Narrator:
Salutations, Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Salutations, my son.
Narrator:
On our YouTube channel, \"Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khepa,\" many devotees are asking questions about various topics. One question that has come to us frequently is about the concept of the \"33 Crore Deities.\" In today’s episode, we would like to learn from you about the origin of these 33 crore deities, whom we see being worshipped in various places by many devotees.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, your basic assumption is quite wrong. I don't believe there is such a thing as \"33 crore\" individual deities. We will get to that discussion in a moment. But first, let me tell you what we actually have: we have 51 Sati Pithas (sacred Shakti shrines), 12 Jyotirlingas (shrines of Lord Shiva), and 64 Yoginis. These are the primary divine categories we recognize.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa once mentioned that for those who live on the banks of the Ganges, 33 crore deities reside with them. He mentioned the number, but he didn’t dictate a list of individual names. In common parlance, we often say we are worshipping 33 crore gods, but that isn't the actual truth. Ramakrishna Dev said that those who live by the Ganges have 33 crore deities with them—referring to the people themselves.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Our poets have written: \"We are 33 crores, not weak; we may be poor, but we are not inferior.\" When these verses were written, the census showed that the population of India was approximately 33 crore. Swami Vivekananda used to say, \"Jiva is Shiva\" (Every living soul is a manifestation of God). He believed that within every human being, there is the presence of the Divine.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When we discuss the human body, we talk about the Mooladhara (the root chakra) where Shiva resides. A \"black snake\" (Kundalini energy) is coiled there two-and-a-half times. To \"awaken\" or \"uncoil\" this is not possible for a common person; it is achieved through Kumbhaka (yogic breath control). Vivekananda understood this, which is why he said that the 33 crore people of this land are themselves the 33 crore deities.
Narrator:
That is a profound perspective.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Our poets and saints mentioned 33 crore because that was the population then. India is a spiritual country. We focus on our internal growth and don't obsess over other nations. Throughout history, the Huns, Mughals, and Pathans came to loot our wealth. They didn't just come for money or property; they came for our heritage—the Vedas, the Vedanta, the Gita, the Puranas, and the Upanishads. They tried to loot this knowledge many times but failed. They merged into this land or left, unable to take the essence with them.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People say our wealth was looted, like the Kohinoor diamond. But our true strength—the Vedas and Vedangas—can never be looted. That is the true wealth of a Hindu. Today, the West is suffering because they were focused only on consumption (bhoga). Now they are looking toward the East for the path of renunciation (tyaga). Our gurus are teaching there, and the Western world is finally embracing our spiritual philosophy. Even in places like Canada and London, Kali temples and Durga Pujas are increasing. They are realizing that material consumption leads to destruction, so they are turning to spiritual renunciation.
Narrator:
I have a question regarding the various deities. Some are considered \"principal\" deities, while others are called \"folk\" or \"local\" deities. Is there such a distinction?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
These forms are created by humans. Whether it is the image of Mother Kali, Mother Shitala, or Mother Manasa, they are all symbolic. If you understand the symbolism, you see the truth; otherwise, you just see an idol.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Take Mother Shitala, for example. She is depicted riding a donkey, holding a broom in one hand and a cooling pot under her arm. What does this symbolize? She is known as the goddess of \"the dark night\" in Tantra, associated with diseases like smallpox and cholera.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The symbolism is a lesson in hygiene: Use the broom to clean your surroundings. Ensure there is a flow of pure air. Gather the filth into the pot and place it on a donkey—an animal that can carry heavy loads—to take the refuse far away from human habitation. This is a scientific and symbolic message for the common man to prevent epidemics. But the common person often doesn't look for the symbol; they just see the deity.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, to summarize, \"33 Crore\" refers to the divinity within the population of our nation at that time. Our actual counted sacred entities are the 12 Jyotirlingas, the 51 Sati Pithas, and the 64 Yoginis. The rest is a beautiful poetic metaphor for the divine potential in every human being.
Narrator:
Thank you, Gurudeb, for this unique and insightful explanation. Friends, you have heard a completely new perspective on the 33 crore deities. Please continue to subscribe to our channel for more such valuable insights from Gurudeb.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Salutations to all. (Ending Mantra: Om Sahasra-kiranaya Vidmahe, Surya-atmanaya Dhimahi, Tanno Surya Prachodayat)