Pagla Baba's Journey to Ma Bagheswari Temple in Bongaigaon

Interviewer: Pranam (Salutations), Gurudev.

Guru: Pranam. Tell me.

Interviewer: Pagla Baba is currently in Bongaigaon. We just heard—and you mentioned as well—about him visiting the shrine of Ma Bagheswari. Could you tell us about his current status and the significance of his location?

Guru: Yes, I advised him that before heading to Kamakhya, he must visit Bagheswari. Ma Bagheswari resides there; she is a manifestation of Mahasaraswati. I told him he should offer his worship and perform a Homa (sacred fire ritual) there. Following that instruction, he climbed up to the temple—it is situated quite high up. From that vantage point, the entire city of Bongaigaon is visible. He performed the Homa and sent some photos, which I will share.

He mentioned it would take another five to seven days to reach the Kamakhya temple on foot. In our Tantra tradition, there are two significant pairs: Bagheswar-Bagheswari and Kameshwar-Kameshwari. It is said that one should not visit Kameshwar without first paying respects to Bagheswar. Therefore, I told him to visit the temple on the hilltop in Bongaigaon, perform the rituals to satisfy the Mother, and then proceed.

He has completed the visit and performed a massive Homa. I heard from those present that the ritual fire is still burning even now. From there, he will continue his journey. Members of the RSS and the Bharat Sevashram Sangh have taken the responsibility of guiding him to his destination. He should reach Kamakhya in about seven days. After staying there for three months, he plans to travel to Pashupatinath in Nepal via Siliguri. It is a journey of about six months in total. I have shared the photos of the famous and powerful Ma Bagheswari temple for the devotees.

Interviewer: Friends, you heard Gurudev's words. Following Gurudev's instructions, Pagla Baba has sent some short videos of his time at the Bagheswari temple and his offerings to the Mother. We are including those clips in this episode. As you heard, Pagla Baba will now begin the next leg of his journey toward Ma Kamakhya. Pranam, Gurudev.

Guru: Pranam.

Pagla Baba: Greetings to all devotees. We are here at the Bagheswari temple. As you can see, the temple courtyard is very clean and well-maintained. The people here take great care of the premises. It is surrounded by a dense forest on a high hill. From here, you can see the whole city of Bongaigaon. It might not be very clear on the camera due to the fog, but the entire city lies below. It is a beautiful view, especially in the summer.

Pagla Baba: There is a Samadhi (shrine) of an accomplished saint here. Where is the Samadhi located?

Attendant: Over there, in that corner.

Pagla Baba: Look here, devotees. This is the shrine of a saint who practiced penance here for many, many years. There is a Trishul (trident) here at his Samadhi. What was his name?

Attendant: Suren Baba.

Pagla Baba: Suren Baba. He practiced here for a long time and was a very powerful saint. I offer my deepest respects and Pranam to Suren Baba Maharaj. With this, I conclude this video for the devotees. Jai Ma. Jai Gurudev.

Pagla Baba: I, Pagla Baba, after a long journey on foot, have reached the presence of Ma Bagheswari. She is a very powerful deity. Our Gurudev says—[to the cameraman] get a closer shot of the Mother's face—our Gurudev says that any seeker traveling to Kamakhya must first visit Ma Bagheswari.

Ma Bagheswari and Ma Kamakhya are considered to have a sibling-like bond, just like Kameshwar-Kameshwari and Bagheswar-Bagheswari. Many years ago, when this entire area was a wilderness, a local person found a Kharga (ritual sword) here. A tiger appeared and guided him, pointing the way with the sword. That is how the temple was established. Ma Bagheswari is a very "awake" and powerful goddess.

This temple is high up on the Bagheswari Hill in Bongaigaon. I am here today, and from here, I will begin my journey toward Bijni and Manikpur. I offer my Pranam to all the devotees, to my Gurudev, and to Ma Bagheswari.

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