In a Sadhguru Sannidhyan at Tarapith, Sadhguru expressed deep reverence for the mystic sage Bama Khyapa, sharing three powerful stories that illuminate his wisdom. He recounted how Bama Khyapa turned sand into gold—not to enrich but to inspire faith in wealth beyond measure. Sadhguru also reflected on Bama’s teachings, highlighting that true healing lies not in cures or riches but in the profound compassion that touches the soul.
Article | Tarapith | February 28, 2018
Sadhguru: In the sacred, shadowed landscapes of Tarapith, where whispers of the divine mingle with the hum of the cremation grounds, lived Bama Khyapa—the mad mystic, the saint who defied convention. Bama’s life was a river of paradoxes, flowing freely between the worlds of mortals and spirits, between the mysteries of life and the serenity of death. Known for his unbound compassion and his uncanny, miraculous powers, Bama Khyapa’s stories reflect the essence of a man who was both an enigma and a beacon of divine grace.
These three mystic tales of Bama Khyapa capture his unfathomable wisdom and his extraordinary relationship with Tara Ma, the fierce and compassionate goddess. Each story reveals a different facet of his sacred madness: transforming sand into gold to teach a lesson in faith, releasing a restless spirit through gentle ritual, and healing an outcast leper with the touch of holy ash. Through these tales, Bama’s spirit remains ever-present, inviting us to transcend the ordinary and glimpse the eternal through his eyes.
These stories of the mad saint are more than mere legends; they are windows into the boundless compassion and mysticism that defined Bama Khyapa’s life—a life woven with miracles, touched by the divine, and forever inspiring those who seek to see beyond the veil.
Story 1: The Gold from Sand – A Miracle for the Needy
One morning, a poor villager, Ramnath, came to Bama Khyapa, burdened with worry over his debts. He had heard stories of Bama’s compassion and miraculous powers and hoped the saint could ease his hardships. Ramnath approached Bama, fell at his feet, and implored him for help.
Bama, deep in meditation by the cremation grounds, opened his eyes with a slight annoyance. He stared intently at Ramnath as if seeing into the depths of his soul. Suddenly, Bama laughed and threw a handful of sand in the air, shouting, “Why beg? Take this!”
To Ramnath’s utter astonishment, the sand turned to shimmering gold particles as it touched his outstretched hands. With wide eyes, Ramnath tried to gather the gold, but it seemed to slip through his fingers as if it were nothing but an illusion. Ramnath looked at Bama in confusion, but Bama’s gaze softened, and he spoke:
"Gold and sand are no different. True wealth is within you, Ramnath. Return with faith, and abundance will follow you like a shadow."
Perplexed yet hopeful, Ramnath left with only a few gold specks clinging to his hands. Upon reaching his home, he was met with a strange fortune—his crops, which had shown no signs of bearing fruit, had suddenly flourished, bringing him the wealth he desperately needed. It was then that he understood Bama’s cryptic blessing. His faith in Bama Khyapa grew deeper, and he spread the word of the saint’s miracles across the village, further adding to the mystique surrounding the mad saint of Tarapith.
In the mysteries of life and death, Bama Khyapa roamed with an open heart, knowing every spirit and every soul belonged to Tara Ma.
Story 2: Bama and the Child Spirit of the Cremation Grounds
Bama Khyapa often roamed the cremation grounds of Tarapith at night, communing with spirits and performing Tantric rituals. During one such night, he felt the presence of a restless spirit—a young girl who had died prematurely and lingered near her pyre, unable to let go of her attachment to life.
Bama sat by the girl’s spirit, singing softly, a melancholic tune filled with compassion. The child’s spirit was drawn to him, sensing his gentle warmth and kindness. As he continued singing, the girl’s spirit wept and told him her sorrow. Her family had not performed her last rites due to their poverty, and she was thus bound to the earthly plane, unable to reach peace.
Bama assured her, “Child, you are safe. Tara Ma watches over you, as do I.”
With that, he gathered a few sticks, lighted a makeshift fire, and performed a final ritual to set her spirit free. The spirit hesitated but finally drifted away, leaving behind a faint glow that Bama perceived as her gratitude. For weeks afterwards, villagers reported seeing the figure of a little girl near Bama whenever he performed his evening rituals, watching him in silence.
One day, as he meditated, a villager offered him sweets as an offering. Bama, without opening his eyes, tossed a piece of the sweet into the air, as if handing it to someone. The villagers noticed that the sweet vanished mid-air as if an invisible hand had accepted it. To the townsfolk, it was proof that Bama Khyapa not only communed with spirits but had earned their loyalty and love.
What the world saw as madness was Bama’s mystic dance with the divine—a dance where gold and sand were one and the same.
Story 3: The Leper’s Transformation
Bama Khyapa’s compassion extended even to those whom society shunned, and one such story illustrates his boundless empathy. A leper named Gokul, rejected by his family and village, wandered to Tarapith after hearing of Bama’s kindness. Covered in sores and weak from hunger, Gokul approached Bama, who was sitting outside the temple in a trance.
The saint, sensing his presence, gestured for him to sit. Bama smiled, unaffected by the man’s repulsive appearance or the odour that came from his sores. With his bare hands, Bama Khyapa took some ash from the cremation ground and mixed it with water from his begging bowl. He whispered a chant over it and handed it to Gokul, saying, “Drink this and smear some on your skin. But remember, this will only work if you have absolute faith in Tara Ma.”
Though hesitant, Gokul obeyed, smearing the mixture over his sores and drinking the rest. That night, as he slept near the temple, he dreamed of a beautiful, dark-skinned goddess with fierce eyes and a compassionate smile. She touched his sores, and he awoke the next morning feeling renewed energy coursing through his body. He discovered that his wounds had dried and were beginning to heal miraculously.
Bama’s miracles were not mere magic; they were lessons in faith, in love, and in the hidden truths that bind all souls.
Over time, Gokul regained his health and appearance, and he remained in Tarapith as one of Bama Khyapa’s most devoted followers, spreading stories of the saint’s powers. Bama never claimed the miracle as his doing; he would simply smile and say, “It’s all Ma’s grace. I am merely her instrument.” This humility only increased his followers’ reverence, making Bama Khyapa a symbol of unconditional love, one who saw divinity in every soul, regardless of their suffering or station in life.
These stories reflect the enigmatic blend of Bama Khyapa’s madness, miracles, and mysticism, capturing the spiritual essence he embodied. His profound love for Goddess Tara, his compassion, and his deep wisdom continue to resonate with those who revere him as one of Bengal’s greatest mystics.
