In today's posts on SITHTHAN ARUL by Velayudham Karthikeyan, Agathiyar explains who is a Siddha. Here I have attempted to understand and translate from Karthikeyan's blog post for the benefit of non-Tamil readers.
சித்தன் அருள் - 160 - சித்தர்கள் பார்வையின் தன்மை, சித்தத்தனமை கைவல்யமாக!
One in the state of a Siddha, besides being unattached, can do anything, can do any wrong, and they will be forgiven immediately. They can abuse others verbally, be angry, they will be forgiven immediately. But the chances of them getting angry is rare since their services to others will mesmerize them.
It is not solely necessary to meditate to achieve the stature of a Siddha. One who worships any form of the Lord or a Siddha achieves this state.
Siddha is not one who closes his eyes and meditates, and there is no need to torture and torment the body to achieve the state of a Siddha. One only needs to think about the Lord, the Siddhas and the Munis, immaterial of the body is clean or otherwise, what is important is to pray towards them with a clear conscience and inner purity, he is a Siddha!
Agathiyar also extols the benefits of doing charity especially feeding the poor (Annadhanam). If a person feeds another just once, his life span extends.
The person being fed lives to see another day. Similarly, Agathiyar in his revelation to Dr. VM Jayapalan during his meditation extols the immense benefits of feeding others. We are told that by doing charity and feeding others our Karma will lessen. We will gain merits. Agathiyar goes further to explain that besides the donors' karma having removed or lessen, the karma of the person aided or fed is lessened too by one's charity. This episode and others were published as an audio CD titled AGATHIYAR THIRUVILAIYADAL by Dr. VM Jayapalan of Bangalore.
Agathiyar finally reveals how to identify the presence of Siddhas. Siddhas' language sounds like the chirping of birds. It's possible to see them if one keeps awake during the 3rd night or Jamam between the hours of 12.30 am till 3.00 am. So one is to give space making sure not to lie on their path. Their presence is felt through the sense of smell - wonderful aromas linger in the air and the sense of taste - through a wonderful taste of food served for the Gods (to be tasted after the 3rd night).
In the previous posts on SITHTHAN ARUL, Agathiyar has been speaking about the significance of the Nambi Temple. In today's posts Agathiyar mentions that while he was performing the bathing ritual or Abhisegam for Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva was present. Since Lord Shiva was here, the Siddhas too followed suit. People don't realize that Lord Shiva often comes to Nambi Temple during Vaikasi Visagam, Aadi Kritigai, New Moon, and most of the nights. Agathiyar explains how to identify these moments when the Lords meet; animals will behave strangely, sensing their presence; the sudden appearance of lighting in the skies; sudden lights will be visible for a split second, and those who are blessed to witness this moment will feel as if light has entered and moved within the body. This can take place anytime and to anyone.
Agathiyar surprises us by indicating a Tamarind tree at a particular spot in this Nambi Temple where 422 feet down into the ground reside 16 Siddhas.