Disciple:
Guru-deva, I offer my salutations.
Guru:
Blessings, blessings.
Disciple:
Today, on this special occasion, I want to ask you something. Many people are asking whether someone named Lord Ram truly existed. Also, regarding yesterday's special moment in India—the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Ram Mandir—I would like to hear your thoughts on these two matters.
Guru:
Look, there are four great epics in the world. Two are from Greece and two are from India. In Greece, they have the Iliad and the Odyssey. Ours are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These four are recognized globally as the greatest epics; there are no others of this scale.
Guru:
Now, regarding Ram being an Avatar (incarnation)—if you say Ram didn't exist, I could similarly say your grandfather's grandfather didn't exist because you never saw him. Since you haven't seen him, you could claim he never existed, right? But Ram certainly existed. Among the ten incarnations of Lord Narayana, Ram is one. There is no doubt about it.
Guru:
However, I cannot say for certain if his life was exactly as depicted in the poetic epics. But if you look at the ten incarnations of Narayana, Ram is one of them. Ram was a superhuman. We have to look at the Puranas briefly. When Ravana gained immortality, he went to Sage Vishrava and said, "Father, I have attained immortality." When asked who gave it to him, he said, "Lord Brahma."
Guru:
Brahma had granted him a boon of protection from various beings, but Ravana didn't mention humans. Brahma realized this was a loophole. When Ravana was asked why he didn't include humans, he replied, "I am a Rakshasa (demon); I eat humans. Why would I need protection from them?"
Guru:
Later, Ram was born as one of the four incarnations to slay Ravana. This is why we call Ram "Narayana." This isn't a new issue; it's been ongoing for centuries.
Disciple:
It's almost 3,000 years old.
Guru:
I'm talking about the Babri Masjid dispute. That was controversial. Ram's birthplace was turned into a mosque 492 years ago by a general of Babur.
Disciple:
Yes, it was built by Babur's general.
Guru:
Yes, they turned Ram's birthplace into a mosque. That continued for 492 years. After much controversy, you saw that 30 years ago, L.K. Advani started the Rath Yatra (chariot journey). Everyone joined in chanting "Jai Shri Ram" and carrying bricks for the temple.
Guru:
What did this prove? It proved the awakening of Hindutva. It established the identity of Hindutva. We often don't understand our own identity as Hindus; we only realize it when someone points it out. Establishing Hindutva was a major event for us.
Guru:
Returning to the point—just because you haven't seen your ancestors doesn't mean they didn't exist. Ram existed, and while the epics might have some poetic exaggeration, both Ram and Ravana were real. There was a war between them, representing two invincible forces. Ravana was defeated in that war. Ram's birth in Ayodhya is not a recent story; it dates back thousands of years.
Guru:
I am 70 or 75 years old, but even 30 years ago, we saw the movement.
Disciple:
Thirty years ago, Advani started the journey, and after a long gap, yesterday our Prime Minister—could you speak on that?
Guru:
Yesterday, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone with a silver brick. The temple isn't built yet, but work is starting on the pillars and stones. Yesterday was the Bhoomi Pujan (land worship ceremony). It marks the beginning of the awakening of Hindutva and the chanting of Ram's name. I don't know how long it will take to complete—it's a massive architectural project—but we have seen the foundation being laid. They had to go through a lot—the High Court, the Supreme Court—to get this order.
Disciple:
Guru-deva, I heard that after 60 years of legal battle since independence, the foundation was finally laid yesterday.
Guru:
Exactly. This is a victory for Hindutva. During this long period, nearly 450,000 people allegedly lost their lives over the Ram Mandir issue. It is a matter of pride for us today. Our Prime Minister and even the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, have shared messages of harmony.
Guru:
I want to say one thing: we have won. We shouldn't hate any other religion. Why would we? There is no question of that. Whether someone is Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or Jain—everyone should live with their own faith.
Guru:
However, looking back 400 years, many invaders destroyed temples. Wherever you find a large temple, like in Varanasi, you often see a mosque built right next to it.
Disciple:
We saw it in Mathura as well, right next to Krishna's birthplace.
Guru:
Yes, they did that to establish their dominance, and we watched silently because we are tolerant. But now things have changed. Discussing this can sometimes lead to communal tensions, so I won't go too deep into it. I believe in Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism equally. All religions are one and the same. To fight over this is just nastiness. Everyone is calling out to God, and everyone will end up in the same place—some in a crematorium and some in a grave. This nastiness in the name of religion is wrong. I've heard that the Muslim community has also been allocated land to build a mosque nearby. So, today is a victory for Hindutva. Jai Shri Ram.
Disciple:
Guru-deva, could you clarify once more for those who ask if Ram was real?
Guru:
He definitely was. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't read the Puranas. We are talking about events from 9,000 to 10,000 years ago. Over time, many things disappear. You can't pinpoint every exact spot after so long. But the Supreme Court gave its verdict after much deliberation, confirming it as Ram's birthplace. That is why the temple is being built. It is a matter of pride for Hindus.
Guru:
If I say my grandfather didn't exist just because I didn't see him, it's foolish. We cannot discard the Puranas. Everything you see in the world, including holy places like Kedarnath and Badrinath, is mentioned in the 18 Puranas. You cannot deny them; they are our core strength. After 492 years, Ram has finally reclaimed his place.
Disciple:
Guru-deva, I heard that the main litigants in the case—one Hindu and one Muslim—used to travel to court in the same car and even have tea together.
Guru:
Exactly. Those who are truly wise and highly evolved have no discrimination between them. Discrimination exists among people like you and me. If I say something about Muslims, people call it appeasement, and the same if I speak about Hindus. But the people at the top in Delhi don't have this bias. Many Muslims are in the military and in high positions serving India. There's no point in criticizing that. Something magnificent is being built, and that is good.
Disciple:
Thank you, Guru-deva. Your words have inspired us. Salutations.
Guru:
Blessings to you.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa affirms the historical existence of Lord Ram as one of the ten incarnations of Narayana, drawing from the Puranas. The conversation centers on the historic Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan ceremony, marking the end of a 492-year struggle since Babur's general demolished the original temple. The Guru emphasizes that this is a victory for Hindutva—not just a religious triumph, but an awakening of Hindu identity. He draws a parallel between questioning Ram's existence and denying one's own ancestors simply because they weren't personally seen. Importantly, Guru Baba calls for religious harmony, stating that while Hindus have reclaimed their sacred space, there should be no hatred toward other faiths. He notes that the Muslim community was also allocated land for a mosque, and that true wisdom transcends religious discrimination—as evidenced by the Hindu and Muslim litigants who maintained friendship throughout the legal battle. This event represents the restoration of dharma after centuries of temple destruction by invaders.