The Truth About Ambubachi: Science vs. Superstition

Student: Pranam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pranam.

Student: Gurudev, today at the temple, before the temple was closed, the Mother was offered fruits, mangoes, bananas…

Gurudev: That was yesterday evening.

Student: Yes, it was given yesterday evening. Along with puffed rice, sweets, and all those things before the Mother’s door was closed.

Gurudev: The door is closed, then locked, and it isn't opened for three days. Mother's face is not seen for three days. We only do one thing: we give some milk and mangoes. This is what Ambubachi is. Mango and milk. We push it in through the bottom of the door. That is like nectar. Mango and milk are like nectar. It even neutralizes poison; any poison in your body will be gone. No one knows this, but Mother is given mango and milk regularly during these three days. Mother consumes it through the bottom of the door, and we push it in by hand. We give it under the door and then pull it back in the afternoon. Then we distribute it among those who are there, to the devotees. Mango and milk are a way to neutralize poison. Mother’s body has a lot of toxins that need to be neutralized. Yes, go on.

Student: Is this rule the same at the Kamakhya temple?

Gurudev: Exactly the same. I was at Kamakhya for many years. I have seen what happens there, and the same is done here.

Student: Some people say that the water turns red...

Gurudev: There was an old Brahmin in Kamakhya who looked at me like a son. I asked him, "Father, I’ve heard that the water turns red, that there is bleeding and the water becomes red." He said, "Who told you such nonsense? These are all lies. Nothing happens. The water remains as it is. These are just rumors. Don't believe any of it. You've come to practice Tantra; don't pay attention to these things." Go and see, your house might have a red cloth. Keep it, and your one-story house will become a seven-story house. These people do all kinds of things just to make money. I ask God to forgive them. They are beyond forgiveness. I know they are beyond forgiveness. They sell these things. It never happens. It never, ever happens. Anyway, let me tell you the real story.

Ambubachi. This term was used by Michael Madhusudan Dutt. Everyone knows, "Ambu-bimbo, Ambu-mukhe sattva-paati." This word 'Ambu' was used only by Michael Madhusudan Dutt in his poetry, in his sonnets. 'Ambu' means water. 'Bachan' means to observe or preserve. To preserve water is called Ambubachi. There's nothing else to it. Now, what water are we talking about? In Tantra, it is said that the rainwater that falls on the first day of the month of Ashar should be collected and used to bathe the Mother. Mother cannot be bathed directly, so a large bowl is placed in front of her. Her reflection falls into the water, and that is how she is bathed. There are mantras for it.

Student: So, the reflection...

Gurudev: Yes, the reflection. We place a large bowl in front of Mother, and we do this on the first day of Ashar. We collect the rain that falls on the first day of Ashar, and we bathe the Mother with it. The Earth is also menstruating, and Mother is bathing in that water. No one will tell you these things because they don't know. They just say, "Ambubachi, Ambubachi, blood is coming out." And at Kamakhya, millions of dollars are being exchanged during Ambubachi. Can you believe it? People do these things. It’s terrible. One day, while playing with Mother, she will devour them. She will throw them away. Playing with Mother is not that easy. So, Ambubachi means to observe or preserve water. This is when the sun's heat is intense. If it rains now, then seeds will sprout. Sprouting will happen in the fields. That's why it's said that you shouldn't use a shovel or a plow in the fields. Plowing is forbidden. Farmers follow this more than anyone else. They won't plow because it will destroy the seeds. Do you understand? Only when it rains will the seeds grow. That's why this is observed for three days. No harm should be done to the Earth.

Student: No harm to Mother Earth.

Gurudev: No harm should be done. Similarly, Mother should not be disturbed. Our Kirtan has stopped. Why? Because it would disturb Mother. According to me, Mother is now menstruating and is... how should I put it?

Student: She is resting.

Gurudev: Not resting, she is unwell. She is unwell. That's why we say there should be no noise in front of Mother. We close the door and don't let anyone in. Mother wants peace and quiet for these three days. Just as the Mother does, so does the Earth. No one should plow the Earth. No one should dig holes. No one should harm the Earth. The same is done for Mother.

Student: I have one small question. Since Mother shouldn't be disturbed, can we not even chant mantras? Because that would also reach Mother's ears.

Gurudev: That's why we say there's no need to do anything for these three days. Just leave Mother alone. Leaving Mother alone for three days won't cause you any great harm. If you don't call her for three days, nothing bad will happen. But the more you call her, the more of a connection is formed. A connection is made. That's why we say for these three or four days, don't disturb her. Let Mother be as she is. We are as we are. We won't disturb her. Just as we are respecting Mother Earth, we will respect Mother as well. She is menstruating now. This is explained in poetry as well. When the sprouts get nourishment and nectar, they grow. It's the Earth's menstruation. Then the Earth becomes green with crops. Mother is always green with crops. Let her be. For three days, don't call her. Let her be as she is. Don't disturb her. This is what happens at Kamakhya.

Student: Gurudev, I’ve heard that before closing the temple at Kamakhya, a white cloth is left inside. It’s said that a white cloth is left there.

Gurudev: They give a red cloth. It's a business now. It's completely a business. They give a red cloth, write a name on it, and after Ambubachi, it becomes that person's property. They cut it into pieces and sell each piece for 50 or 100 rupees. Just think about it. They tell you it's the Mother's cloth. Think about the filth in people's minds.

Student: They say the water of some river turns red...

Gurudev: Rubbish! I have never heard of such a thing. I was at Kamakhya for many years. I have seen the Mother very closely. Nothing turns red or black. Mother remains as she is. Think about it; you are an educated boy. What does Ambubachi have to do with Mother? It’s about preserving water. That's it. On the first day of Ashar, we respect the rainwater that falls on Mother Earth. That is Ambubachi. Widows also observe this; they eat cold food and don't eat anything hot. Mother is Kamakhya, Kameshwari. At that time, women don't consume anything hot. They even drink their tea cold. They eat fruits and other cold things. They can't eat anything hot. Why? Because hot food can arouse desire. No food should be eaten that arouses desire. It's a festival. In the old days, it was a festival in the houses of widows. They would have fruits, puffed rice, and milk. I have seen it with my own eyes. My grandmother used to give it as prasad. Coconuts, various fruits, and soaked sago.

That's why I'm telling you, you need to understand the meaning of Mother. You are educated. I support science very much. You are educated. Is there something in the word Ambubachi? Can you tell me? 'Ambu' means water. Only one person used 'Ambu'—Michael Madhusudan Dutt. "Ambu-bimbo, Ambu-mukhe sattva-paati." It has a great meaning. That 'Ambu' is what we call Ambubachi here. Saving the water. Saving the water and giving it to the Earth. And Mother is bathed with that water. We collect it and keep it in a pot, and Mother is bathed with it. She can't be bathed any other way, so she is bathed like that. It’s just a ritual.

What you and other people are saying, I have talked about it many times. It's just a way to cheat people. I once said that they are selling Mother's cloth. It's a disaster. I had to say it. I was angry. They sell it for 50 or 100 rupees. They say your one-story house will become a seven-story house. But who is buying this? Ordinary people. This is where people lack intelligence. "Buddhir yasya balam tasya, nirbuddhes tu kuto balam." Those who have intelligence have strength. If you have intelligence, you will have strength. If you don't have intelligence, where is the strength? They take it and think their one-story house will become seven stories. It's all nonsense. It makes me sad.

I was at the Kamakhya temple for a long time. I was there alone at night in the Mother's temple. There was a priest there, a very good man. He told me one thing: "Don't take anything from the temple. Don't take anything from the temple or the cremation ground during Ambubachi. Never take anything home. If you do, your house will be destroyed." There's a cremation ground inside. Sacrifices are made there—goats, buffaloes. It's a cremation ground. And there’s another cremation ground outside. He told me twice, "Don't do two things: don't take anything from here and go home." I did exactly that. I went home empty-handed.

My dear friends, you have heard some very good things today. Mother is Kameshwari. Mother has a sister, Bageshwari. Where does she stay? She is at the Kamakhya station. There is a temple of Mother there. That is Bageshwari. These two sisters, Kameshwari and Bageshwari. I have seen and understood these things, and I have taken the advice of great people. I used to do Kumari Puja there. People used to bring coconuts. There's a tradition of coconuts there. They would break the coconut and give half to the Mother. I used to eat that half coconut all day. Because a cup of tea and a snack cost 30 rupees. Who can afford that? People like us can't afford it. I wouldn't get any bread or rice all day. In the evening, that priest would feed me. He was a very good man, 82 years old. I asked him many questions, and he gave me very honest answers. There was no deception. He was a simple man. He even performed Kumari Puja for me. He said, "Since you've come this far, do Kumari Puja." I asked, "Where will I find a Kumari?" He arranged everything. At that time, I had to give 600 rupees. He bought all the toys and everything. I was staying outside. He told me, "You've come, so do Kumari Puja." Kamakhya is famous for Kumari Puja. So I did it. I stayed inside the temple for about three or four hours and performed Kumari Puja for a young girl. That was my experience at Kamakhya.

Student: Gurudev, is Kamakhya the greatest center of Tantra?

Gurudev: It is the greatest center of Tantra. There are others too. Kamakhya is for conquering desire. You have to conquer your desire. That's what Kamakhya is for. If your desire is once destroyed, then everything you have practiced, your meditation, your work with girls—all that will go away. You can't do those things. Vashistha Muni and many other great sages have practiced Tantra there. We are like the dust under their feet. But now, seeing the filth there, I don't go anymore. The Chief Minister of Assam even invited me when Pagla Baba was there. But I didn't go. I won't go.

Pranam, Gurudev. The power went out. Suddenly there's a power cut, Gurudev. So, let's end it here for today.

Gurudev: Yes, let's end it.

Student: Pranam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pranam.

Student: Okay, let's finish.

Gurudev: All right. Is there anything else you want to know? I'll tell you everything. It has to be based on science. Don't tell me anything unscientific. I've heard that now women are... when they are menstruating, they are worshipped. They are being worshipped by touching them. It’s a multi-million dollar business. What else can I say? I don't want to talk about such filthy things. I'm sorry.

Lastly, there's a place called Mayong where Tantra is practiced. It’s not practiced anymore; it’s gone.

Student: Black magic.

Gurudev: Black magic used to be very common there. But compared to what it was a few hundred years ago, it has decreased a lot. Those who do it, do it secretly. They don't want to talk about it. Mayong. You don't need a Guru there; even a small thing can do it. People who go to Mayong go there to learn. They spend money to learn. It’s a place for all kinds of unethical practices. All kinds of filthy activities. They are not following Mother's path. They are doing unethical things.

Student: Pranam, Gurudev. Let's end it here today.

Gurudev: Yes, end it.

Spiritual Insight

Guru Baba Shyama Khyapa debunks common myths about Ambubachi and explains its true scientific and spiritual significance as a period of honoring Mother Earth's cycle.