Interviewer:
Gurudeb, Pranam (my respects).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, my son, Pranam, Pranam.
Interviewer:
This temple is Shanti Kunj. Mother is established here. Many devotees wanted to see Mother's face and sent requests to you. So Gurudeb, if you could say a few words to them.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Ah, okay. Well, Mother is here; Vama Tara is here. My Gurudeb, Bamdeb Baba, used to worship this idol. She is called Vama Tara. Vama Tara means Mother's left foot is placed on Shiva's chest and her right foot is near Shiva's leg. That is what Vama Tara means. Vama Kali is also the same; it is based on the positioning of the feet. For instance, in Dakshina Kali, the right foot is on Shiva's chest and the left foot is near his leg. Vama Tara is essentially the same configuration—Mother's left foot on Shiva's chest and the right foot on Shiva's leg.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Bamdeb Baba used to worship this Tara. For some reason—I didn't make her—she came here and has been established for five years. I was originally a devotee of Kali, but I don't know what happened; Mother Tara took her place here. She doesn't let Mother Kali reside here anymore. If we want to worship Kali, we have to do it outside. I don't know why this happened. She has been with me for a long time. She is very restless (chanchal). That's why you'll see a chain tied to Mother's foot. Many people have asked me about this chain; I have received many inquiries from various places. Now, from a devotee's perspective... Mother is extremely restless here, and as you can see, she looks very young and lively. After witnessing certain things happen multiple times, I was forced to put a chain on Mother's foot.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People tell me I should bind her with the "chain of the mind," but that's not quite it. There's a history here. In the old days, dacoits used to worship Mother Kali before going on a robbery, and they would tie a chain to her feet. There is "Dakat Kali" (Dacoit Kali); many such idols are seen with chains. They were also great devotees of Mother, but they were afraid Mother might run away. In my case, the same thing happened. Several times Mother "left," and I had to bring her back. So, I thought there was only one way: tie her with a chain so she doesn't go anywhere. That is the main purpose; there is no trick or magic involved. When these incidents occurred, I told a boy to bring a lock, a key, and a chain to tie Mother up. She has been kept that way ever since. She is exceptionally restless; you can see it in her face. Who can manage all that? That's why I keep her chained.
Interviewer:
So, the purpose of chaining Mother... that's the main reason. Because of Mother's beautiful face and her restless nature, you tied her with a chain, right?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. And there's another thing—many wandering monks and saints come here, and not all of them have good intentions. Some perform rituals to take Mother away. This is a fact. They come, see Mother's beauty, and keep repeating, "What a beautiful face, she looks so beautiful," and so on. This is a serious matter. There are many who try to take her away. This actually happened in my case once. I saw her somewhere and whispered in Mother's ear, "Mother, come with me, you don't like it here, come with me to the cremation ground (shashan)." Later, she actually came here on her own in a Matador truck and became established here. She has been here ever since. There are many things involved that ordinary eyes cannot perceive. People cannot understand, and it's not possible to explain everything. But this is 100% true. There are bad people out there, and many come to Mother with unknown intentions. That is why I was forced to keep her chained so she couldn't leave or be taken. It's a matter of the mind—you can call it a mental state.
Interviewer:
Gurudeb, what you said about Mother is not unbelievable; it is completely true. I hope your devotees will consider your words. Pranam, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam, my son, Pranam.
Spiritual Insight
The story of Vama Tara at Shanti Kunj reveals the living, dynamic nature of the Divine Mother. Unlike static idols, she is restless, youthful, and has her own will—so much so that she "left" several times and had to be called back. The chain, far from being merely symbolic, serves a practical purpose: to protect her from those who might try to "take" her through ritual power, and to keep her from wandering. The tradition of Dakat Kali (Dacoit Kali) shows that even outlaws recognized Mother's power and used chains to ensure she wouldn't abandon them. That Gurudev himself once called her from elsewhere demonstrates that a true devotee can invite the Divine, but then must take responsibility for protecting that precious connection. The chain is not imprisonment—it is preservation of a relationship too precious to lose.