Devotee:
Gurudev, paying my respects to Shantikunja’s Mother Bama-Tara and to you. Let’s start today’s episode. Gurudev, yesterday you visited a temple of Adyashakti Mahamaya, a temple of Mother Kali, in the Rajpur Sonarpur area, in the Tegoria locality. You were invited there. There seems to be a backstory about why you are repeatedly invited there. Could you tell us about that?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, you see, I was sitting here one day when a funeral procession arrived. After the cremation, they were performing some rituals by the pond. There was a gentleman, dark-complexioned, wearing a lungi and a shirt. He was drinking alcohol right there. I went up to him and said, \"Brother, please don’t drink here. This isn't the place for it.\" He replied somewhat rudely, \"I’ve come for a cremation, why shouldn’t I drink?\" I insisted, \"Don't drink here, or I'll call the police.\" He then left with his bottle. Later, a boy came and told me, \"Do you know who you were talking to? He is the person in charge of this cremation ground. He is a municipal councilor. You might lose your job!\" I was a bit worried since I didn't know him at the time. I had heard the name Kartik Biswas, but I had never seen him face-to-face.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Three or four days later, I was sitting here when an auto-rickshaw from Rajpur Sonarpur pulled up. He got out of it. I was a bit nervous about what he might say. But he came and hugged me. He apologized for the other day and said, \"I am Kartik Biswas. I am in charge of this cremation ground.\" I also apologized. Then he said, \"I have a task for you. I am building a temple. I want you to visit it. We are establishing Adyashakti Mahamaya there. You must perform the life-infusion (Pran-Pratishtha) and the eye-opening (Chokkhu-Dan) rituals for the Mother.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Initially, I had planned to perform Adya-sadhana (spiritual practice for Adya) at Ganga Sagar. Everything was ready, but at the last moment, they didn't provide the land. I was quite sad about it. While I was contemplating where to perform the sadhana, someone mentioned that this pond is also connected to the Ganges. So, I bought a stone idol of Mother Adya, which is established here now. I performed sadhana there for five years. Then, one day, they came and said the temple was ready and I must perform the installation. It was a grand affair with about 20 Brahmins chanting mantras. I observed the installation process closely; it was flawless. They told me that not everyone can establish a temple for Mother Adya; it requires a true practitioner (Sadhak).
Devotee:
So, you performed the life-infusion and eye-opening rituals?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I did. It was a massive event, beyond imagination. We spent the entire night before the installation on the slab where the Mother was to be placed, performing puja and japam (chanting). The next day, the Mother was placed on the slab, and the rituals continued. It was a remarkable coincidence that I got the opportunity to perform the installation of Mother Adya.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The following year, they organized a function and invited Shrikumar Chattopadhyay. He already knew about a hidden practitioner here, Shyama-Khapa. He had great respect for him, although I wasn't aware of it at the time. I had requested that the temple lights be kept low—only the light of the oil lamps should be there. They respected my wish.
Devotee:
Why did you ask for low lighting, Gurudev?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In the old days, everything was done by the light of oil lamps. Moreover, the Mother loves the dark. That’s why Kali Puja is performed at night, and Adya-puja is also done at night. Anyway, Shrikumar-ji bowed to the Mother and asked why the lighting was so dim. They told him that Shyama-Khapa doesn't allow bright lights. He then asked to meet \"Khapa-Baba.\" I was called, and we had a long conversation. He has a Kali idol at his home as well. He agreed with me, saying that the less light, the better. He even mentioned this on stage. He is a great man, a top-tier artist, and a dedicated practitioner of Mother Kali. He called me on stage, took the garland he was wearing, and put it around my neck. He gave me the bouquet of flowers he had and said, \"I shouldn't be wearing this while you are here.\" He insisted I stay and listen to his songs. He sang five songs. When it was time for me to return to the cremation ground, he insisted I listen to one more song about the cremation ground. It was an incredible experience. I have met many people, but the way he, a great practitioner, showed respect to another was heart-touching. We have stayed in touch since then.
Devotee:
Gurudev, you mentioned two significant connections: one through the councilor for the temple installation and another with the great singer and practitioner. You visited the temple yesterday for its anniversary.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I was there for the puja. It’s been five years since the installation. They don't want to do anything without me. But nowadays, I don't enter the inner sanctum (Garbhagriha) of any temple, including this one. They requested me to enter, but I refused.
Devotee:
Why don't you enter the inner sanctum anymore, Gurudev?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I don't know exactly why, but it suddenly occurred to me that I shouldn't enter. It’s better to bow to the Mother from a distance.
Devotee:
Are you facing any obstacles, or is it a divine sign?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have received some signs from the Mother. So, I stay outside. Everyone tries to take me inside, but I decline. Something happened that I can't fully explain, which led to this decision.
Devotee:
Gurudev, yesterday while you were there, we noticed a donation box (Dan-Baksho) behind you in a video. You always tell us that there should be no donation box in this temple and no one should give money.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I’ve had disagreements with that temple management regarding the donation box. I told them not to keep one because it looks bad. But their argument is that they need funds to run such a large temple. In South India, there is the Bipattarini Temple, which is huge and also has a donation box. My situation here is different. We cook rice for the Mother, and people who come here bring rice, oil, tea, sugar, and milk. Every day, about 10-20 people eat here. It's true that no one gives money directly here. I don't know where everything comes from. Last night, a gentleman from Bangladesh came with a sack of rice on his shoulder. He said, \"I live in Bangladesh and brought this for the Mother. Please don't be angry; I know you don't like taking things.\" That sack of rice will last for over a month. People bring oil, tea, sugar, and milk spontaneously because they know we like tea. We don't need liquid cash. Whatever small expenses we have, the money somehow comes in. Money often brings trouble, so we stay away from it. If we ever need a larger amount for a cause, like when our singer Atanu-da's brother passed away, we all contribute a small amount, like 150 rupees each, and it's managed.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Mother’s grace is such that we don't need much money. People bring what is needed. I had told them that if they kept a donation box, I wouldn't stay. My philosophy on this was influenced by what I saw in Rishikesh and Haridwar. There's a Shiva temple there where it's written, \"Do not give a single penny here.\" Yet, people were eating and drinking tea multiple times a day. It made me wonder how they were managing. They told me they don't need cash; people provide the food.
Devotee:
Gurudev, let me tell you about a call I received today. A lady called and asked if Gurudev was seeing people. I told her that due to the lockdown, you aren't. She said she would come after the lockdown. Then she asked about your fees. I asked her where she heard about you, and she said YouTube. I told her that if she watches the videos regularly, she would know that Gurudev says not to give a single penny at this temple. She apologized immediately.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, money is the root of many problems. You don't need money to serve the Mother. She arranges everything herself. I have seen many temples, and some collect money to pay salaries to the staff. But here, we don't have such requirements. My disciple Tapan and a few others are here, and we all share a common philosophy. I wouldn't have brought up the donation box issue if it weren't for the comments we received on the video. But that temple isn't mine; I only performed the installation and stayed there for a year to perform the rituals.
Devotee:
Gurudev, on this evening, paying my respects to Mother Bama-Tara and to you once again. Let's conclude here.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, let's.