Narrator:
(Ambient sound of temple bells ringing and chanting)
Interviewer:
Today at Shanti Kunj, I offer my respects to Mother Bama. Gurudev, I offer my respects to you as well as we begin this episode.
Gurudev:
Yes, go ahead.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, today is Kaushiki Amavasya. We would like to know from you: what exactly is Kaushiki Amavasya? How should it be observed, and what are its significance and results?
Gurudev:
Look, this is not for householders; Kaushiki Amavasya is not meant for ordinary people living domestic lives. At Tara Peeth, this Amavasya is celebrated with great pomp. This year, however, Tara Peeth has been closed for four days; the Mother's doors are closed due to the COVID situation. They want to avoid large crowds. Still, rituals will take place; some people will go here and there to perform them. At Mundamali Tala, there is no trouble, so there will be hom-yagya (sacrificial fires) there.
Gurudev:
Mother Kaushiki is one of the sixty-four Yoginis. When Mother Durga is worshipped, the sixty-four Yoginis are also worshipped, and Kaushiki is one of them. On this day, Mother Durga changed her Kosh (form or "cell"). She took the form of Kaushiki. This Amavasya is considered very "heavy," formidable, and powerful. Many rituals—both good and bad—are performed on this night. People often try to perform acts to harm others during this time, but I don't need to look into that.
Gurudev:
Anyway, it is good that Tara Peeth is closed. Look at the black stone (Shila) that the Mother sits on. That stone was brought by Vashishta Dev. He established it there. But he had a doubt: who would protect this stone after he was gone? After he passed away, he was reborn as Bama Dev. That is why, during the worship of Bama Dev, people say "Om Vashishtaya Namah." He is the manifestation of Vashishta.
Gurudev:
There are many ancient legends. One says that on this stone, Mother Durga breastfed Mahadev. We know that when the poison emerged during the Churning of the Ocean, Mahadev drank it. He became ill and restless from the burning sensation of the poison. He held it in his throat, which is why he is called Neelkanth (the blue-throated one). When he became unconscious after consuming the poison, Mother Durga appeared and breastfed him to soothe him.
Gurudev:
That is the legend of the Shila. Bama Dev used to say that if ordinary people look at this stone or touch it, they might go blind or lose their minds. He warned people never to touch or handle it because it is so formidable. Nowadays, everyone touches it, and it causes a lot of harm. People come back from Tara Peeth and then look for Tantriks, asking, "What happened to me? Why is my life in ruin?" They performed rituals without understanding, and now they are suffering.
Gurudev:
Seeing that stone or touching it can drive a person mad. Even today, the stone possesses the same power. One should not touch it. The Mother sits upon it, but she has no physical structure there; there is only the Mother's head (Mundu). Her body is not there. It is decorated to look like a full form, but it is just the head. That head is laid down to rest at night and decorated again in the morning. This is why we tell people: go to Tara Peeth, but do not touch the Mother. Touching her can lead to madness, loss of wealth, or the destruction of one's home. I have seen many people come to me after such incidents.
Narrator:
(Sound of rain begins)
Gurudev:
Now, let's talk about the story. Legend says Mahadev once wished to perform Kriya (divine union/ritual) with Mother Durga. There are many types of Kriyas. You see Mahadev in meditation, but he is constantly performing Kriya. Brahma and Narayan do the same. No one is without Kriya.
Gurudev:
Mother Durga did not agree. She said, "The entire universe—the Durga Samsar—is running through me. I am the Mother of the world. If I become disrobed for this, the very concept of motherhood will be shamed. I cannot do this." This led to a great conflict with Mahadev. He was adamant; he insisted on performing the Kriya that day.
Gurudev:
Mother Durga then decided to change her form. She transformed into Kali. She told Mahadev, "You may perform your Kriya with Kali." This transformation is why it is called Kaushiki Amavasya—because she changed her Kosh (form).
Gurudev:
This is also why, during Durga Puja, there is a tradition of Kali Puja. When we offer Anjali (offerings) to Durga, we also offer them to Kali. We say, "Kali Kali Mahakali..." because Durga changed her form to Kali. She took a formidable form and sat on Mahadev's lap.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, you mentioned that many bad things happen during Kaushiki Amavasya. Is that because of this change in form?
Gurudev:
On this day, Mother Durga took her Kali form. This is why we have the tradition of worshipping Kali during Durga Puja. This Amavasya is very powerful. It is not for householders. It is for Sadhakas (spiritual practitioners), monks, and devotees of Mother Tara. They observe this day with sacrificial fires and intense worship. We also do it, but we do it privately. It cannot be shown to others.
Narrator:
(Sound of heavy rain and temple music)
Interviewer:
We apologize to our viewers; the sudden rain has caused some disturbance in our recording. Gurudev, is there anything else you want to say about Kaushiki Amavasya?
Gurudev:
Nothing more to say. Ordinary people don't understand; they rush to Tara Peeth thinking it will bring them great fortune. But on this day, there isn't an inch of space there. People go there, do things they shouldn't, and then come to Tantriks like us asking what went wrong.
Interviewer:
You say people shouldn't go, but many other spiritual gurus encourage people to go.
Gurudev:
They won't tell you the truth. Why would they? They want to encourage the crowds. They want people to go in groups. There is money involved, there is the consumption of alcohol... who would want to give that up? Cases of wine and people looking for illicit experiences go there. Everything that a true spiritual seeker should avoid is happening there. Ramakrishna Paramahansa used to speak of the "union of gold and desire" (lust and greed)—all of that is present there now. Why wouldn't there be a crowd? People go, and they return with deep sorrow and pain because they don't know the reality.
Gurudev:
I repeat: householders have no business being there. They don't even know the meaning of Kaushiki. 100% of the people there couldn't tell you what it means. Because we know, we warn you: do not go to Tara Peeth on Kaushiki Amavasya. The consequences are formidable. But people go, taking women, money, and alcohol, shouting "Jai Tara" while drinking. They think they are becoming like Bama Dev. This is our tragedy—doing things without knowledge.
Gurudev:
The Tara Peeth cremation ground (Shmashan) is famous. I don't think there is another like it in India, except perhaps Manikarnika in Varanasi. Tara Peeth is the beloved place of Tantra. People are performing rituals there using the names and lineages (Gotras) of the living as if they were dead. It is shocking.
Interviewer:
We have learned a lot today about what Kaushiki Amavasya is and the legends behind it. One more question from our viewers: what kind of food should one eat during this Amavasya? Veg or non-veg?
Gurudev:
One should always be careful during Amavasya because the sun's influence changes. We suggest eating simple, "Sattvic" food. Avoid rice and heavy grains because of the solar effects.
Interviewer:
You once did an episode titled "No Tara Darshan on Amavasya." Does that apply here too?
Gurudev:
Absolutely. It is a blessing that the temple is closed this time so people cannot see the Mother. Seeing the Mother on this Amavasya is very harmful. I always say: do not seek Tara Darshan on Amavasya; it can ruin everything. I have seen thousands of people come to me in total ruin after doing this. People are even lighting candles and incense on funeral pyres. A cremation ground is not a place for that. They are lighting "last lamps" on pyres. We light lamps for the well-being of our children, but these people are doing the opposite. I see young men in their early twenties being ruined, and their mothers are left crying.
Gurudev:
The problem is a lack of proper guidance. Even if a good guru is there, people don't listen. They are obsessed with taking selfies with the Mother, cutting her hair—it's madness. The results are terrifying.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, on this rainy evening, I offer my respects to Mother Bama and to you as we conclude.
Gurudev:
Blessings to you.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa reveals the formidable power of Kaushiki Amavasya, when Mother Durga transformed her Kosh (form) into Kali to satisfy Mahadev's desire while preserving the dignity of universal motherhood. This New Moon commemorates the day Durga became Kaushiki—one of the sixty-four Yoginis. The Guru delivers a stern warning: the Brahma Shila at Tara Peeth, brought by Vashishta and later protected by Bama Dev (the reincarnation of Vashishta), possesses such ferocious energy that touching it can cause madness or ruin. Householders have no place at Tara Peeth on this night, where the Mother's head alone rests upon the stone, and where the union of greed and desire has replaced true spiritual practice.