Narrator:
Unknown Bamdev 01.
Narrator:
[00:00 - 00:11] Traditional religious chanting: Om... Om... Om...
Devotee:
[00:12 - 00:17] Salutations, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Welcome, my child. Welcome. Tell me.
Devotee:
[00:18 - 01:29] Friends, on our YouTube channel "Gupto Sadhak Shyama Khepa," we have previously heard from Gurudev about his spiritual guide, the saint Bama Khepa. We have many questions about Bama Khepa and there is a wealth of information about him from various sources. Gurudev spent over 12 years practicing spiritual discipline at the great cremation grounds of Tarapith. We now want to share the depths of his knowledge with our viewers and devotees through a series of episodes. Today, in our first episode, we want to hear some of your personal experiences and insights regarding Bama Khepa.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Well, look, it might not be right for me to speak too much about Bama Baba, as he is my Ishta (cherished deity or guru), and one should not always reveal everything about their Ishta. That is why I haven't said much before. But since you asked, I can share a few things about him. In those days, Tarapith was enveloped in darkness and was quite eerie. To enter the cremation grounds, one had to beat on tin cans to make noise because tigers and other wild animals roamed there. Even 30-40 years ago, people saw skulls and bones lying everywhere in the Tarapith cremation grounds. Sadhus used to tie bundles to the branches of trees, and various huts were built using human skulls. Those who visited Tarapith in the old days would have seen this.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[01:30 - 02:30] Baba lived through those times, so you can imagine the intensity of that environment. Let me tell you a story. When Bama Baba was about 18 years old, he went out to play one evening. As he was returning, his friends had already left. Passing by a house, it was the house of Sarkar Babu, the local landlord, someone called out to Bama from a second-floor window: "Hey, come and rescue me! Take me away from here!" Bama Baba looked up and wondered how to get to the second floor. The voice said, "I am tying a cloth to the window; you just climb up and rescue me." He saw a cloth hanging from the window and quickly climbed up. But when he got inside, there was no one there, only a Saligram Shila (a sacred stone deity).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[02:31 - 03:59] He wondered what to do with it. He eventually took it, wrapped it, and placed it in a nearby pond. When Sarkar Babu returned home and found the deity missing, he was frantic. He noticed Bama's unusual behavior and confronted him, asking, "Where is the deity? You must have taken it!" Bama replied, "Yes, I took it. The deity told me he was on the second floor and wasn't being worshipped properly, so he asked me to rescue him." When asked how he climbed up, he explained about the cloth tied to the window. He led them to the pond where he had kept the deity. Sarkar Babu recovered the deity but proceeded to beat Bama severely with a wooden sandal. Bama Baba simply said to the deity, "The gods here are not good. They make me do their work and then get me beaten." This was an incident from when he was about 18.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[04:00 - 05:54] His family's financial situation was very poor. His father, Sarbananda, struggled, and Bama used to wander around playing the Bhelar (a local instrument) to earn a living. He mostly ate panta bhat (fermented rice) at home and had many friends from the lower castes, cobblers, sweepers, and others. They used to graze cows together in various fields. Bama Baba would go with them and eat whatever they had. Despite his hardships, he never looked down on anyone based on their caste. This was one of his greatest qualities. Many prominent figures visited him both before and after his passing. Among them was Swami Durgaprasanna Chattopadhyay, also known as Shri Guru.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[05:55 - 07:10] We consider Bama Baba, Nigamananda Saraswati, and Shri Guru to be the "Three Great Souls." Bama Baba had initiated both Nigamananda and Shri Guru. Many others came to him, including Gyan Baba, who was considered Bama's spiritual son and was very close to him. Then there was Omkarnath Brahmachari, who also spent time with Baba, as did Pagla Baba. Nagendranath Bakshi, whom people called Nagen Kaka, served Baba for 8-10 years in various ways. Another person was Kalikananda Abadhut, who received great grace from Baba.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[07:11 - 08:31] Many people might not know these names. There was also Anandamayi Ma, who stayed in Tarapith and performed rituals with many followers. Bhobananda Brahmachari also practiced spiritual discipline in Tarapith and received Baba's grace. Swami Sadhanananda and Swami Ramdevji also practiced there. Even the world-renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar sought Baba's blessings. Others include Ram Thakur and Chotto Baba. All these people were very close to Baba and respected him deeply. They often stayed at the Tarapith cremation grounds, worshipping Bama Baba and Mother Tara.
Devotee:
[08:32 - 09:43] What about his connection with Debendranath Tagore?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That happened much later. When Debendranath came with a young Rabindranath, Bama Baba told him, "When you leave, pass by that Chhatim tree. Sit under it and meditate for an hour; you will find something." Following his advice, Debendranath sat under the tree and found profound peace. He then decided to establish an ashram there, which became Shantiniketan. It was Bama's instruction that led him there, where Shantiniketan is now located, about an hour's journey from Tarapith. This was a significant event.
Devotee:
[09:44 - 10:43] Did he ever meet Ramakrishna Paramhansa?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, they never met. However, he did meet Swami Vivekananda. Vivekananda went to see him and was deeply impressed. Vivekananda told his friends, "This boy will one day conquer the world." He referred to Bama as the "Living Shiva of Tarapith." Two people were given such titles: Trailanga Swami was called the "Living Shiva of Varanasi," and Bama Baba was called the "Living Shiva of Tarapith."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[10:44 - 12:48] There are so many stories about Bama Baba. Once, he went to Varanasi but didn't like the food there. He was quite fond of good food. He got angry and left, saying, "My Tarapith is much better, my Mother Tara is better. People say there's no shortage of food in Kashi, but look at this food!" He returned to Tarapith very hungry. He saw the bhog (food offering) for Mother Tara being carried on someone's head and immediately took some and ate it. The priests (pandas) were furious, as the goddess hadn't been served yet. They beat him with sticks and threw him near the Jibit-kunda (a sacred pond). He lay there unconscious. His dog, whom he called Kalu Babu, stayed by his side. Bama used to say, "Don't call him Kalu; call him Kalu Babu, he is a god." A large cobra also used to guard him. Seeing this, Mother Tara was displeased with the priests and didn't eat for seven days. She appeared in a dream to the Queen of Natore and said, "I won't eat your food. I have been fasting for seven days because my son hasn't eaten."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[12:49 - 13:58] The Queen of Natore rushed to Tarapith with her eldest son. After hearing the whole story, she apologized to Mother Tara and decreed that from that day forward, Bama would be fed first, and then the goddess would be served. This tradition of feeding Bama first still exists today. It's a unique occurrence in Indian history, except for Lord Ganesha, who is worshipped first, that a devotee is fed before the deity.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
[13:59 - 15:15] Another incident involved some people who came to perform a ritual. In such rituals, everyone sits together, and at the end, there is often a dance that generates a powerful energy. After the ritual, Bama asked for food. When no one offered any, he went out and brought back some human remains, intestines, on a leaf and began to eat them. The others were so disgusted by the smell and the sight that they began to vomit and fled. There are many such small incidents in Baba's life. Many great people sought his company, and his influence spread throughout West Bengal and beyond.
Devotee:
[15:16 - 15:50] We have been listening to various stories from the life of Bama Baba from Gurudev. Friends, we will hear more such stories in our next episode. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, "Gupto Sadhak Shyama Khepa," so you can hear more valuable insights from Gurudev.
Narrator:
[15:51 - 16:07] Traditional religious chanting: Om... Om... Om...