Host:
Friends, you are watching the YouTube channel "Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khepa .com." In the previous episode, we heard from our Gurudev about the second of the ten Mahavidyas, Ma Tara. We were listening to stories about the devotee whose name is eternally linked with Ma Tara, the saint Bama-dev (Bama Khepa). Today, we would like to hear more about Ma Tara from Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. One characteristic of Tara Peeth that even many locals don't fully understand is the nature of the Dwaraka River. It is "Uttarabahini," meaning it flows from south to north. Usually, the nature of water is to flow from north to south, but this river flows upwards. In spiritual terms, when we practice Kumbhaka (breath retention), energy rises from the Muladhara chakra upwards. We move from the bottom to the top, passing through the Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna, and finally the Sahasrara. This is the specialty of that place—the river reflects this upward spiritual journey.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Another specialty of Dwaraka River is that Bama-dev used to love bathing at the "Mundu Bani Tola." It is said that Ma Tara herself removes her garland of skulls and bathes there at 3:00 AM every night before returning to the temple. Many elderly locals know which path the Mother takes. It is described as "Nadi Kunje"—the secret path along the riverbanks. Ordinary people don't know this, but the very old residents can tell you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama-dev spent about 50 to 55 years before he even found a proper place to stay. He suffered much, being beaten and neglected. When he returned from Kashi Vishwanath, he was very angry with the Goddess Annapurna. He didn't find the food in Kashi to his liking and told the Goddess, "My elder sister (Tara) is much better than you! I don't need you!"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When he returned to Tara Peeth, he was starving. He saw the Bhog (food offering) being prepared for Ma Tara and his mouth watered. When the offering was brought before the Goddess, he grabbed it and ate it himself before it could be offered. The priests (Pandas) were furious and beat him mercilessly, eventually throwing him into a corner of the "Jibant Kundu."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He lay there for days, crying in pain. During that time, a black dog named Kalu and a cobra (Gokhra) guarded him. Even today, if you look inside Bama-dev's temple, you will see a copper cobra—it represents the one that protected him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama-dev was a man who ate before God. In most traditions, Ganesha or other deities are offered water and food first. But in Tara Peeth, the rule became different. Ma Tara appeared in a dream to the Rani of Natore and said, "My son has been starving for seven days, yet you are offering me food? I will not accept it."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Rani and her son came to investigate and passed a decree: "From now on, Bama will eat first, and then Ma Tara." This tradition is still followed today. Bama-dev is offered food first, then the Mother.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama-dev was always surrounded by dogs—Lali, Bhuli, Sheth-bhuli, and Kalu. He used to say these dogs were actually humans who had committed sins and were reborn as dogs to serve the Mother and find redemption.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is an amazing thing about the dogs in Tara Peeth: they are divided into two "castes"—Tantrik dogs and Vaishnava dogs. The Tantrik dogs live near the cremation grounds and eat meat or whatever is left there. The Vaishnava dogs will never touch meat. They stay separate and don't mix.
Host:
Gurudev, could you tell us about the meditative form (Dhyan) of Ma Tara?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The secret rituals are for initiates, but I can describe her general form. She stands with one foot on a corpse (Bhairava/Bama-dev), laughing loudly. She has four arms, holding a sword, a blue lotus, a scissor, and a skull cup. She has a snake on her head and a protruding tongue. She is blue-complexioned, short in stature, and has a large belly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The skull she wears on her head is said to be that of the sage Akshobhya. When Akshobhya meditated at Tara Peeth, Ma Tara appeared and asked what he wanted. He said, "Mother, when I die, let my skull remain on your head." She granted his wish, and to this day, she wears it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama-dev's life was full of miracles. Once in Kolkata, a woman asked him for a blessing. He had nothing to give, so he gave her his own trident (Trishul) and told her to worship it. That trident is still in Kolkata today. To replace it, the priests took the trident from the deity Chandrachud and gave it to Bama-dev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He was a man of immense compassion. He had a chest where people would drop money. When the coins fell, they made a "tong-tong" sound, which he loved. One day, the chest was empty. People told him a poor man had been stealing the money. Bama-dev didn't care. He said, "People give to me, so let him take it. He is poor and needs to eat."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When the case went to court and the police caught the thief, Bama-dev went to the witness stand. The judge asked, "Did he steal your money?" Bama-dev replied, "No, he didn't steal. He is a poor man who was just taking what he needed to survive. Let him go." The thief was released because of Bama-dev's testimony.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Another time, a man from Bangladesh came to him because he was losing a legal case over his property. Bama-dev told him to stay and eat. The man stayed for a month, missing his court dates. Finally, Bama-dev told him to go home. When he arrived, he found that the court had ruled in his favor and he was now the owner of the entire property. He came back and fell at Bama-dev's feet in tears.
Host:
Gurudev, what can you tell us about Bama-dev's death?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bama-dev knew when his time was coming. He called his associate, "Logen Kaka," and told him to prepare his Samadhi (burial spot). He pointed to a specific location and said, "Bury me here."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
On the evening he passed, there was a full moon. As the Arati (evening prayer) began in the temple, Bama-dev looked at the moon and said, "Mother is calling me. She is saying, 'Bama, come to me.'" Then, his skull burst (Brahmarandhra)—a sign of the highest spiritual liberation—and blood flowed out.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There was an argument about where to bury him, but the District Collector arrived and recalled that Bama-dev had already chosen his spot. He was buried there in a sitting position, along with his pipe and other belongings. That is where his temple stands today.
Host:
Gurudev, thank you so much. We have heard so much today about Ma Tara and her greatest devotee, Bama-dev. Friends, please like, share, and subscribe to this channel so we can continue to bring you these valuable spiritual insights.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Namaskar.