The call of the samshaan - Part 1

Jai Ganapati

BhairavakaalikeNamosthute

Jai Maa Adya Kaali

Salutations to my guru Shri Praveen Radhakrishnan, paramguru Shyamakhepa, parameshta guru Shri Bamakhepa and the guruparampara.

Thunder roared. Lightning crashed across the inky sky. The wall of rain, unrelenting in its torrent, flooded the lower areas, creating pools of water across the maha-asana that is the ugra-tara chitaa, the land of unfiltered divinity. Two dogs, in desperate search for shelter and stability amidst such violence of nature, found His presence to be the unmoving stability they desired, an embodiment of Bhairava tattva in its wholeness, my paramguru Shyamakhepa.

The dogs rested their heads on his lap, in a way anointing Him as the bhairava of the samshana that was his asana. In a way, the roar of nature, became the celebration of She who is Adya, as Her son returned to the land of the samshaanvasini.

An expansive mound at this point, the samshaan of Tarapith is an accumulation of the ash remnants of countless bodies that have burnt there. The prana that flows and electrifies the air is palpable. The environment is dense with energy. To me, it also signifies the past Self dissolving as the Truth emerges of paramguruji's reality. An asana, depicting the collapse of time itself, a sort of singularity, where his embodiment of the Bhairava tattva shone.

An intense Maa Kaali devotee, he was always in Her bhakti, Her name always on his mind. Shakti had already chosen him, and all that was required was a nimittha, a triggering point.

It all began with what was to be a client visit to Nepal. A calling and a beckoning. It began with him wanting to visit the Pashupatinath temple during the trip for darshan. Accordingly, on one of the mornings in the trip, he entered the garbha griha in the early hours and hugged the Linga.

Instantly, in a moment of clarity and divine revelation, his inner voice told him that he was wasting his time on frivolous activities and objectives, when his calling was much higher.

With no hesitation, and with complete clarity, despite being a married man, he handed over his whole business, the source of his livelihood, to his business partner, and did what is unthinkable for most. He invoked the samshaana on his life despite being a grhasta.

Almost abruptly, the family went from living in a bungalow to a mere hut. From riches, to minimalistic living.

This was possible due to the divine nature of guruma, who being the divine aspect of Maa Annapoorna, anchored and kept the family going, providing for the kids and keeping them fed, while paramguruji was mostly out as a wandering monk.

Shakti always provides for Her children. Despite the minimalistic living, the family never went out of bare necessities. When they needed money or food, it was provided by nature, through some means. Whenever a guest came to visit, Shakti would provide and allow them to indulge in festive meals and treat the guests well.

For a Shakti sadhaka, the women around them become an anchoring point, a supportive strength to rely and trust upon. These women are strong figures, representing Adya Herself and Her aspects, helping the sadhaka navigate and exist in the samsaarasagara.

- By Sanskar Pandey, Shisya of Gurudev Shri Praveen Radhakrishnan