Man 1:
You have come from Russia, right?
Russian Visitor:
Yes.
Man 1:
Why have you come all this way from Russia to India?
Russian Visitor:
Well, look… I have visited India many times. I have been practicing Japa for fifteen years. Tara Ma Japa. I do Japa, Kavacha, and a bit of Sadhana. Tara Ma is inside my heart. I seek her grace. I have visited Tarapith many times. I have had her Darshan, but I still need more of her grace.
Man 1:
Yes, in Tarapith, everything is there.
Russian Visitor:
I have friends there, at the old cremation ground.
Man 1:
Do you use the Shankha Mala for Japa?
Russian Visitor:
No, not this one. I have another one. This is for Veera (heroic path). I have another one inside. This book is in the Russian language. It is about the Goddess Tara—Chinnamasta Tantra.
Man 1:
He has had this book since he was in India.
Russian Visitor:
Here is my Japa Mala, incense sticks, and Sindur. I perform Tara Sadhana at night. This is for Japa.
Man 1:
For how many years have you been doing this?
Russian Visitor:
Fifteen years. At first, I had no initiation (Diksha). Before that, I first visited Mayapur, the ISKCON temple. My heart was with Krishna, the Supreme Lord. Radha-Krishna, Banke Bihari Lal—Radhe Radhe! But now, I am a Tara-Bhakt (devotee of Tara).
Man 1:
Krishna and Kali are the same. There is no difference, only a difference in the mind.
Russian Visitor:
Tara Puja in Russian! A Russian book about Chinnachar Tara.
Man 1:
Do you like being in India?
Russian Visitor:
Yes, quite a bit. My last visit was many years ago. I stayed in Russia for seven years without visiting India, but now I am back. I have visited Delhi and Girnar, and now I am in Kolkata. Tonight, I leave for Tarapith.
Man 1:
Will you stay in India for a while?
Russian Visitor:
Until the 30th, then I return to Russia. To Moscow.
Man 1:
All the way to Moscow!
Russian Visitor:
Right now, it is very cold in Moscow, minus thirty degrees.
Man 1:
Oh my! Minus thirty!
Man 2:
To Man 1: If you want to ask him anything in Bengali, I can translate it into English for him.
Man 1:
I do not have many questions. I was just observing that he has come all the way from Russia specifically for this. It feels good. As a Russian, he is practicing Tara Sadhana and using this Russian book. He performs his Sadhana at night. He is also a devotee of Radha-Krishna. I told him that Krishna and Kali are one and the same; the difference is only in how we perceive them.
Russian Visitor:
I agree, there is no difference between Kali and Krishna; the difference is only in the mind. I have visited many places in India: Jagannath, Banke Bihari, Girnar, and Ranganatha in Tamil Nadu. I have had the Darshan of all the deities. But my heart belongs to Tara Ma. You see, it is the same Brahman, but Tara Ma is my Ishta-Devi (chosen deity).
Man 1:
My Ishta-Devi is also Tara Ma. Bama Khepa is my Guru. I performed Sadhana for twelve years in Tarapith. The Mother was very kind to me. It has been about thirty to thirty-five years now. I have stopped the formal Tantra Sadhana, but I still have my books. These are Tantric books in Bengali.
Man 1:
Would you like some tea? We will have some after we finish the video.
Russian Visitor:
I have some questions regarding Sadhana, Rasa, and certain Mantras.
Man 1:
Keep these matters within yourself. Do not discuss them too much with outsiders, or the essence will be lost.
Man 2:
He is asking because he is having some issues with his practice.
Man 1:
What issues? Just seek her Darshan. Nothing else matters. Rituals alone will not achieve much. You must seat her in your heart and speak to her. That is everything. The external Sadhana you are doing is not as important as what is in your heart.
Russian Visitor:
I was wondering about another initiation, perhaps some Shaktipat…
Man 1:
No. Initiation happens once. Not ten times. Whoever your Guru is, stay with them. If they gave you initiation, they are your Guru. Do not look for another. If a Guru becomes upset, it is very dangerous. Even God cannot save you then. If God is angry, the Guru can save you, but if the Guru is angry, God will not help.
Russian Visitor:
I also do not quite understand 'Rasa' (spiritual flavor). Like Mother Yashoda and baby Krishna have 'Vatsalya Rasa' (parental love). Radha and Krishna have another type of 'Rasa'. I wonder what my 'Rasa' with Tara is.
Man 1:
Whoever you love with all your heart, that is your Ishta-Devi. Whatever you feel for her, that is your Rasa. You do not need to label it or follow a specific one. Just stick to one path and do not wander. India is a deep matter. Just continue your Japa at night; it will make everything better.
Russian Visitor:
I perform my Japa at 1:00 AM, and finish before 5:00 AM, during the Brahma Muhurta. Before the Japa, I do Kavacha, Nyasa, and Purascharana. I have the books for all of it.
Man 1:
He has come from Russia and has been practicing Tantra Sadhana for a long time. His chosen deities are Radha-Govinda and Tara Ma. He speaks English but does not know Bengali or Hindi, though he understands a little bit of Hindi.