Interviewer:
You are watching... Today is the last day of the year. A Homa (sacred fire ritual) is being performed at the temple of the Mother. Gurudev is sitting here.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, today is the last day of the year. I see a Homa is being performed at the Mother's temple. Is this for a special occasion?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, it is based on the Nakshatra (lunar constellation). We say, "What is the date, what is the day? The Nakshatra is the essence." This is a saying from Khona. We work according to the constellations. Today is Revati, a very auspicious constellation—it is Maa Tara's constellation. It is a Jupiter (Brihaspati) constellation. We also perform rituals on Pushya and Rohini. There are several constellations that are truly auspicious, including Mrigashira. We look at these and perform the Homa. Many people come, as you can see, and we perform the ritual in the name of everyone who has come.
Interviewer:
Is there a specific reason for performing the Homa based on these constellations?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, we make the constellation the essence of the work. When we find a good constellation, we perform the Homa. It's not done randomly anymore; we select specific ones. We have chosen four: Pushya, Rohini (Krishna's birth constellation), Mrigashira, and Revati. We no longer focus as much on the Ashtami (eighth lunar day) as we used to. We prioritize the Nakshatra. Today, it's Revati.
Interviewer:
Does this have anything to do with the Maha Mrityunjaya Homa that was performed for a thousand days?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, that is different. Maha Mrityunjaya requires a Sankalpa (vow). You have to commit to a year, six months, or two months based on your capability. During that period, you cannot go anywhere or do anything else; you must perform the ritual every single day. This current Homa is different.
Interviewer:
Is today's ritual specifically for Maa Tara?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Not just Tara. Rohini is Krishna's birth constellation, but it's not just about him. Mrigashira is a powerful constellation—it was like a formidable weapon used in the Kurukshetra war. Revati belongs to Tara, and since Tara is Jupiter, the ritual focuses on that. Pushya is a "Siddha" (perfected) constellation; any work done during it is successful. So we generally choose these four. We perform about four Homas a month, roughly once a week. Sometimes, if someone is in a very bad situation and asks for help, we perform it for them too. We just ask them to provide the Ghee (clarified butter), and we do it in their name.
Interviewer:
Since today is the last day of 2022 and the new year starts tomorrow...
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, you are making a mistake. We are Bengalis. Our New Year is in the month of Baishakh. Why should I end the year now? Forget the ways of those "red-faced monkeys" (the British). I am Bengali. Poila Baishakh is the first day of the year for me. I reject this other calendar. I am not English; I am Bengali. Don't make me angry. What "last day of the year"? That's for them to celebrate, not us. Our first month is Baishakh.
Interviewer:
That is true. This is the English New Year.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Forget about it. For some, it's just an excuse for a festival. For me, the day begins when the sun rises. Tomorrow, when the sun rises, it will be a new day. These people change the day at midnight—that makes no sense to us. It's all a mess. I follow the sun.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, I want to ask about something else. A woman has come here from Dinhata, Cooch Behar.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, she is very ill. Someone has done some "bad work" (black magic/ill intent) on her. A neighbor, I believe. I have performed some rituals for her and given her what was needed. We'll see what happens. These things take time to show results. I hope she gets better.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, you haven't been coming to the temple much lately due to your health.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I was unwell, but I'm a bit better now, which is why I'm here for the Homa. Usually, during the month of Poush, I don't see people or do much work. To us, Poush is a "Molo Mash" (inauspicious month). No weddings, no ceremonies, no major purchases. I'll start seeing people properly from the first of Magh.
Interviewer:
It depends on the weather and your health, but we will let everyone know when you are back regularly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, Kalu-da goes to Gangasagar every year around the 15th. You can't stop him. He goes a few days early and stays there.
Interviewer:
We've heard since childhood that bathing in Gangasagar washes away all sins. Is that true?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, that's nonsense. Gangasagar is actually for Shrapuddhar (liberating ancestors from curses). Bathing there during the auspicious time can help cure ailments, but its main significance is for the family lineage. People go there to wash away the sins of seven generations. There is no other place like it for that purpose.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As for donations—if there is no honesty in the donation, I don't consider it a donation. If you earn money dishonestly and then donate a small portion, it means nothing. True donation comes from your own "blood-earned" money. Even a single rupee donated with honesty is a great gift. People earn through corruption and then give gold to temples—that's not a donation. A donation should be selfless. You give and you walk away without expecting anything in return.
Interviewer:
Can you tell us the story of Gangasagar?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It's about King Sagara. His 60,000 sons were cursed and turned to ash by Sage Kapila. The Sage had been meditating and the sons disturbed him. He cursed them, saying they would only be liberated when the Ganges came down to earth. That is why people go to Gangasagar—to liberate the souls of their ancestors.
Interviewer:
Kalu-da has been going for 25-30 years now.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, I used to go with him, but I can't anymore because of my age. I'm 76 now. I let him go because it's a place for saints and devotees. It's a place for Brahmacharya (celibacy and discipline). They sleep on straw, eat from leaf plates, and follow strict discipline. It's a great spiritual practice. But once the fair is over, one should not stay there. It becomes dangerous—the electricity and water are cut, and there's a risk of theft and crime.
Interviewer:
We learned so much today, Gurudev. From the Nakshatras to the true meaning of Gangasagar.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We used to go there for Kali Puja and Gita readings. Kalu-da still maintains the tradition. I can't do it anymore.
Interviewer:
Thank you, Gurudev. Pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam.