Disciple:
Today, I offer my respects to Mother Bama-Tara at Shantikunja. I also offer my respects to you, Gurudev. We have often seen you visiting various temples to seek the blessings of Mother or Father. However, until the very last moment, we never knew why you were going, where you were going, or which specific temple you were visiting. Yesterday, when you returned, we learned that you had been to the temple of Mother Bagalamukhi—the "Yellow Mother"—in Kalyani. We would like to know the reason behind this visit.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, the reason I went... I didn't tell you everything yesterday. I've shared a bit about Mother Bagala in today's episode, but that wasn't the main purpose. The real reason involves a gentleman from Bakreshwar named Vasudev Baba. He has since passed away, but I knew him very well. For some reason, he once visited a lady—the one you saw yesterday. Vasudev Baba used to stay at her house and perform his spiritual practices (sadhana) for Mother Bagalamukhi. In Bakreshwar, the primary deity is Mother Mahishamardini, but he was a "Bagala-Siddha" (one who had attained mastery in the worship of Bagalamukhi).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He liked the environment of her home and once asked her, "Mother, I want to give you something. Will you be able to look after it?" She agreed. He initiated her and then one day brought the deity to her house. He told her, "Look after her like your own daughter or sister." He didn't give her complex rituals or mantras; he just told her to call out to her as "Mother."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
She worshipped Mother Bagalamukhi for a long time using a painted portrait. She offered her fish, eggs, and meat—Mother accepts all of these. Anyway, after Vasudev Baba passed away, I did an episode where I mentioned him and our acquaintance. I didn't know it at the time, but this lady used to follow my episodes. When she heard her Guru's name, she was deeply moved. She couldn't believe I had known him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The next day, she sent one of her disciples to me. He played a voice recording of Vasudev Baba for me. I confirmed, "Yes, this is the man." After Vasudev Baba passed, she felt quite helpless. She continued her rituals and fire sacrifices (Homa-Yagya). Now, she has many people serving her.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I went there yesterday and it felt good. When I was leaving, she asked me to stay a bit longer for the Arati (evening prayer). They performed the Arati for both the Mother and me. She had her daughter perform the rituals as she is no longer physically able to do much.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is a backstory here: She teaches the practices of Mother Bagala to her disciples. However, one of her disciples turned against her and used a "baan" (a spiritual strike or curse) on her. He used the very mantras she had taught him to strike her. She became bedridden and couldn't even get up. If she tried to sit up, her head would spin and she would collapse. She realized she had been struck by a "baan."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
She sent people to me, explaining that she was bedridden. I told the messenger to wait. I went to the crematorium (shhmashana), performed some rituals, and prepared a "maduli" (protective talisman). I told him to take the talisman and go straight to her without looking back. I told him to put it around her neck and that she would recover. She did indeed recover completely. I had forgotten about the talisman, but she showed it to me yesterday, saying, "You gave me this, and I am still wearing it."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Then I remembered. She had visited me once before and invited me to see Mother Bagala at her home. As a spiritual seeker, when I give my word, I must keep it. I told her I would visit someday. We stayed in touch via phone. Finally, her disciple came and insisted that I must go. I felt a "pull" from Mother Bagala herself.
Disciple:
Gurudev, was the pull felt by her or by you?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It was a pull from the Mother toward me. I felt I had to go. I arranged for a car. It was a 100-kilometer journey on very rough roads, which made the return journey difficult. But seeing the Mother felt wonderful. Her room was beautifully decorated. The lady stayed with me the entire time.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The hospitality was incredible. Her disciples had heard I was coming, so they brought Hilsa fish, Bhetki fish, Pona fish, and various greens just to feed me. She kept saying, "The Mother's son has come; won't he eat?" They even brought milk for porridge. They prepared so many items. As you know, I don't usually eat much—I just taste a bit of everything. I ate a single mouthful of rice, and the rest was distributed as Prasad (blessed food) to everyone else.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I was treated with great respect. They sang songs, including the one from our Vipattarini Chandi house. There is a small idol of Mother Vipattarini there who reportedly came to her of her own accord. There were idols of Vasudev and Jagannath as well. The house was filled with deities and the aura of saints. She respects me immensely because I was a friend of her Guru. She told me, "My Guru has passed, but you are here. You are my Guru now."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I saved her life when that "baan" had nearly killed her. Now she is doing well. I usually avoid traveling because of my asthma, but yesterday, despite climbing up and down the stairs to the Mother's temple on the second floor several times, I felt no breathing difficulty at all. I was amazed. My physical pain seemed to vanish.
Disciple:
It must be the Mother's grace.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I don't know, but I usually can't go anywhere because of my health. Yesterday, however, it was like my illness was abolished. I felt completely fine. Perhaps it was because the Mother wanted to see me. Bagala worship is very difficult. When we did it, we had to bring soil from a potter's house, make a copper vessel, worship it with turmeric water, and perform rituals involving a goat. It takes a long time to become a "Bagala-Siddha."
Disciple:
You say you only go to temples where the Mother calls you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. I only go where the worship is authentic and the deity is "alive" (spiritually charged). I don't visit the local Vipattarini temple because I don't feel a connection there. If I don't feel it, I don't go. People here love me and would treat me with great respect, but if I don't feel the pull, I won't go. I go where the rituals are performed correctly. That's the magnetic pull I felt yesterday.
Disciple:
Gurudev, one final question. How is it possible for a disciple to strike their own Guru with a "baan"?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It's surprising, but it happens. There is a saying: "Kill the Guru to take his place." Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spoke about this. Disciples sometimes become arrogant and want to surpass their Guru.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
However, in my case, no one can strike me. My body is protected by the Mother's grace. It is not easy to hit me with a "baan." Perhaps that lady had a moment of weakness or her spiritual power was depleted, and the disciple took advantage of that. Spiritual power can decrease if you use it to save others.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In my case, I am "Siddha." Hundreds of people come to me, and I help them without any problem. If anyone tries to strike me, they will face certain death. No one can stop it—not even Brahma, Vishnu, or Maheshwar. If someone tries to harm me, Mother Tara will strike them down when the time is right.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I don't have to do anything. Our rule is: protect yourself, don't go out of your way to protect others unless necessary. I provide protection to those who come to me, but I don't seek conflict. I remember a priest here who didn't like me. Once, a man asked him where "Shyama-Khyapa" (Gurudev) lived. The priest insulted me and claimed he would have me on a funeral pyre by that night. That night, while he was at the cremation ground, he fell face-down into a fire. My disciples found him and took him to the hospital, but he didn't survive. I told him later, "You wanted to put me on the pyre, but look what happened." Mother does not tolerate such things.
Disciple:
It's amazing to hear that even the high gods wouldn't interfere if someone tried to harm a true devotee like you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If someone tries to touch me, their death is inevitable. Mother Tara and Father Bama will take care of it. I have performed the Mahamrityunjaya ritual for thousands of days. If I were to die, there would be a battle between the messengers of Yamraj (the God of Death) and the messengers of Lord Shiva. No one can harm me. Only those with little intelligence would try. I've seen ten or twelve people try, and they are all gone. This is the absolute truth.
Disciple:
Gurudev, I've done many episodes with you, but today's talk was truly extraordinary. To hear about the immense power you hold...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is immense power, but God tells us to keep it hidden. One should never flaunt it. That is why I live simply. My power is the Mother's power. I am the son of Mother Tara and Father Bama. It is not easy to lay a hand on me. Everyone in Tarapith knows me as "Tara's son." I don't use my power for vanity, but I use it to help the 100 or 150 people who come to see me every day. If I didn't have this power, why would so many people come? But I never threaten anyone. If someone does something wrong, Mother Tara will handle it.
Disciple:
We feel strengthened just by being your disciples. We hope to be protected under your grace. We conclude this evening's session. Salutations to Mother and Father Tara, and respects to you, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you all.