I received a few photos and a video from Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar of the extent of work done on Tavayogi's samadhi building yesterday. I realized that Tavayogi had handed over the management and operation of the Agathiyar Gnana Peedham to the right candidate. Mataji saw to it that what he had envisioned was done. The day saw me question my worth as his student. I felt very small before her. She has shown me true guru bhakti. We are only doing lip service in talking about our guru in these pages while she is working to bring the ideals of our guru into reality.
Tavayogi was a mill owner producing cotton garments in Tirupur, Kovai. A tragic turn of events made him blind while in his thirties. His mother brought him to a temple dedicated to Mother Goddess who was known to heal and cure the blind while his wife did housework to sustain the family. On the brink of jumping onto the railway tracks after vainly waiting a year to regain his eyesight he was stopped by a voice he heard that told him "Do not take your life. I am here." Tavayogi regained his eyesight shortly and went back to running his business. But he promised that he would dedicate his life in service to Agathiyar and to Agathiyar's cause, after attaining the age of fifty. He kept his word. At fifty he left his family voluntarily and became a mendicant. This reminds us of how Babaji came to Yogi Ramaiah to save him too.
Just as Ramaiah was to leave for the USA to further his studies, he contracted bone tuberculosis which disrupted his plans. The disease took its toll on him and he was immobilized for six long years. During that period, his wife and servants cared for him at San Thome in Madras while Ramaiah used this time to his advantage by reading a lot. Ramaiah also published his first book based on Omkara Swami’s life, "A Blissful Saint." During these years, Prasanananda Guru aided him in meditation while Omkara Swami shared with Ramaiah his knowledge of yoga. He had a visit from Mauna Swami too, a disciple of Shirdi Sai Baba. Shortly afterward, Ramaiah had a vision of Shirdi Sai Baba himself. Ramaiah asked Baba if he was his Guru. Baba replied, "No, but I will reveal to you who your guru is", and Ramaiah was shown his Guru Babaji. One day Ramaiah succumbed to the pain and misery that he was undergoing and decided to end his life. He held his breath, not letting it go. Suddenly he heard Babaji's voice. Babaji told him, "Do not take your life! Give it to me!" Surprised and taken aback by the divine intervention, Ramaiah surrendered himself to Babaji. The next day, upon awakening, Ramaiah felt that he was healed. Summoning the doctors, Ramaiah was given a clean bill and certified fit. To everyone's astonishment, Ramaiah had indeed healed completely. Very soon Ramaiah regained the use of both his legs. Shortly in another vision, Ramaiah saw Babaji limping. He questioned Babaji as to why he limped. To Ramaiah's surprise, Babaji replied that he was taking on Ramaiah's illness (bone tuberculosis)! Recently when my daughter feared for the eye operation that was scheduled for her, Agathiyar told her that he shall bear her pain and asked her to go without fear. We are blessed indeed to have him oversee our lives.
This is called ஆட்கொள்ளல் or to intervene in a timely manner and bring the subject to their fold. This we see in the lives of many saints including Sundarar where the good Lord stepped in during his marriage ceremony and redeemed him. Sundarar too lost his sight and regained them later. Tirunavukarasar underwent untold misery as a result of severe pain in his stomach that was miraculously cured later resulting in his newfound faith in the Saivite religion. He moved on to become one of the greatest saints of all times. On the local front, a man who had severe stomach pain was told in his dream that his illness would be cured and that he shall receive the gift of healing others. The only condition laid was that he switched religion. He did as told and has been healing the public.
Traveling the length and breadth of India Tavayogi finally was instructed to build an ashram at Agathiyar Vanam, Kallar. His small ashram in the foothills of Kallar has since shifted to the present-day site some 2 kilometers away with contributions from devotees. Tavayogi has since gone into samadhi on his ashram grounds. Mataji is trying to complete the samadhi structure works just in time for the scheduled kumbhabisegam coinciding with the Vaikasi Visakam festival that falls on 25th May 2021.
