Narrator:
(Sound of conch shells and religious music) Salutations to the hidden seeker, Shri Shri Syama Khapa. Namaste. We begin our program from Shanti Kunj by offering our respects to Guru Dev Syama Khapa. Come, let us all listen to the invaluable words of Guru Dev.
Devotee:
Greetings, Guru Dev. Today, we want to ask you something. We have heard stories of various demons performing penance to obtain boons of immortality from the gods. Guru Dev, is it actually possible for a human to attain immortality?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, it is never possible. Only the gods attained immortality because they drank the Amrit (Nectar of Immortality). That is why they are called \"Amritashya Putra\" (Sons of the Nectar). No one else could drink it; only those who did attained immortality. There is a story regarding this. Once, Mother Durga asked Lord Shiva about immortality. Shiva said, \"Parvati, you are the soul of my life. I will tell you the secret of immortality, but in a place where no one else can hear it.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He told her they must go to a secret cave. Initially, Durga was hesitant, but eventually, Shiva persuaded her. On their way to the cave, Shiva began leaving behind his companions. He left his attendants, Tal and Betal, at a specific spot. They asked, \"Lord, if we don't go, who will protect you?\" Shiva replied, \"There is no need. You stay here.\" That place is now known as Tal-Betal.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Further along, they reached a place where Shiva left the snake from around his neck, Ananta Nag. He feared that if the snake heard the secret, it would become immortal. He told the snake to stay there, and that place is known as Anantnag. Finally, Shiva decided to take her to a cave which is known today as Amarnath.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In those days, it was a very difficult terrain. They entered the cave, but Shiva had a doubt. He thought, \"What if birds or animals here hear the secret? They will become immortal.\" So, he used his third eye to ignite a massive fire. Everything in the vicinity was burnt to ashes. He believed no living creature remained.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Then, he began narrating the secret of immortality to Durga. However, while listening, Durga fell asleep and did not hear the full story. When she woke up, Shiva asked, \"Do you now understand the secret of immortality?\" She replied, \"Lord, I fell asleep. I didn't hear anything.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Shiva was troubled. \"I told you everything, and you slept?\" But there was a parrot (tota) inside that cave that had heard every single word. When Shiva realized this, he chased the parrot with his trident.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The parrot flew away, and Shiva followed it everywhere. Eventually, the parrot reached a forest where a sage and his wife were. The wife opened her mouth wide, and the parrot entered her mouth and went into her womb. Shiva was furious, but since it was a woman, he could not strike her. He told the sage to kill the being inside, but the sage refused. Eventually, Shiva calmed down. That being was born as Shuka Deva (often associated with Sage Vyasa in different versions of the legend). He knew all the secrets, which is why his wisdom is unmatched.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Shiva eventually returned and told the story to Parvati again, briefly, in a way that ensured no one else was around. That cave is the Amarnath cave. Even today, you can see the ice formations of Mother Durga, Ganesha, and the Shiva Lingam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But who truly gets immortality? Only the \"Sons of Nectar.\" However, there are some great saints, like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who have attained a form of immortality. True immortality is when a person’s work and spiritual practice are so great that they are worshipped in every home even after their physical body is gone. This is immortality—not the body living forever, but your name and deeds living on.
Devotee:
Guru Dev, since we are talking about immortality, I want to ask about Amrit. During the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean), the pot of nectar emerged. We heard Rahu and Ketu drank it, and Vishnu severed them with the Sudarshana Chakra. What is the link between Amrit and immortality?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You are slightly mistaken about Rahu and Ketu. They are \"shadow\" planets. Rahu and Ketu are not physical planets; they are shadows. They are considered \"malefic\" because even the gods fear them. When you see a solar or lunar eclipse, it is said to be the touch of Rahu. Scientifically, it is a shadow, but a shadow so deep and dark that it can cover the sun or the moon.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
During the Churning of the Ocean, the gods and demons made a pact to share whatever came out. On one side were the gods, on the other the demons, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod. First, many jewels and riches came out. Then came the Halahala (poison). Neither the gods nor the demons wanted to touch it because it would destroy the world.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Lord Shiva stepped forward and said, \"I will drink the poison.\" He drank it from a Dakshinavarta Shankha (a rare right-handed conch). Because it held poison, this type of conch is generally not used in regular religious rituals or blown like a trumpet, although it is kept in homes as it is considered auspicious. After drinking the poison, his throat turned blue, earning him the name Neelkantha. Mother Parvati held his throat so the poison wouldn't descend further.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Finally, the Amrit (Nectar) emerged. The gods feared that if the demons drank it, they would become invincible and immortal. So, a plan was made. Mahalakshmi (in the form of Mohini) took the pot and ran. As she fled through the sky, the pot was heavy, and drops of nectar spilled in four places: Allahabad (Prayagraj), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. This is why the Kumbh Mela is held at these four locations. Eventually, the nectar was distributed to the gods, and they became immortal.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, in this scientific age, they say America has kept many dead bodies frozen in hospitals, attached to wires and electricity. Their theory is that if a person can be \"woken up\" in the future, it would be a form of immortality. But this is madness. Can a person really come back like that? True immortality comes from deeds. People like Ramakrishna, Bama Khepa, or Vivekananda are immortal because they live on in people's hearts and are worshipped daily.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are also legends of great yogis in the Himalayas, in places like Gyan Ganj, who are said to be hundreds or even thousands of years old. Yogis like Pawhari Baba (who lived on air) or Bawaji Maharaj. Some are said to be 1,200 or 2,000 years old. They don't need food or water; they travel through the sky (astral travel) to different realms like Vishnu-loka or Shiva-loka. This is a level of spiritual power that is hard for common people to grasp.
Devotee:
So, if someone today wants to be immortal, what should they do?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If you try to seek physical immortality, you are a fool. I say again, immortality is attained through Karma (deeds). If your work is for God and humanity, people will remember you forever. That is the only true immortality.
Devotee:
Friends, we heard from Guru Dev that \"Work is Immortality.\" Please subscribe to the Gupta Sadhak Syama Khapa YouTube channel, like, and comment. Greetings, Guru Dev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to all.
Narrator:
You were listening to the words of Guru Dev Syama Khapa. To hear more, please subscribe to the channel. To contact Guru Dev, please send a WhatsApp message between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM with your name, location, and phone number. He will call you back when possible. WhatsApp Number: 8080-539595. We conclude today's program with Guru Dev's blessings. Stay well. Namaste.