Host:
Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, Baba, Pronam.
Host:
Gurudev, we are getting many comments, especially from women, who want to know about Shiva. They want to know about Mahadev. Please tell us a bit about him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Shiva is Adi Shakti (Primordial Energy); his age is beyond calculation. Since the earth was created, Shiva has existed. Shiva is the creator of the world. Now, the best form of worship is Shiva-jnana (worship with Shiva's knowledge)—it is the Sattvic (pure) form of worship. There is also Vishnu-jnana and Brahma-jnana. Our body is composed of these three types of knowledge: Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Among these are the three qualities (Gunas): Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva. Rajas is associated with Brahma, Tamas with Vishnu, and Sattva with Shiva. Women have always been attracted to Shiva. Since the time of our ancestors, girls have been told to worship Shiva so they might find a good husband like him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If one gets a husband like Shiva, there is no end to it! A snake around his neck, a trident in his hand, a damru (drum)... which girl would marry such a man? Only Mother Durga (Parvati) chose Shiva. Although Shiva is ageless, he meditated at Gauri Kund, and Shiva was satisfied and appeared before Parvati. He said, "Alright, I will marry you."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There was a great commotion about this. King Himalaya and Daksha Raja were involved. In the end, the wedding took place at Kankhal. Brahma, Narayana, and Narada all came because there is always trouble during weddings! The trouble was that Daksha was not at all in favor of it. Daksha's daughter is called Dakshayani. She has many names—Narayani, Katyayani, and Dakshayani. Katyayana used to call her "Duggi" out of love. He didn't call her Durga; he called her Duggi. He prayed to the Mother to stay in his ashram as his daughter. That is why we see Kanya Kumari today; that is the abode of Parvati.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, the trouble started during the wedding. When asked for his lineage (Gotra), Shiva said, "I have no lineage; I am without a Gotra." They said, "This man without a lineage cannot be married to this girl." They already knew he lived in cremation grounds and consumed intoxicants. Then this new obstacle arose. Parvati is so beautiful, how could she be married to someone without a lineage?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Everyone was worried that the marriage would break. That's when Brahma, Narayana, and Narada intervened. They explained to Daksha, "He is the Adi Shakti; he is ageless. Since Parvati is willing and Mahadev is willing, let the marriage proceed." They convinced the stubborn Daksha, and the marriage finally happened.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Parvati thought Shiva would be a very good husband, but things turned out differently! There was no telling where he would be all day. Parvati would cook, the food would get cold, and he would eat cold food. He was always wandering, for he is the Lord of Creation and is constantly creating.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Parvati was very dissatisfied with her husband. She would often ask him, "Where do you wander? What do you do? You come back at 5:00 PM and eat cold food." Shiva didn't pay much attention. One morning, Shiva came to Parvati and said, "Parvati, I want to eat hot food today." Parvati was surprised, "What? You are used to cold food. Why hot food?" He said, "I have a great desire for hot food. You cook, and I will just go take a bath and return."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He said he would bathe in Manasarovar and return. Parvati finished cooking and waited. But "Bhola Maheshwar" (the simple Lord) forgot his promise! He sat by Manasarovar and started creating. He gathered a pile of pebbles. He would throw a pebble and say, "Become a doctor." He would throw another and say, "Become a barrister." He kept doing this, completely forgetting about the hot food.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Meanwhile, Durga was waiting. She wondered where he had gone. She eventually went looking for him. She traveled through the air and saw Mahadev sitting on a sandbank by Manasarovar. She recognized him by his matted hair. She didn't want to disturb him as he was busy. She landed behind him and listened as he said, "Become a lawyer," "Become an attorney," "Become a solicitor."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He was creating these professions by throwing pebbles. Parvati finally touched his shoulder and said, "The food is getting cold! You asked for hot food, and I am waiting." Shiva said, "You ruined everything! I was in the middle of creating." He gathered the remaining pebbles and threw them into the water, saying, "All of you become Dhamna (useless/shrewd people)."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
So, in our country, we have many Dhamnas too! Just as God created doctors and lawyers, he also created Dhamnas. When Parvati saw his creation, she urged him to come and eat. This is the story of Shiva. The Shiva we see—with matted hair and snakes—is just a form. The real Shiva is Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Truth, Goodness, Beauty). He is truly beautiful.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Women are attracted to Shiva's radiance. They wish for a husband like him. But Parvati knows how "dangerous" such a husband can be! Shiva is very calm. People think he is angry, but he has no anger in him. He is extremely peaceful. There are three things that harm humans: Lust, Anger, and Greed. He has none of these.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As for worship, there is Rajasic worship, which is grand, with drums and many guests. Krishna says in the Gita that this is the Rajas quality. Then there is Tamasic worship, involving ghosts and spirits. I also wander in cremation grounds sometimes! Those who work with spirits are of the Tamas quality.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Sattvic quality belongs to those who are selfless and have controlled their senses. They are the ones who can truly worship Mahadev. Even in food, there are these three qualities. Those with Rajas eat like gluttons. Those with Tamas eat leftovers and "ghost food." Sattvic food is the best.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Vedanta says Shiva is in the sky, in the ether. You should pray to him constantly. Your mind and soul should be focused on him. Until you realize Mahadev, keep worshiping him. There is no other way before death but to remember him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is the essence of the Gunas. Rajas is Brahma, Tamas is Vishnu (associated with spirits and mundane works in this context), and Sattva is for spiritual seekers. Only Sattvic people can truly meditate on Mahadev. There are three types of knowledge: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Swami Vivekananda said the best is Shiva-jnana—serving living beings with the knowledge that they are Shiva.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Vedanta says to be Sattvic. Turn your body into a "cremation ground" by burning away lust, anger, and greed. That is where Mahadev resides. Regarding Durga, she was so devoted to Shiva that she couldn't bear insults toward her husband and sacrificed herself in the fire. One should never criticize their husband or Guru, nor listen to such criticism. It is a great sin.
Host:
But Gurudev, in today's world, many husbands are behaving badly. Should the wife still not criticize or seek justice?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This is the cycle of time. We see it everywhere now. People abandon their own children and go off with others. It's happening with both men and women. It's a mess. People come to me complaining about their spouses leaving them. Men asking to bring back their wives, wives asking for their husbands. This is the current trend. Out of 100 people who come here, 90 have family troubles.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It takes two hands to clap. Sometimes wives harass their husbands as soon as they get home from work. The husband can only take so much and leaves. Then the wife does the same. Some children come to me crying, "Grandfather, please bring my mother back." It's very sad. If a mother stays, she can raise the child even by working in other people's homes. But if the mother leaves, what will happen to the child?
Host:
You said you can help bring them back. Is it possible?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There are certain spiritual practices (Kriya) that can sometimes help. But how many can I do? If 90 out of 100 people have this problem, what can I do? Society has become very corrupt. And it's not just the parents; the neighboring children see this too, and it affects them. It's like a cancer in society.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Also, I see these fake Tantriks luring young girls. A girl told me a Tantrik calls her every day. These people should be practicing spirituality, not chasing girls! They will face great suffering for this. I tell people, "Don't do this. Don't neglect or torture women." This is my advice to those Tantriks. They know nothing of true Tantra, they just wear red clothes and put ads in the newspaper.
Host:
Thank you, Gurudev, for explaining everything through these stories. If we understand this, our lives will change for the better.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I tell these stories because there is a lesson in them. If someone listens carefully—perhaps two or three times—they will understand the depth. Some people complain that I don't get the names or details exactly right, but that's alright. The essence is what matters.
Host:
We will end today's episode here. Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, Baba, Pronam.