Interviewer:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Greetings, my son. Speak.
Interviewer:
Yesterday, you performed a special yagna (ritual) for world peace and to seek relief from the deadly disease currently plaguing the world. You prayed for the well-being of the world.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, indeed.
Interviewer:
Here, you performed the worship of Mahakal, the Lord of the Universe.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I did.
Interviewer:
I would like to ask on behalf of the common people—how can an ordinary person worship or call upon Mahakal?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Mahakal is not for the common person. Calling upon Mahakal is not such an easy thing for an ordinary person. What does Kal mean? Kal means Death. So, Mahakal is the "Great Death." Whoever performs this worship must be prepared for death.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is a Mahakaleshwar temple in Gujarat. Even today, if you hold a bottle of alcohol to the deity's mouth, he consumes the entire thing. He is a living Mahakal. There are other Mahakal temples, from Rajabhatkhawa to the Jayanti Hills; he resides in various places.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But remember, Kal means death. If Kal is standing before you, it means Death is standing there. By adding the suffix "i," it becomes "Kali." Kali is also death. Both Mahakal and Mahakali reside within the "Womb of Time." I once did an episode on the "Womb of Time"; it is a terrifying concept. Those who have heard it know. This "Womb of Time" is what we call a "Black Hole."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The one lying beneath the feet of the Mother (Kali) is Mahakal. The Mother has subdued Kal—she has kept Mahakal under her feet. She is Mahakali.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The mantra for Mahakal is not very long. While the worship of Mother Kali may last seven or eight hours, the worship of Mahakal takes only 20 to 25 minutes. I will recite the mantra for you; it is an eight-syllable mantra: "Mahakalam yajetdevam dakshinedhumrabarnakam, bibhratam dandakhattangam dangstrabhimmukhing shishum, byaghracharma bitakoting tundilam raktabasasam, trinetramurdhyakesancha mundamala bibhushitam, jatabharalasachandra khandamugra jalannibham. Om houng khoung joung roung loung boung aung koung, Mahakala Bhairaba sarbabighna nashaya nashaya, hung phat swaha namaha."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is how we perform the homa or worship. Usually, Mahakal's worship begins after 1:55 AM. The worship of Mother Kali is completed by 1:55 AM, and then the worship of Mahakal begins. We must release Mahakal by 2:10 AM. Do you understand? First, Mother Kali must be released by 1:55 AM, and then Mahakal must be released by 2:10 AM. This is the rule. The mantra I recited is a meditation (dhyan). It is quite intense.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Let me repeat it: "Mahakalam yajetdevam dakshinedhumrabarnakam, bibhratam dandakhattangam dangstrabhimmukhing shishum, byaghracharma bitakoting tundilam raktabasasam, trinetramurdhyakesancha mundamala bibhushitam, jatabharalasachandra khandamugra jalannibham. Om houng khoung joung roung loung boung aung koung, Mahakala Bhairaba sarbabighna nashaya nashaya, hung phat swaha namaha."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is the mantra we chant. When we offer the ahuti (offering to fire), this mantra is used.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We also refer to the wheels of Lord Jagannath's chariot as the "Wheels of Mahakal." Humanity is being crushed under these wheels every moment. All the diseases and suffering you see are the results of people being crushed by the wheels of time. This wheel of time is the same as the wheels of the chariot in Puri. We are being crushed every moment. Just as the chariot moves forward by crushing the earth, the wheel of time moves forward.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have told you many things about Lord Jagannath, but a new omen has appeared. A kite (bird) was seen sitting on top of the Lord's flag (dhwaja). This is very terrifying, my son. I have never seen this in my life. Crows, kites, or vultures never sit there. There are many kites in Puri because of the fish, but they never sit on the temple flag. Seeing that kite sitting at the very top of the flag has left me shaken. It is another sign from the Lord. He too is the Wheel of Time; He is Mahabhairab and Kal Bhairab. Usually, these rituals are performed on the day of Kali Puja.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, I have a question. How much of an ill omen is it for a kite to sit on the flag of the Puri temple? What is coming for humanity?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, the flag of Puri is extremely sacred. Nothing usually goes near it. Lord Jagannath is the ultimate Vaishnava. For 700 years, nothing like this has happened. Kites eat fish and meat; they are scavengers. Since Puri is a place for Vaishnavas, things like fish, meat, eggs, or onions are not allowed in that precinct. So, for a kite to sit on that flag is shocking. Is it a sign of an impending catastrophe? This worries me, just as the recent fire incident worried me. Is Lord Jagannath going to leave Puri? Is that the signal?
Interviewer:
Gurudev, we know Lord Mahadev—whom we call Mahakal—is also known as "Bhola Maheshwar" (the Simple Lord). He is satisfied with just a wood-apple leaf and some water. You said Jagannath is also Mahakal. Will He forgive the injustice and sins committed by humans?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, when Shishupal had a conflict with Krishna, Krishna said, "I will forgive 100 of your sins, but I will not forgive the 101st." When Shishupal committed the 101st sin, Krishna beheaded him. Today, we have committed not just 100, but over 1,000 sins. We must face the punishment. Both you and I will face it. No matter how much you call upon God, if we are in a sack of rotten potatoes, we will also rot. We will receive the punishment. People might say they are living righteously, but if there is one rotten potato in the bag, it rots the whole bag. We are living among sins.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, we know Nature is Mother Parvati. If we satisfy her, can we satisfy Mahakal?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The owner of the Puri temple is the King of Puri. He receives divine instructions in his dreams. The remedy lies with him. Only the King of Puri can say what needs to be done. But as I said, a kite sitting at the very top of the flag is not a good sign. It has made me very fearful. Even the news channels are calling it an ill omen.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is much debate about whether Jagannath is an Aryan or non-Aryan deity. His form has no hands or feet, just two large eyes. It is said the entire world resides in those eyes. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said the same—that he saw the whole world in those eyes. But regardless of the history, He is Mahakal.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Beside Him is Balaram, who holds the plow. The one who holds the plow sows the seeds; so the seeds of the universe are with Him. Beside Him is Jagannath (Mahakal) and in the middle is Subhadra. It is a very powerful place. Therefore, the worship of Mahakal should be done after the Kali Puja. Mahakal is nothing but Death.
Interviewer:
One more thing, Gurudev. We know of Virbhadra, the fierce form of Mahakal who was born from Mahadev's matted hair.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, that is in the Puranas. When Sati gave up her life and Mahadev heard of it, he pulled out a strand of his hair and thrashed it on the ground, and Virbhadra was born. No one could defeat Virbhadra. He is under the protection of Adya-shakti Mahamaya. No god can defeat him. When Mahadev ordered him to destroy Daksha's yagna, Virbhadra asked, "Should I kill everyone?" Mahadev replied, "Kill whoever you find." When Virbhadra arrived, he slaughtered everyone and beheaded King Daksha.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Later, when Mahadev came to take Sati's body, Daksha's wife fell at his feet, crying, "Will I become a widow?" Mahadev paused and said, "Go, find a goat, cut off its head, and place it on Daksha's body." That is how King Daksha was brought back to life with a goat's head. It was to prove that Daksha was "goat-headed" (foolish) for opposing Shiva.
Interviewer:
So, the wheel of Mahakal, the Kal-chakra, spares no one—not even the gods.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No one. It is the "Womb of Time." Sometimes, great sages voluntarily enter the Womb of Time. It is a sin to even see it or speak of it. That is why we don't show it or talk about it much.
Interviewer:
My final question—what are the materials or methods required for Mahakal's worship?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Everything used in Kali Puja is used. He requires a dhoti, some alcohol, and some cannabis (ganja). Along with that, fruits and other standard offerings are given. There is nothing new to add. Whatever is given to the Mother is given to Mahakal. In the scriptures, he is worshipped as Death. And Death consumes humans. His food is human flesh. So, what will he do with fruits? It is better not to know these things. Worshipping Mahakal is very difficult.
Interviewer:
Today, because of the Coronavirus, science has failed. Scientists are at a loss. Everyone is just suggesting precautions. Can worshipping or remembering Mahakal provide a cure?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A cure will come through a "Great Prayer" to God. If I do it alone, it won't work. Everyone must do it together. Everyone must pray to Mahakal at the same time. But the rules of Time do not change. Time obeys no one. Mahakal has no "consciousness" in the way we think; he doesn't spare anyone, young or old. His food is flesh. He is Death.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yet, he is also the destroyer of obstacles: "Mahakala Bhairaba sarbabighna nashaya nashaya." It is very difficult to calculate or discuss Him. In our tradition, we worship Him at the end of Kali Puja. It is best not to go into more detail.
Interviewer:
Pronam, Gurudev. You have discussed Mahakal and His worship in great detail—His characteristics and the current omens. Please keep watching the "Gupta Sadhok Shyama Khaba" YouTube channel and subscribe for more valuable insights from Gurudev. Pronam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you.