Devotee:
Pronam, Baba.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, my child. Pronam.
Devotee:
I have been very inspired by watching your episodes on YouTube. That's why I came to see you in person today with a few questions.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, speak up. Go ahead, what are your questions?
Devotee:
Firstly, I heard a statement by Swamiji (Vivekananda). Swamiji said that unless the condition of women is improved, the nation can never truly progress. What is your opinion on this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
100%. There is no argument against Swamiji's words. What does it mean for a nation to progress? Does it mean only men progress and women don't? He desired from the core of his heart that women should be educated. He wanted them to take the lead. It is truly the misfortune of our society that what he envisioned—women being educated and holding the reins of the country—has not been fully realized. Think of history; when India became independent, many women like Pritilata Waddedar and Matangini Hazra were educated and led from the front. So, Swamiji's ultimate hope hasn't been fulfilled yet. Women have reached certain heights today, but if Swamiji were alive, he might still feel his vision isn't fully met. You are the "Mother Power" (Matri Jati). The world moves on your lap. If you are not well, or if you lose your way, not just India, but the whole world will go to ruin.
Devotee:
These days, we see a high tendency of suicide among the youth. Recently, a young actor also committed suicide. Why is this tendency increasing so much?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, this stems from depression. There is depression, and then there are "love triangles," and also issues regarding money. In today's society, if someone has money, it's as if they don't even have the right to live peacefully. If someone has a beautiful wife, they are targeted. Society today has a "lustful gaze" like a tiger or a wolf. Everyone is watching—who has money, whose wife is beautiful? They want to snatch it. To get money, they play games of "love." What you are seeing is nothing else. I would say the fault lies with them too. If you have money, death is standing right in front of you. If you have a beautiful wife, death is standing there. That is the current situation. Unless you keep your eyes and ears open, these things will happen. Society has become poisonous, rotten, and melted. There is no "humanity" (Monushyatva) left. People in high positions are just like "lamp posts"—they have the position but no substance. Always remember: "Think before you act, so you don't have to regret it later." It's not just women; the youth in general have become unruly, and we are seeing the consequences.
Devotee:
Given this degradation of the youth, what kind of world are we leaving for the next generation? Is there a solution?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If people lack humanity, they cannot build a world. Only those with humanity can rule and nurture the world. Today, humanity is lost. The new generation is just "old wine in a new bottle"—the same old thoughts. The British were responsible for this. The education system and the culture they left behind are still being followed. Until this is uprooted, nothing will change. During the Vedic period, the Vedas were central, but the British destroyed the Vedic and Vedantic traditions. They were a "Mlechha" (barbaric/foreign) race. That same British influence continues today. Don't think we are following a different path. To give the next generation a new world, we need people like Netaji or Vivekananda. The current generation has neither proper education nor physical discipline. Vivekananda used to say, "Build your body first, then study." Who does that now? No one. Now, it's just a mobile phone, a motorbike, and a girl sitting behind—that is their "exercise." I say this because I see it. Society cannot continue like this. Humanity has vanished. Even leaders have lost their humanity; they have become like lamp posts. As Rabindranath Tagore said, "Whatever the master says, the followers say it ten times louder." This is our current state. It is very harmful. People only think about money. But where will this money go? It won't be spent on good causes; it will be spent on bad things.
Devotee:
What about "Kushti-Thikuji" (Horoscopes)? We see them used from birth to marriage. How reliable are they?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Not at all. I don't believe in them. I believe in Astronomy, not Astrology. I have analyzed many horoscopes and found they rarely match reality. That's why I've concluded they are mostly false. Moreover, people don't even calculate them manually anymore; they just use computers with pre-set programs. What is the use of that?
Devotee:
But many people study Astrology, and sometimes their predictions come true?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If you look at a hundred people, one or two things might match by chance. You can't judge the whole system based on that. So, I don't trust horoscopes.
Devotee:
Regarding rituals (Puja), we see that besides Brahmins, other people and even women are performing them now. Can people of all genders perform Puja?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, anyone can call upon God. God is not reserved for one specific gender or group. He doesn't want to harm anyone; He is always benevolent. Whether you perform a formal Puja or not, if you just remember Him once a day—what we call "Smaran-Manan"—that is enough. Contemplate that God exists, and through Him, the world and you exist. Just say once a day, "Lord, the world moves by Your will, the sun and moon rise because of You. You are the strength and the inspiration. I am part of this world, please look after my well-being and the well-being of everyone." When we give "Anjali" (offerings), it's not just for ourselves. It is "Sarva Mangala Mangalye"—for the well-being of everyone. But nowadays, people say, "I am giving Anjali for my son or daughter." That is wrong. Anjali is for everyone.
Devotee:
We often see selfishness in rituals...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is ego. Those who truly seek God don't do it for show. They meditate in forests or secluded places. As for women, I would say they don't even need to perform rituals—they are the Goddess. they are the creators. Life is created in a mother's womb. If there is no creation, who will sustain or destroy? They are the creators of the world. A mother can turn her child into a philosopher, a lawyer, or a doctor. The world moves on the lap of the mother. If they become unruly, society falls apart.
Devotee:
These were my questions. Thank you so much.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You're welcome. There's no need for thanks. You shared your heart, and I tried to answer as best as I could. But remember, Vivekananda's ideals are the foundation. Our country is a land of spirituality. So many great souls have walked this earth. Every handful of dust here is like gold because of them. But we haven't been able to use that legacy. The Western influence has destroyed our culture. Our generation is suffering the consequences. We need to uproot the Western education system. Also, I will say one thing: the current Central Government (BJP) is in power. If they cannot reveal the mystery of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's death, then such a government is of no use. I don't like it. If they cannot evaluate the life of such a great man, they should go. That is my view.
Devotee:
One last thing, we know about the power of Shiva and Durga, but many of us don't know about the power of "Ardhanarishvara" (The half-male, half-female form).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look at the Shiva Linga you worship. That itself is Ardhanarishvara. The Shiva Linga is placed within the "Gouri-pat" (the base representing the Goddess). The union of the base and the Linga—that is Ardhanarishvara. People complicate it with many interpretations, but the core point is simple. If you worship Shiva, you are worshipping Ardhanarishvara because Shiva is incomplete without Shakti. It is a symbol of great union and creation.
Devotee:
So, it is the same power.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. The Gouri-pat and the Linga together represent the ultimate union. That is Ardhanarishvara.
Devotee:
Thank you so much, Baba. Pronam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, my child. Be well.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa affirms Swami Vivekananda's vision that a nation's progress is inseparable from the empowerment of its women. He warns about the dangerous degradation of youth and society, dismisses blind faith in horoscopes in favor of Astronomy, and reveals the profound truth of Ardhanarishvara as the divine union of Shiva and Shakti. His message calls for a return to true humanity, Vedic wisdom, and the recognition of women's sacred role as the creative power of the universe.