Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal always tells me that the path of Siddhas was not a bed of roses. "The Siddhas shall test you", he used to say. But I used to counter saying Agathiyar has kept me well. Anyway, I used to wonder why other devotees, heads of Peedhams or establishments too, were having a tough life. Why did Agathiyar, in Tavayogi's words, test them so much? Tavayogi tells me later that it is to mold us into a stronger person.
He tells me to be prepared to face brickbats thrown at you. He always encourages us with his Guru Chitramuthu Adigal's popular motivational line, 'Himaya Malai Thalarnthaalum un Ethaiya Kotaiyai Thalara Vidaathey' which simply translated would mean even if the Majestic Himalayas were to crumble, let not your heart crumble. Later he used to add, 'Agathiyar Yellam Paarthuparr' meaning Agathiyar shall take care of things.
The Siddhas move to exhaust the Karmas in us as fast as possible so that they can then begin working spiritually on us. Once the Karma is exhausted, they then lay a plan for us. When we abide by all their instructions and wishes, we are taken on a journey of sheer bliss and amazement. For some, it might start late in life. For others, they start early. It all depends on the amount of Karma and merits one has gathered in the past.
Tavayogi says it beautifully, "What you are today is the result of your past Karma; What you shall become tomorrow is the result of your present actions."
Tavayogi, an MA by qualification, himself has had a fair share of troubles and miseries; and has seen some ups and downs in life. He was a very successful merchant dealing with the manufacture and sale of singlets in his hometown of Tirupur; a prominent speaker at forums called Pattimandrams; and a producer of two Tamil movies, Eni Oru Suthandiram and Ethaiya Thamarai. Tavayogi was into politics too, close to the then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, MG Ramachandran.
As a result of certain policies of the Government of the day, Tavayogi's business was also affected seriously where he ended up having to sell all his assets to settle his debts. All hell broke loose to the extent, his wife had to look for odd jobs to sustain their family. To make matters worst Tavayogi lost his eyesight too. He spent a year at a temple near Coimbatore where it was said the Goddess could cure the blind. While there he passes his time with the other blind folks staging the Pattimandrams for their amusement. Once he lost all hope of getting cured and decided to end his life at the railway tracks only to be stopped by a voice (Asarithi) telling him that Agathiyar was there for him. That stopped him in his tracks. He decided to dedicate the rest of his life to serving Agathiyar. After a year of living in the darkness he slowly regained both his eyesight.
Tavayogi picked himself up from where he left. He came into the worship of Agathiyar and the Siddhas having taken Chitramuthu Adigal of Panaikulam as his Guru. He used to hold prayers and feed folks at Tirupur. Then Sarojini Ammaiyaar came along with her own problems. Tavayogi showed her to Chitramuthu Adigal too. Chitramuthu Adigal boosted her morale and took her to the stage, literally speaking, where she became an exponent in speech receiving many invitations to take the stage to talk. Tavayogi roped her into his Pattimandram schedules where Tavayogi used to be the chairperson and Sarojini Ammaiyaar one of the speakers.
Then at 50, Tavayogi voluntarily gave up everything. He roamed the length and breadth of India seeking new adventures and experiences as a monk or Turavi. He spent nights sleeping on the platform, in the caves, at the temples and any place that could accommodate him from the cold of the night and the rains. He had the Darshan of Siddhas and the Gods too during this trying period. Finally Agathiyar instructed him to locate a place known as Agathiyar Vanam and to start an ashram there. That place turned out to be the present day Kallar. Tavayogi approached the village headman who gave his blessing for Tavayogi to occupy the present spot where is now housed the Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. Agathiyar instructed Tavayogi to have a seven tier granite structure known as Aaru Aadhara Peedham to be worshiped.
The Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham too has evolved much to become a well known pilgrimage spot known today as the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Dhyana Kudil. Today it houses the statues of Agathiyar (6 1/2 feet tall fiber statue) and Thava Murugar (also in fiber); a miniature granite statue made on the instruction of Agathiyar to Sarojini Ammaiyaar and placed at Avinashi only to be redirected by Agathiyar to be brought to Kallar a year back; a mystical Rudraksham 1 1/2 feet tall and weighing 7 kg, now worshiped as a Shiva lingam and finally the mysterious Jeeva Nadi that is read by Tavayogi himself.
This Peedham has seen much growth through this past twelve years, growing in its wonders, amazement and astonishment. It has many stories to tell. I managed to document some of Tavayogi's and Mataji's experiences during my recent trip to Kallar in October 2013.