we can't do that much. Still, everyone who comes gets prasad. She volunteered to cook, and she's been doing it ever since.
SHIBANI:
My husband also has deep faith, even though he can't always come due to health issues. Every Tuesday, he reminds me to go to Mother. A relative had once performed black magic (baan) on him. He became skeletal and lost his mind. He couldn't recognize anything. Gurudev met him and told him to visit the temple. Gurudev broke the spell, and he became healthy again.
INTERVIEWER:
You also mentioned something about a haunted house you lived in?
SHIBANI:
Yes, our house was being renovated, so we moved to a rented place near Subhashgram Hospital. After a few months, I started hearing crying sounds—like "uh-uh-uh"—between 1:30 and 2:40 AM. I told Gurudev, and he said something might be passing through, but to just stay as I am. One dark night, I saw a shadow. I asked, "Who are you?" It didn't answer. I said, "Mother, don't harm my husband or children; I will leave this house soon." Later, I saw a spirit wearing red and yellow clothes. Neighbors told me a young bride had died there. I left the house shortly after.
INTERVIEWER:
I've never seen a Tuesday where she hasn't come to cook, unless she was extremely ill.
GURUDEV:
Not just Tuesdays—any special puja, she cooks. On Guru Purnima, she cooked for over 250 people. She works so hard, and she has her own family to look after, so I don't always call her, but she comes out of duty.
SHIBANI:
I love cooking for Mother. If I can't come on a Tuesday, I feel terrible. When I'm cooking for 100 people, I just tell Mother, "I don't have the strength to do this; you cook your own food." And somehow, everyone always says the food tastes perfect.
INTERVIEWER:
It's Mother's grace. It's wonderful that you found your way to Gurudev.
GURUDEV:
My fate is such that all the "orphans" (those with nowhere else to go) come to me. And they all get better. They come with prayers, and I tell them to serve Mother. They find a new life. I've seen so many people find their way here.
INTERVIEWER:
Shibani-di is one of those who is deeply connected to this temple. We will bring you more stories of people's experiences with Gurudev in future episodes. Pranam, Gurudev.
GURUDEV:
Pranam.