JOURNEYING WITH AGATHIYAR 2013
In the reading, Agathiyar hints that I do not need to consult the Nadi anymore. What we did not know then was that he would come to address us personally in the future. He speaks about the prayers conducted. Agathiyar is full of praise for my wife, her devotion, faith, and service. He instructs the chanting of his Naaman. Agathiyar mentions again that the benefits derived from performing Hatha Yoga are gained through prayers easily.
By a sudden twist of fate I and my family saw ourselves flying to India, something not planned for initially until Agathiyar in a Nadi reading added a mood of urgency to see my guru Tavayogi. As usual here is the detailed account of my journey.
RETURN TO KALLAR - MY THIRD PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA
After 8 years I made my way back to India, this time with my family. I went to India in 2003 after reading the Nadi. Agathiyar in the Nadi had instructed me to conduct atonement or parikaram for my past karma. I was brought to Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai on the last leg of my pilgrimage. Thus started a beautiful guru-disciple relationship between us. Supramania Swami has since gone into samadhi on 7 February 2007.
In 2005 I met Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal when he came to officiate a branch of his Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Wisma Keringat, Batu Caves in Malaysia. Subsequently, I made my way to Tavayogi's ashram in Kallar, near Mettupalayam, the following month, on his invitation. Tavayogi again came in 2007 to officiate the First World Conference of Siddha Philosophy held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia of which he was the patron and again in 2010 to officiate more branches of his Peedham including in Teluk Intan, Perak and Banting, Selangor. Meanwhile, his able aid and disciple Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar came to Malaysia in 2007, 2008 and 2010. This relationship developed over the years.
In August of 2013, Tavayogi and Mataji as usual asked when I am bringing my family over to Kallar. But this time around Tavayogi put the request to every one of us - my wife, two children and me. This triggered the thought that it was indeed a long time since I revisited Kallar, Tavayogi, and Mataji. I checked the price of the airline ticket for the days that were a public holiday in Malaysia, the reason is to allow my children who were schooling to come along. I thought it would make Tavayogi happy if we joined him in December for the Agathiyar Jayanthi and Guru Puja. But I had to conduct the Guru Puja at my home too. Tavayogi had an answer for that too. "Get your family to perform the Puja", he replied. Anyway, there was no promotion in Air Asia's fares during this period too. I checked the other months too - November and September. Air Asia offered a promotion only in October. I settled for it and went on to book online But the transaction did not go through. I did not pursue further as it was pretty late at night. The next morning I was surprised to find the fare go down further. I booked immediately as it was 50% off the usual fare. Agathiyar had paved the way for my family to travel cheaply.
I applied for the international passport for my family. After obtaining it I called Tavayogi and told him that we had got our passports. After a bout of silence, when Tavayogi realized the reason for me to mention the passport, it dawned on him that we were coming over, and he was in joy. I applied online for the Indian Visa for all of us and headed for Ganesh Travels to have Mr. Krishnan submit them on our behalf. I called up Devathiran of Chennai to plan my itinerary. I spoke to Jnana Jhotiamma (JJA) on Skype too regarding my proposed trip.
Then we counted the days. I had no problem applying for my annual leave at the office. My second daughter would have finished her final examination three days earlier to our departure. What worried us was my eldest daughter's schedule at College. It looked like she would have classes on the day of departure and she would also have to play truant a couple of days. Then she surprised us by e-mailing me that her college was closed for the exact period of our duration in India - 11 October to 15 October. Later she told us she would not have classes on 16 and 17 October too. Agathiyar had provided for her to travel in peace too.
We engaged our neighbor who owned a taxi to drop us at the airport. We left home at 6pm arriving at the airport an hour later. This was the first time flying experience for my wife and children. They were excited. The plane was scheduled to leave at 10.10pm but only took off at 11pm. We reached Trichy at 2.15 MST. Although the plane took off late, it arrived as scheduled at Trichy 11.35pm IST. JJA, Dr. Ram Subramaniam and Deva were on hand to greet us at the airport. I knew Deva since 2003 since Deva was the one who brought me to Supramania Swami. Although I had been in contact with JJA and Dr. Ram on Skype and Facebook, this was the first time my family and I were meeting them.
After lots of hugging and formal exchanges, we made our way to the Hotel Temple Inn that JJA had made reservations earlier. Deva brought his Toyota Inova a seven sitter that provided a comfortable ride. Once at the Hotel JJA prepared hot milk for us and passed the food, which she had packed for us - food that was served as Annadhanam at Tiruvanamalai earlier that morning. We chat till the early morning hours and called it a day at 2.30am IST.
After breakfast at the hotel which was extremely delicious we made our way to Tiruvanaikaval Temple. We wanted to get the blessings of Lord Ganesa at the Uchi Pillaiyaar Temple on Rock Fort first before starting on our journey. But considering the fact that JJA might face some difficulties climbing the steps up to the temple we opted to visit the Tiruvanaikaval Temple which was on flat ground instead. We had a beautiful Darshan (Darisanam) at Tiruvanaikaval. We then started for Kallar. JJA and Dr. Ram followed us to Kallar.
En route, we stopped over at Sivanmalai in Kangeyam. It was almost 1pm and we feared the temple would be closed. But a priest on the steps of the temple informed us it was open. We had a beautiful Darshan here too. We had a glimpse of Shivavakiyar's Cave in the temple.
It was 5.30pm when we reached Tavayogi's ashram the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham. As we were crossing the train track that ran through the foot of the small hillock where Tavayogi's ashram was perched comfortably, we were lucky to watch the Toy Train from Ooty that was returning to Methupalaiyam go by. The train passes the ashram twice a day on its route from Methupalaiyam to Ooty at 7.30am and Ooty to Methupalaiyam at 5.30pm.
Since I had initially told Tavayogi that I shall go to Vedaranyam before coming over, Tavayogi and Mataji were not expecting us till late at night. But along the way I had my wife knock some sense into me asking me to be focused on the reason we were going to India. Yes, what she said made sense. We were making this trip only because Tavayogi and Mataji had been asking us over, numerous times. And we had only five days and five nights to spare. Along the way I had deviated wanting to include more temple visits on the itinerary. What started with Trichy-Kallar-Trichy became Trichy-Tanjore-Kallar, then Trichy-Tanjore-Swamimalai-Kallar, and extended to cover Trichy-Vedaranyam-Tanjore-Kallar. That is the work of the mind; it wants all. When I told Tavayogi that we were coming over, I also put the question to him as to when I should come. He told me to come for the Guru Puja celebrations on 22 December 2013. But I wanted some precious time with Tavayogi and my family. I knew he could not spare the time and attention during this two-day festive period. Another reason was the fares were high during the peak year-end holiday season. Anyway I did not want to go back on my word to him, having said that I shall spent all five days at his ashram.
We made our way up the hill to the ashram with JJA leading the way and calling out for Mataji's daughter and granddaughter. At the peedham, Tavayogi who had just completed the last reading for the day of Agathiyar's Jeeva Nadi some time ago, was seated resting himself after the tedious affair of Nadi reading to devotees and seekers. On seeing us a broad smile and a surprised look showed on his face. He got up immediately to greet us, joined by Mataji who came out from her room at the same time, having being informed of our arrival by her granddaughter. I was glad Tavayogi was looking hale and healthy as opposed to what others had told me after visiting him.
IN THE COMPANY OF TAVAYOGI AGAIN
12 October 2013
As my family and I, JJA, Dr. Ram and Deva, gathered around Tavayogi and Mataji, Tavayogi started narrating the many miracles that had taken place at Kallar since my last visit. We sat listening to him in awe, at the way the 1 1/2 feet tall mystical Rudraksham that weighed some 7 kg was delivered to him 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. Jnana Jyothiamma and Dr. Ram took leave for Methupalaiyam shortly as they had to catch the train back to Chennai later that night. Deva sent them over to the railway station.
After freshening up, we had dinner and spoke further until we called it a day. Tavayogi and Mataji must have been exhausted to having attended to all the devotees who had gathered to have their Jeeva Nadi reading earlier that day, a Saturday.
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 plantation of the locals. It was an educational tour for my family and me and Mataji's granddaughter who tagged along.
Upon returning from the walk we freshened up and started for Ooty. Tavayogi and Mataji hitched a ride with us, while other devotees came in the ashram vehicle. We picked up Dr Nanjan, a veterinarian, and his friend at Coonoor, and headed for the Sri Sargurunathar's Sevashram. It was a beautiful place - heaven on earth, with green pastures and grazing dairy cows, and the cool climate, all of which gives you a feeling of being in Europe.
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 were lucky for we had sun and there was no fog 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. 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, "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.
14 October 2013
My wife had mentioned her desire earlier to me to participate in a puja at the ashram. Tavayogi consented to us having a puja. He started the prayers with a couple of hymns and my family and I were given the honor to carry on. As my family and I were quite adept and versatile in singing the praises of the Siddhas as we are host pujas for the Siddhas back home, we continued with ease. It was a beautiful moment having being given the privilege to participate and lead the puja in our guru's ashram.
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 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.
Mataji wanted us to leave for the Mulasthaanam in the late morning hours when the sun was way up in the sky and the wildlife would have retreated back into the woods. After a short prayer at the peedham, Simbu and Prabha took the lead while Kartik, my wife, my two children, Mataji's grandchild Agatheeswari and I followed behind. Both our guides took all the precautions so as not to meet up with the wild elephants and other creatures of the jungle. They had all their senses awakened to the slightest noise or sound in these jungles. We made a few stops on the way. It was an educational adventure and a slightly scary one too. They alerted us often of certain smells and sounds, cautioning us, silencing us, and at times freezing us only to continue again once they felt all was clear, safe and sound. Finally, we took sight of Agathiyar perched majestically on the rocks at the Mulasthaanam.
Simbu and Prabha gave Agathiyar a bath with the water they had collected in a vessel some distance away from the Mulasthaanam. Then they dressed him up. We gathered together to sing some hymns and the praises to the Sidhas (Sidhar Potri). It was a beautiful moment for all of us. At 12.15 noon we made our way down the hill back to the ashram. Just then Tavayogi and Mataji too returned from Methupalaiyam. The Seth who was to take us on the next leg of our pilgrimage too arrived at that moment. The Seth who was based in Erode was a gracious soul involved in many charitable activities. Besides being a publisher of religious and spiritual books, he had built a vast ashram in Rishikesh and he manages a trust, with other partners that run a Goshala ( Cattle care center) in Erode, where he saves the cattle from the slaughterhouses.
Tavayogi had earlier wanted to take us to Uthiyur some distance from Kangeyam where Konganar had meditated in the caves, that afternoon. But along came the Seth who offered to bring Tavayogi to the Nattadreeswarar Temple at Kangeyampalayam near Erode. Tavayogi took us along too. Tavayogi told us it has been 25 years now since he visited this temple while Mataji added that it has been 10 years now since she was there last.
After a quick lunch, we set off for Erode. Along the way, we caught sight of Othimalai and the famed temple mentioned several times by Velayutham Karthikeyan in his blog Siththan Arul at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com/2013/09/2013.html
It was already nearing dusk as we arrived at Kangeyampalayam on the banks of Kaveri. There we saw the Nattadreeswarar Temple majestically standing in the middle of the Kaveri river with water on all sides. It was indeed a beautiful sight. Seth went to fetch the priest from his home while we waited at the banks. The Seth arrived shortly with the junior priests who informs us his father, the senior priest was at the temple. Just then the senior priest boards a coracle or parisal on the 'island temple'.
"Indian coracles (Tamil:பரிசல்) are commonly found on the rivers Kaveri and Tungabhadra in Southern India. Coracles are primitive, light, bowl-shaped boats with a frame of woven grasses, reeds, or saplings covered with hides. Indian coracles are considered to have been in existence since prehistoric times, and are a major tourist attraction at the Hogenakkal falls on the Kaveri river. Although these boats were originally designed for general transport, they have recently been used mostly for giving tourists rides." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_coracles
As we saw the senior priest step into the coracle on the other bank and approach us, we were saddened that we would not be able to have the Darshan of Agathiyar and Lord Shiva, as he has locked up the temple and returned to this bank and his home. But our spirit was uplifted when the junior priest told us that he would bring us over. He calls for another coracle and we leave in two coracles. We take leave of the senior priest and make our way to the temple. The junior priest, Deva, Mataji, Agatheeswari, and my family board one coracle while Tavayogi, Sellapan, Kartikeyan, Prabhakaran and Seth board the other. We were glad that the priests shared the story of the origin of the temple or Stala Puranam and its significance with us while we were paddled over the waters of Kaveri. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we would have an opportunity and experience of traveling in a coracle.
It was now dark as we walked up to the temple and took a flight of steps to the first floor. There was housed Lord Shiva in the inner sanctum looking amazing beautiful. Agathiyar faces him directly, his gaze falling on Lord Shiva. We were told that Agathiyar had gathered the sands of the Kaveri river and made the form of this Shivalingam that he worshiped later. The priests adds that the bathing ritual is done regularly and amazingly the Lingam is intact, never having lost its shape or eroded.
As we return from the temple to the banks of Kaveri, the junior priest invites us over to his home to have coffee. We are served hot coffee which was refreshing. We get the blessings of the senior priest and his wife before we bid farewell and make our way to the next destination - the Goshala. Here my children have a field day feeding the cows. It is close to midnight as we arrive back at Kallar.
15 October 2013
Today is the last day of our stay at Kallar. Tavayogi who was pretty much impressed by the singing of the hymns by my children and wife the day before, requested that they sing again this morning. After breakfast, we bid farewell to Tavayogi and Mataji. I am forever grateful to Tavayogi and Mataji for being there when we needed them most and for including us in their life. I am equally grateful to Saravanan and Jeganathan who took great care of us and our needs, particularly feeding us on time, during the duration of our stay at Kallar. I am grateful to Silambarasan (Simbhu), Prabhakaran (Prabha) and Kartik who took us up and accompanied us to the Mulasthaanam, especially Kartik who gave his sandals for me to wear and chose to walk barefoot when mine snapped.
Coming to the path of the Siddhas and journeying with Agathiyar, he brought me to have his statue made in his form as in Agasthiyampalli and worship. Along the way, a veteran on this path who was running an ashram in a neighboring state and who had some thirty students under him picked up an argument with me putting down idol worship quoting Sivavakiyar's songs. We parted on a negative note. Soon Agathiyar proofed to us that a statue could become alive if we had sufficient faith in Erai.
My family and I had just arrived at Trichy airport and were received by Jnana Jhotiamma on arrival. She had completed serving food or anadhanam to some 1000 people including the sadhus and the poor on the girivalam path at Tiruvannamalai that morning. She had helped me fulfill Supramania Swami's last wish to feed a thousand souls before he departed.
Coming to Kallar ashram together with us, she returned to Chennai the same day. Having spent some wonderful five days with Tavayogi and Mataji, we returned to Malaysia. Jnana Jhotimamma followed on the heels, the same day we arrived back in Malaysia. She spent three days with us. It was during this period of her visit that Agathiyar magically opened his eyes during libation or abhisegam as seen in the photo snapped by my daughter. Yes, the stone does see, the stone does talk too.