Tuesday 18 March 2014

TEMPLE WORSHIP AND THE SACRED SPACE PART 4/4

Just as many readers and followers of Velayudham Karthikeyan's blog SITHTHAN ARUL have commented that they could relate and found answers and solutions to their questions and problems or doubts, reading his posts of Agathiyar's revelations from the Jeeva Nadi revealed to the Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai, I too received many messages and clarifications reading his blog.

I saw similarities too when reading Ramalinga Adigal's THIRUARUTPA and was overjoyed. Ramalinga Adigal started his beautiful journey on the spiritual path as a young lad on the streets, spending much of his time worshiping at temples.The soul stirring hymn Kandha Kottam Deiva Mani Malai was composed and rendered by him at Kandha Kottam in Chennai, when he was a mere 9 year old boy. Later he asked his brother that he be given a room for himself where he could pray to Lord Murugan. It is mentioned that the Lord gave darshan to Ramalingam in his room. Later as a young adult he used to visit Thiruothriyur, Tirutani, and Chidambaram. From worship of the form he moved slowly to the formless and to the worship of God in the form of light. Eventually he became light itself.

Ramalinga Adigal
In many of his hymns Ramalinga Adigal regards the Lord as a Siddha. In verses 4895 till 4904, song 107 titled Thiru Unthiyaar, on page 927 of the Complete Poetical Works of Sri Ramalinga Adigal's THIRUARUTPA compiled and chronologically arranged by Ooran Adigal for the Samarasa Sanmarga Aaraichi Nilaiyam, Ramalinga Adigal sings a beautiful hymn at the break of dawn upon attaining the status of a Siddha and many more. He claims that he has become a Siddha, and proudly announces it to the world.

இரவு விடிந்தது இணையடி வாய்த்த
பரவி மகிழ்ந்தேன் என்று உந்தீபற
பாலமுது உண்டேன் என்று உந்தீபற

பொழுது விடிந்தது பொற்பதம் வாய்த்த
தொழுது மகிழ்ந்தேன் என்று உந்தீபற
தூயவன் ஆனேன் என்று உந்தீபற

தூக்கம் தொலைந்தது சூரியன் தோன்றினன்
ஏக்கம் தவிர்ந்தேன் என்று உந்தீபற
இன்னமுது உண்டேன் என்று உந்தீபற

துன்பம் தவிர்ந்தது தூக்கம் தொலைந்தது
இன்பம் கிடைத்ததென்று உந்தீபற
எண்ணம் பலித்ததென்று உந்தீபற

ஞானம் உதித்தது நாதம் ஒலித்தது
தீனம் தவிர்ந்ததென்று உந்தீபற
சிற்சபை கண்டேன் என்று உந்தீபற

திரையற்று  விட்டது செஞ்சுடர் தோன்றிற்று
பரை ஒளி ஒங்கிற்றென்று உந்தீபற
பலித்தது புசையென்று உந்தீபற

உள்ளிருள் நீங்கிற்று என் உள்ளொளி ஒங்கிற்றுத்
தெள்ளமுது உண்டேன் என்று  உந்தீபற
தித்திக்க உண்டேன் என்று  உந்தீபற

எந்தையைக் கண்டேன் இடரெல்லாம் நீங்கினேன்
சிந்தை மகிழ்ந்தேன் என்று  உந்தீபற
சித்திகள் பெற்றேன் என்று  உந்தீபற

தந்தையைக் கண்டேன் சாகா வரம் பெற்றேன்
சிந்தை களித்தேன் என்று உந்தீபற
சித்தெலாம் வல்லேன் என்று உந்தீபற

முத்தியைப் பெற்றேன் அம் முத்தியினால் ஞான
சித்தியை உற்றேன் என்று உந்தீபற
சித்தனும் ஆனேன் என்று உந்தீபற

Ramalinga Adigal's last message to his devotees before he enters the room at Siddhivalagam at Metthukuppam was to assume the jhoti or light from the Agalvilakku (the light source from a lit earthen lamp) as Eraivan or God. He choose to call Him 'Arutperumjhoti'". Adigal worshipped God in the form of light and became light itself. Ramalinga Adigal showed us the way, in the most simplest manner.

Siddhivalagam
Jnana Jyothi Amma at Siddhivalagam
Agathiyar instructed Tavayogi to have the Aaru Aadhaara Peedham made and placed at his Peedham in Kallar some 15 years back. The Aaru Aathaara Peedham was a seven tiered structure, widest at the bottom and tapering up similar to a pyramid where an Agalvilakku is lighted and place at the topmost level. But devotees could not comprehend the abstract concept of the Siddhas. As people were so fond of images and idol worship, Agathiyar provided for them. In Kallar today, Agathiyar brought in a 6 1/2 feet fiber statue of his and his Guru Thava Murugan, a miniature granite statue of his, and another 3 feet statue of hills in the hills behind Kallar, and most recently the 1 1/2 feet tall one faced Rudraksham weighing 7 kilos, now standing as a Shivalingam. To add luster to His divine presence, now fully present at Kallar, Agathiyar has come as the Jeeva Nadi! One can see the gradual progressive evolution of the Peedham to its present state, made more accessible to the public and the common man.


Aaru Aadhaara Peedham at Kallar Ashram

Tavayogi performing libation or abhisegam to the 6 tier Peedham
The 6 1/2 feet tall Agathiyar at Kallar
Thava Murugar at Kallar
Agathiyar in the hills of Kallar
The Mystical Rudraksham at Kallar


Tavayogi holding up the Rudraksham
Similarly Agathiyar in the very first Nadi reading of mine, told me to worship the Siddhas, worship Him (Agathiyar), Lord Ganesha, and Lord Shiva. He started me with chanting the Moola Mantra of Ganesha, before the repetition of the Names of the Siddhas (Sidhar Potri). In the process, he came in the physical form, that of an idol. He gifted me his Moola Mantra, brought me to the worship of the Jhoti or light in the physical form as a lighted Agalvilakku, and along the way he included Lord Murugan. Now in the form of a Mantra, he advocates chanting of Lord Murugan's namam that was representative of Oli (Jyothi) or light, bringing me to Oli Vazhipaadu or worship of the Lord in the form of light, Arutperunjhoti. A beautiful journey indeed!