Disciple:
Salutations, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Salutations, my son.
Disciple:
Gurudev, in this world where so many things are happening—the universe, the multiverse—everything must have had a beginning somewhere. Where did this creation originate?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This creation originated from the Big Bang. If you talk about the beginning of creation, you have to bring in the Big Bang. There was a massive explosion, a formidable blast. Everything was created from that. Initially, there was nothing; it was completely empty. Then, gradually, it began. The Big Bang started it, and it created the entire universe as you see it today—all the galaxies and everything else. Before that, there was nothing.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Later on, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar (Shiva) were introduced. This happened much later. I say this because humans did this for their own interests. No one truly knows if Brahma exists, if Vishnu exists—no one knows. However, you can consider Shiva as the "Adi Shakti" (Primal Power). Look at his three eyes: two regular eyes and one for destruction—the Third Eye. He can bring about the end of the world with that eye.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Perhaps you don't know the domains of these deities. Do you know where Brahma's place is? It is Pushkar; that is Brahma's domain. He created it; it is his place. Then, where is Narayana's (Vishnu) place? The entire South is Vishnu's domain. And where we live, this is the domain of Shiva and Durga—the place of Shiva-Durga Shakti. Everything done here revolves around Shiva and Durga. Although Narayana is the Primal Power, we give preference to Shiva-Durga because this region is dedicated to them. Narayana is kept at the forefront, but this is a human construct.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
What you call a "Black Hole" today is essentially Shiva's Third Eye. It is one-dimensional. Dimensions can be many; for example, a room has length, breadth, and height. But in a black hole, there is no such thing as dimensions. Anything it finds, it pulls into a single point. Even something as large as the Earth would become a tiny point. Nothing remains; it all merges into that point within the black hole. Whatever you send there never returns; it is crushed and absorbed.
Disciple:
Gurudev, many people compare that point inside the black hole to the Shivalinga. It is seen as the same place where creation and destruction happen simultaneously. How is the Shivalinga related to this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, that is a fact. The point in the black hole is compared to the Shivalinga. The Rigveda mentions this—that in the beginning, there was a void (Shunya), and from that void, everything originated. The concept of the Big Bang is presented there in a similar way.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, consider Gyanganj. It is one-dimensional. There are no multiple dimensions there. Time has no value there. Whether you leave today, 50 years later, or 2,000 years later, it is all the same. Time does not function there. This, too, is the play of Mahadev. There are no dimensions; it works in a single dimension. Time stands still.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Just as time stands still in Gyanganj or in the Himalayas, it also stands still inside a black hole. We are sitting here and might not understand it, but these things are happening constantly. Things are perpetually entering black holes and ending at that point, never to return. Many planes and other things have disappeared into black holes. If the Earth were to enter a black hole, it would become the size of a small tablet. Scientists and everyone else fear black holes because of this.
Disciple:
Gurudev, Shivaratri is approaching. People ask for many things from Lord Shiva. Does the fear of Shiva's Third Eye and the associated destruction also cross people's minds during this time?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People generally don't know or discuss these things. They just ask Shiva for boons. What can you ask from a place where destruction is happening every moment? Mother Yashoda once saw the entire universe inside Krishna's mouth. That, too, was like a black hole—the "Krishna Gahwar" (Black Hole). Krishna himself showed this to Mother Yashoda. When he was eating dirt and she asked him to open his mouth, she saw the entire universe revolving inside. You can call Narayana's mouth a black hole. He even mentioned this clearly in the Gita—that his mouth is a black hole where he can swallow and destroy everything.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar—specifically Vishnu and Shiva—carry out destruction. Shiva can destroy everything if he wishes, but he does not have the power of creation or preservation. Currently, Narayana is preserving, and Shiva is destroying. Mother Yashoda proved that Krishna's mouth is a void. In Bengali, a black hole is called "Krishna Gahwar."
Disciple:
Gurudev, during Shivaratri, we see everyone praying to God. Especially women, they seek many things.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Particularly, women fast and observe Shivaratri to get married, specifically to find a good husband. But if someone gets a husband like Shiva, they wouldn't be able to survive! People don't understand what they are asking for when they say they want a "husband like Shiva." Only Parvati knows the hardships she faced after marrying Shiva; she wouldn't marry him a second time!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The one who is the Destroyer—what is his form? His only form is destruction. What can he give to people? Yet, people believe that observing Shivaratri will bring a good husband and a good household. This is a deep-seated belief among women. It's the same with Punipukur; they believe it leads to a good husband and a good in-laws' house.
Disciple:
But Gurudev, nowadays many men also observe Shivaratri.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It's with the same hope. You won't get anything from Shiva in that sense. Shiva is called "Mangalmay" (The Auspicious One), but which side of him will you grasp? All the planets revolve around Shiva. If you go to Kashi Vishwanath, you will see the nine planets (Navagraha) and the Seven Sages (Saptarishi) are worshipped there. It is said that everything is resolved at Shiva's feet. That is why we say, "Go to Tryambakeshwar." By bathing there and offering water to Shiva, the influence of the planets can be mitigated.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But we are so ignorant; we hold out our hands to the one who cannot give in the way we expect.
Disciple:
Regarding creation, preservation, and destruction—Brahma, the Creator, is not typically worshipped in households. But Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Destroyer) are worshipped in every home. Why is that?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is human ignorance. People think Shiva can give them many things. But what will he give? That is why Daksha Prajapati did not want to marry his daughter to Shiva—because Shiva was considered "Gotra-heen" (without a lineage). However, Shiva does have a Gotra—the Nath Gotra. Those who are Nath belong to the Shiva Gotra. Shiva has no origin; nobody knows how he was born. This was Daksha's objection. Eventually, Parvati married him but ended up immolating herself in the fire. Shiva could have stopped it, but he didn't. He carried her body, which was then divided into 51 pieces, creating the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are many such stories. Look at Behula and Lakhindar. When Lakhindar was bitten by a snake, Behula took him to the ghat of Netai Dhopani. There was a great poet there who saved him. But in the stories, they show she danced and took his bones to satisfy the gods to get him back. There are many stories like this about Mahadev and others, but one shouldn't just focus on the stories. One should look at Shiva's power and his origin to understand him.
Disciple:
Shiva is associated with "Mahapralaya" (The Great Dissolution) and "Mahakal" (The Great Time). Is this why Shiva is always sitting in calm meditation? Because if he wakes up, destruction might follow?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He is constantly chanting. Who is he chanting for? He chants for the "Adi Shakti" (The Primal Power), the one who will sustain the world during the time of peril. When the Great Dissolution comes, it won't be possible for Shiva to hold the world. Only the "Adi Shakti Mahamaya" can do that. He chants so that the world remains safe. She is the one with the power of millions of suns.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Common people are busy with the "auspicious" version of Shiva. They observe Shivaratri only to find a good husband or wife. There is nothing else to it if you look closely. If girls knew what getting a husband like Shiva actually meant, they wouldn't pray for it!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is a saying: "I am the light of Brahma, the light of Brahma is Shiva; I am the light of Shiva, the light of Shiva is Vishnu." Everyone holds onto their own light; no one wants to let go.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, through this discussion, we started with black holes and reached Shivaratri. Remember, the "Krishna Gahwar" is the black hole. Krishna showed it, and Mother Yashoda saw the whole world in his mouth. Shiva's Third Eye is also a point of great dissolution. Ultimately, everything—Krishna's mouth, Shiva's eye—is interlinked. Many mouths, but they all end at the same point.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Just as our life cycle consists of creation, preservation, and destruction—from birth to death—the entire universe follows the same rule. The whole world will one day dissolve into a single point. That is what we discussed today.
Disciple:
Salutations, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Salutations.