Narrator:
Salutations to the hidden spiritual practitioner, Sri Sri Shyamakhapa. Greetings! Paying my respects to Guru Dev Gupta Sadhak Sri Sri Shyamakhapa, I am starting this program from Shantikunja. Let us all listen to the invaluable words of the Guru.
Devotee:
Greetings, Guru Dev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings, son, greetings. Go ahead.
Devotee:
Guru Dev, women are the manifestations of the Great Mother (Mahamaya) herself. However, there is a prevailing custom in society where, during their menstruation, they are not allowed to enter the prayer room or perform rituals. They cannot perform the evening prayers or touch the deities; they must maintain a certain distance. What is the reason behind this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, there are two aspects to this: one is scientific and the other is spiritual. If there is no creation, there can be no sustenance or destruction. Therefore, creation comes first. And where does this creation occur? It happens within the womb of a woman.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have seen many young couples come to me, saying they cannot have children. I always advise them to consult a doctor first. See what the doctor says and undergo the necessary tests. If the doctor says there is no chance, then come to me; we will try through spiritual rituals and "Yagya" (sacrificial fire).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Regarding menstruation, scientifically speaking, it is a time when physical desires significantly increase. This is why, in the past, parents would arrange marriages for girls as soon as they reached the age of 12 or 13—to ensure they didn't wander or engage in "bad" activities.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When doctors find that the egg count in a woman or the sperm count in a man is low, they try to treat it with medication over six months or a year. Now, women are the creators. This period of creation is very delicate. Any negligence during this time can lead to abnormalities in the child—perhaps a missing eye or a limb. I have seen this happen. Therefore, great caution is advised scientifically—such as avoiding strenuous movement to ensure no harm comes to the developing life. It takes three to four months for the pregnancy to be established and about five months for it to be fully recognized through symptoms like nausea or loss of appetite.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
During menstruation, we follow certain traditions, not out of superstition but for scientific and spiritual reasons. We ask the parents to have the girl pick flowers and weave a garland to offer to Lord Shiva. Since He is the ultimate creator, we do this to satisfy Him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Spiritually, we perform a "Yagya." We have the woman sit before the sacrificial fire. We offer oblations in her name. The banana that is offered to the fire is later given to the woman to eat while wearing new clothes. I have seen an 80% success rate with this; many who couldn't conceive for years have been blessed with children. This is a spiritual path, independent of science. If God wills it, it happens.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Every woman desires to be called "Mother." During menstruation, physical desires are at their peak. Desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and envy—these six "enemies" of the mind are blind and devoid of consciousness. When desire takes over, one may lose all sense of propriety.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In the old days, early marriage and having many children (10 or 12) kept people healthy because the body's wastes were regularly expelled. If a man or woman suppresses these natural urges, it can lead to various illnesses. Doctors even suggest that people watch certain types of content to stimulate these desires because, according to some views, those with strong vital energy live longer. Those who suppress it often don't live past 40 due to the accumulation of toxins in the body.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, we suggest that if one doesn't have a partner, they should find ways to release this energy. This is purely scientific. Spirituality begins where science ends. When doctors give up, people come to us. We ask for their medical reports to see what is lacking and then perform the "Yagya" accordingly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I remember a prominent college professor who didn't initially believe in these things. His daughter was unable to conceive. Eventually, he came to me. I performed the ritual, and when she finally conceived, he was overjoyed and became a frequent visitor. I joked that I would charge him a lot of money now! But truly, it is by the Mother's grace.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Scientifically and spiritually, menstruation is a period of creation. Just as we observe "Ambubachi" for three days when Mother Earth is said to be menstruating—during which time people historically didn't dig the soil or plow—women are asked to rest.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The restriction from the prayer room is also because two powerful forces—the divine and the creative—should not be mixed during this delicate time. It is also for the woman's physical well-being. For instance, bathing in cold water during menstruation or pregnancy can lead to illness. We advise against certain actions to protect the "creation" and the creator. Once the creation is established, the focus shifts to protecting it.
Devotee:
Friends, today we heard from Guru Dev in detail about this specific social custom. Please subscribe to the Gupta Sadhak Shyamakhapa YouTube channel, like the videos, and leave your thoughts in the comments. Greetings, Guru Dev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings, son.
Narrator:
You just heard Guru Dev Gupta Sadhak Sri Sri Shyamakhapa. Let us know how you liked it. To hear his invaluable words regularly, subscribe, like, share, and comment on the Shyamakhapa channel. To contact Guru Dev, please WhatsApp your name, location, and phone number between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Guru Dev will call you back as soon as possible. The WhatsApp number is 8080539595. With pranams to Guru Dev and wishing you all his blessings and well-being, we conclude today's program. Stay well. Namaskar.