12 October 2013
As my family and I, Jnana Jyothiamma, Dr. Ram and Deva, gathered around Tavayogi and Mataji, Tavayogi started narrating the many miracles that had taken place at Kallar since. We sat listening to him in awe, at the way the 1 1/2 feet tall mystical Rudraksham weighing 7 kg was delivered and the unbelievable visitations of Lobhamudra, Lord Murugan, and Konganar to Kallar. Upon my requests, Tavayogi went on to narrate again, on video, how he came to the Siddha path.
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| The Jeeva Nadi |
13 October 2013
The next morning Tavayogi adorned his cap and stoking and took us along on his usual morning walk. We came down the ashram, walked along the railway line, cut across the small township and reached the Ooty-Methupalaiyam trunk road and headed for Thuripaalam, a bridge built during British times. Then we got off the main road into the plantations. It was an educational tour for my family and me and Mataji's granddaughter who tagged along.
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| Sargurunathar |
"John Sullivan, the then Governor of Coimbatore, with his party proceeded to Nilgiri Mountain and camped at Dimbhatti, just north of Kotagiri in January 1819 and was enthralled by the beauty of the place. He wrote to Thomas Munro - " . . . it resembles Switzerland, more than any country of Europe. . . the hills beautifully wooded and fine strong spring with running water in every valley" Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ooty
Lord Ganesa greeted us at the foothill. Dr. Nanjan and his team had built this temple for Lord Ganesa. After a short walk up a small hill, the ashram of Sargurunathar came into view. We gathered inside the prayer hall and Tavayogi led a prayer followed by showering of the flame or arati by the local priests. We had tea before we left the ashram grounds. Tavayogi and his team adjoined to meet other devotees in Ooty to deliver the invitations for the upcoming Guru Puja celebrations. Mataji, Dr. Nanjan and his friend accompanied us to some tourist spots in Ooty starting with Doddabetta Peak. We enjoyed the view here and had a hot cup of tea which was refreshing in the cold weather. I was told by the dear Dr. Nanjan that we lucky for we had sun and there was no mist which enabled us to have a clear view of Ooty and the plains and valleys below. The wind that blew was chilly to the bones.
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| In the plains at Sargurunathar's Sevashram |
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| Approaching Lord Ganesa's temple |
We came down to town and had a snack. Dr. Nanjan's friend excused himself having to catch the last bus back to his home. We dropped off Dr. Nanjan too at the local bus stand before heading for the Boat House situated on Ooty Lake to catch a boat ride. Tavayogi had quietly told me that we might not be keen to visit these places of sightseeing but we need to consider the likes and interests of the children too. When I came to Kallar I did not have any plan. I left it to Tavayogi to plan the places that we should see. The children including Mataji, my wife and me enjoyed the boat ride on the lake. Traffic was held up as we returned to Kallar because an overturned lorry had scattered its goods onto the road earlier in the day. It was close to midnight when we reached the ashram, after a wonderful day out in the hills and dales of Ooty.
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| At Doddabetta Peak |
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| Doddabetta Peak |
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| Tourist at Doddapetta |
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| The view from Doddabetta |
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| A panoramic view of the hills and dales of Ooty |
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| Dr. Nanjan (second from left) and his friend accompany us to Doddabetta Peak |
14 October 2013
My wife had mentioned her desire earlier to me to conduct prayers with Tavayogi at his ashram. Tavayogi consented to us having a joint prayer or Kutu Prathanai at the Peedham. He started the prayers with a couple of hymns and my family and I continued. It was a beautiful moment.
After breakfast, we got ready to hike up the hills behind Tavayogi's ashram. Tavayogi had earlier placed a granite statue of Agathiyar on Agathiyar's instruction in a particular spot in the hills where Agathiyar had given him Divine Vision. His devotees led by Prabhakaran had carried Agathiyar up the hill, placed Agathiyar at the spot dictated by Tavayogi and conducted prayers. Since then Tavayogi has sent devotees who were fit up the track to get a Darshan of Agathiyar. Tavayogi mentions this spot as Mulasthaanam. So he had consented to my family and me to get a sight of Agathiyar in the hills today. We waited for Prabhakaran to turn up and with Silambarasan and Kartik we made our way through the path behind the ashram to the hills. Tavayogi and Mataji had to attend a function in Methupalaiyam having being invited over to give a speech at the home of a devotee of Ramalinga Adigal.
Kartik who was working in Bangalore and had dropped in at Kallar while on his way to Kanyakumari joined us. Silambarasan or Simbu, a yoga master at the ashram and the computer expert, was well versed with the track up the hill. He had earlier taken my friend Suren from Malaysia to have a Darshan of Agathiyar. Prabhakaran or Prabha was equally a master in the jungles behind Kallar. With these expert guides and the blessings of Tavayogi and the Siddhas, we started on a pilgrimage to the Mulasthaanam.
To be continued...
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