Narrator:
[00:00-00:08 - Sound of a conch shell blowing]
Devotee:
Dear viewers, on this auspicious evening, after paying respects to Mother Bamata at Santikunj, we are starting today's episode. A warm welcome to those who are new to our YouTube channel "Uttarer Shyamakavyo," and to our old friends, we request you to stay with us as we begin today's episode. Pranam, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, child. Pranam.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, today is a special moment. We have two guests with us who are your disciples. They recently returned from Kailash and Mansarovar. We would like to hear their descriptions and have a conversation with them.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Truly a special occasion. Truly. Tell us your name.
Sukanta:
My name is Sukanta Bhattacharya, and my home is in Nabadvip.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bhattacharya ji. Sukanta Bhattacharya from Nabadvip. You went to Kailash Mansarovar in the month of June?
Sukanta:
Yes, I started my journey on May 30th and reached there on June 4th and 5th.
Sukanta:
Yes, it was possible because of your order and your complete blessings on me.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Indeed, indeed. I am very proud that you have visited Kailash. I am very proud. You brought back Mansarovar water, Rudraksha, and a stone from there. I accept them. You are the first of my disciples to go to Kailash. Weren't you in the military or something?
Sukanta:
CRPF.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You must have done many things during that time. How did you go there?
Sukanta:
Gurudeb, I had been trying since 2018. Finally, in 2021, I talked to a travel agency called "Tours to Temples." They told me that as it was the COVID period, it was closed for two years. They denied it then. Later, after contacting Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), they said they would conduct it this year. In 2022, Himalayan Goat, a travel agency, in collaboration with KMVN and the Indian government, allowed only those pilgrims who were physically fit and had completed their COVID vaccination.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
COVID vaccination is fine. Is there no age limit now?
Sukanta:
No, age is not the main barrier now. The main barriers are weight and pregnancy. Their first check is weight, and then they don't allow pregnant women. Also, anyone below 12 years of age is not allowed.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Below 12 years is not allowed. Pregnant women are not allowed. And for 65 years...
Sukanta:
Age isn't strictly a barrier if you're fit, but the weight limit is 65 kg. They check these things. This year they kept it like this. Next year, the government might change it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So there was no difficulty in going?
Sukanta:
No, Gurudeb. Our target was to complete the entire circumambulation (Parikrama). The Indian government gave us permission for that. Would you like to see the permission papers?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I can't see them from this distance. Just hold them up. [Guest shows papers]. The Indian government gave them permission for the Kailash circumambulation. They met me before leaving. I'm very happy they visited Kailash. They are quite young. The husband and wife went together and came back to meet me. It's very nice.
Devotee:
I was talking to him, and he mentioned that it was through Gurudeb's order and blessings that he reached there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Certainly, no doubt about that. They keep saying the same thing. Since they were successful, they wanted to inform you. It's truly a difficult place. Reaching there is quite a challenge.
Sukanta:
Very, very difficult. It's 100% because of Gurudeb's blessings, otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible. We started from Nabadvip, West Bengal. There were 6 people in our group from West Bengal. The total Indian group had 19 people. Out of those 19, only 4 of us could finally reach the peak and complete it.
Devotee:
Tell us about your experience at Mansarovar. How did you feel?
Sukanta:
Let me tell you from my experience. When we were in the CRPF, whenever we conquered a field, we would have a gun-fire salute. Or like when someone just passes Madhyamik or Higher Secondary exams, the tears of joy that come out after getting an unexpected result – that feeling cannot be expressed in words. It's indescribable.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
True, it's like heaven. One could say it's truly heaven. Mahadev resides there. So they had a darshan from quite close. Both Mansarovar and Rakshas Tal are side-by-side. The Rakshasas bathe in Rakshas Tal, and the Devas bathe in Mansarovar. Those who have tasted nectar bathe here. And those who bathe in Rakshas Tal are Rakshasas. There are two parts. And it is actually called "Jom-duar" (Gate of Yama/Death). Without worshiping Yama, you cannot go to heaven. You can't do anything by avoiding Yama. There's a ritual of Yama-puja there. People set up tents before reaching Mansarovar. And the wind there is very strong. You've seen the Amphan cyclone – the wind there is like that. You can't even stand. Anyway, in special tents, they worship Yamraj. Yamraj is the god of...
Sukanta:
The god of the underworld.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. Whether you're dead or alive, first worship Yama and then go to heaven. You could go there and live or come back in a coffin. One of my friends went and came back in a coffin; he couldn't return alive.
Sukanta:
You have to give a declaration there that you are going voluntarily and are mentally satisfied. I'm not doing this under anyone's instigation. Even if you sent me, I have to declare that I am going of my own free will. This is a government requirement. Our journey started from Pithoragarh in Kumaon Mandal, then to Dharchula. Nabi is the last Indian village. From Nabi to Jolingkong is the last camp of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and then the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). After SSB, India ends and China starts. There's only a 4 km border zone area. In that border zone, people of the opposite sex will do your medical and body check-ups. They have 4 such steps.
Devotee:
Opposite sex?
Sukanta:
Because, for example, everyone might bow down before money. I might have a bundle of 2000-rupee notes in my pockets. I might want to bring something from there or I might not be medically fit. Or say I have tobacco in my mouth. I could give you some money and you might let me go. But we can't always control someone of the opposite sex. That's why they use the opposite sex for check-ups now. This started this year; previously it was the same sex – women checked by women, as we see at railways or airports. But this year they specifically started opposite-sex checks.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So after the Indian check-up, they also check?
Sukanta:
Yes, China's check-up is very thorough. I'll tell you, I'm a man, but they would even check inside my pants...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, that's how border checks are. They want to see if you're smuggling anything. It's essentially a border. From Jolingkong, our trek started. There are five Kailash peaks. Actually, they are Kinnaur Kailash, Shrikhand Kailash, Mani Kailash, Adi Kailash, and Mansarovar. Among these, four are in India and one is in Tibet. Actually, it was Indian, but China took control in 1962. Now they claim it's theirs, but the Indian government has been trying to bring it back under our control for a long time. After the 2017 Doklam standoff, the Modi government – I'm not naming any party, I mean the central government – definitely wants it under India's control. If the Indian government takes control, the cost will be reduced by at least 50%.
Devotee:
You mentioned five Kailash peaks. How many have you visited?
Sukanta:
I've visited all five.
Devotee:
You've been to Tibet too?
Sukanta:
Yes, Mansarovar is in Tibet. I started with Mani Kailash, then Kinnaur Kailash, Shrikhand Kailash, Adi Kailash, and finally Mansarovar. This was my long-term target, and I had been trying since 2018. When I was a central government employee, I set this target, but we don't get long leaves. Now, the Modi government wants to build a tunnel there. L&T company is working on it, and it's expected to be completed by 2026. Like some railway projects are under construction, it doesn't specify the completion date until it's done. But in this case, there's an agreement between ITBP, BRO (Border Roads Organization), and L&T company. They've given a deadline of 2024 because of the Lok Sabha elections. Before the 2024 elections, the Indian government wants to facilitate pilgrims, tourists, and others through the tunnel. This would mean the money that currently goes to the Chinese government would come to the Indian government.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The road construction has started?
Sukanta:
The road is completed. Amit Shah, the Home Minister, just needs to give the order. Currently, the road is for the military, not for civilians. The military is already using it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That's a good thing. They saw it and are telling us. I'm very happy.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, I see a picture in your hand.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is a picture of Kailash. He brought it for me. He also brought Mansarovar water, Rudraksha from Kailash, and a stone from Kailash. He brought these for his Guru. I feel very good about it. Most importantly, they visited the Himalayas at this age. This is very good.
Sukanta:
It's your blessing.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I accept your gratitude, but seeing you visit the Himalayas and Mahadev's home at this age makes me very happy. I feel a sense of self-satisfaction. My giving you initiation has been successful. How many people can go there? Many talk about going to Amarnath, but the Himalayas is a terrifying place. You've been there, so you know. It's very difficult to return from there. Up to Mansarovar, there are cars and buses now. You can go from Kathmandu. But we did the entire trek. We trekked from Lipulekh. Everything is fine, but that 40 km stretch... and we saw the Golden Duck at Mansarovar.
Sukanta:
Yes, the Golden Duck. It's only seen there.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are two ducks, a male and a female. They are believed to be Shiva and Durga. If someone sees them, they are considered very lucky. It's like the two pigeons in the Amarnath cave. Many have seen those. But the Golden Ducks are rare.
Sukanta:
We saw them, Gurudeb. I have a picture on my phone.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That's your luck. Not just luck, it's a blessing. Do give me a copy of that picture. The Golden male and female ducks are known as Shiva-Durga. They reside there at Mansarovar. There are other things at Kailash that you can see at night but not during the day. All the Devas and Devis come to Kailash. They bathe in Mansarovar, have a darshan of Kailash, and then leave. Many things about Kailash cannot be spoken of. NASA has placed a satellite over Kailash and they were startled by what they saw. They were frightened by Shiva's form. Besides, there are superhumans there – the Yeti.
Sukanta:
Gurudeb, they have written about this in English and Chinese there. NASA has acknowledged that some special manpower exists there. NASA was forced to acknowledge it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There's a magnetic power there. We call him "Bura Baba" (Old Man). Bura Baba's eyes are everywhere. When you're at Kailash – though they don't let you stay for long – Bura Baba watches over you and protects you. That Bura Baba is none other than Mahadev himself. Those who are lucky get to see Shiva's form. NASA saw it through their satellite and were amazed that such a giant being could exist. They are now debating whether he is a god or a great architect. We say he is a superhuman. And there are two other pools – Parvati Sarovar and Gauri Kund. Just as branches come out of a large river, these two come out of Mansarovar. I heard from a Sadhu there that Gauri Kund is where Lord Ganesha, who once had a human head, received his elephant head. It's actually Indrapuri. Indra had an elephant whose head was used for Ganesha. This is what we know. This is Indrapuri. And then there's Jom-duar. You can't even imagine Jom-duar. But without worshiping Yama, you cannot go to Kailash. One more thing – those who go to Kailash must have a very pure mind, otherwise, they can't enter. They'll come back in a coffin. It's better not to go to Kailash without a pure mind.
Sukanta:
Since Ravana was a great devotee of Shiva and performed prayers thrice a day, Rakshas Tal is named after him. Rakshas Tal is important. While we might look at Rakshasas differently, like how worshiping Mahishasura is a must during Durga Puja, one must first take the water of Rakshas Tal on their head before going to Mansarovar or Kailash. Rakshas Tal comes first, then you move forward.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Right. They returned on the 4th and 5th. I'm very happy.
Devotee:
You visited all five Kailash peaks in two days?
Sukanta:
No, not in two days. I started visiting the five Kailash peaks in 2012, and this was the last one. They are not in the same place. Mani Kailash is in one place, Kinnaur Kailash in another, Shrikhand Kailash in another, and Adi Kailash in another.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, he has visited all five Kailash peaks. If one performs puja for five Shivas and visits five Kedars, then there's no need to visit Kailash. That's what we say in our tradition – five Kedars, five Badris, and five Kailash.
Devotee:
So friends, you heard from this gentleman who has conquered the five Kailash peaks. His tears of joy were visible on screen; he was crying, and his wife beside him was also crying. He was describing that beautiful feeling.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It cannot be explained. Only those who have reached heaven can feel that joy. It's very beautiful.
Devotee:
Paying respects to these two pure souls and to you, Gurudeb, we conclude today's episode. Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Fine, fine.