My daughter shared the following video that she saw. She is a student doing Mass Communication at a local university. Hence her reason to be drawn into writing and movies. These were her passion and she got to do the course by Agathiyar's grace. For her thesis, she took up director Manirathnam's three movies as her subject of review. It touched on "Feminism in Indian Cinema." Just as Zahra says in the video my story might be repetitive, told, and retold again but each time I see the same episodes but in a different context and perspective, with a different approach and understanding. Please bear with me.
AR Rahman makes musicians out of children and youths. I too had always encouraged those around me to write. When someone shares a beautiful story I immediately tell them to write it out or to document it if it's their experience for our memory shall fail us one day. The reason I can recall so many memories and precise dates of these events is because I have documented or at least noted them somewhere. Tavayogi in our travels together asked me what I was doing as I took notes after leaving each place as we drove on to another destination. I told him I was taking notes of our travels. He seemed pleased. Many have taken up the call and regularly share their thoughts with me. I have shared some of their thoughts on this blog over time. Mahindren a regular reader of this blog wrote in after reading the last post.
Thanks for another wonderful piece of art Anna. When I came to siddha path I was with Zero knowledge and you, your blog & Thavayogi appa, Agathiyar appa & AVM members help me to develop my knowledge. At 1st I wasn’t here to see God because I have strong communication with them before my arrival but later that was changed and I asked Agathiyar Appa in Jeeva Naadi at Kallar (2014) about my wishes to see Kaaliamma once in my lifetime and he replied that I would see her with my continuous meditation. After 7 years of travel everything has been changed, now I’m in a state where see everything as a miracle of Agathiyar Appa, Yes, I haven’t come into the state where seeing every object as him but I’m very much happy to see my inner transformation. After Agathiyar Appa & Thavayogi Appa words of “Varuvaanga Magane, Athuthan Venuma” & “Ingu Nadapavai Paarthaiya, Athuthan Venuma”. Both of these words stopped me from asking anything from them. And the best part is HE started to hold my hands and bring myself within HIM, once we realized we really in a state where we shouldn’t ask anything from HIM and whatever happened, happening & happens are very much perfect and nothing for us to go rearrange it.
Ramana Maharishi brings H.W.L Poonja to his fold and enlightened him that all the answers for his search were within him only and he just help to trigger it. That’s how, Thavayogi Appa did it. He showed us Agathiyar as an answer to all our queries and lately HE answering to all those by giving us the practice on it. What I believe is “Hands on” is the best experience ever and we will value the practice we’re doing. Similar to that Agathiyar Appa also giving task to us which involve us directly and gain experience and later that becomes wisdom.
One area that lacks support to pursue further one's goal is the spiritual sector. Many gurus, masters, and spiritual and religious heads rest on their laurels and begin to disperse advice. People flock to see them and get their blessings and return home. Some stay back to have their questions cleared. Others come regularly and take up some form of service in his order or movement. Some might give up their lifestyle and stay on permanently serving the guru. Most gurus too settle to have others serve them. Do they show them, God? Or better still do they make them God? The least they could do is to make them another guru, equivalent, and at par with them. Sadly they remain as devotees and followers forever. When the master leaves his mortal frame, they hop on to the next bandwagon that comes their way. This scenario is reflected in politics too. Rarely do we come across gurus in the shades of Agathiyar, Ramana Maharishi, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Supramania Swami or Tavayogi.
In one of his talks during the annual fest for Agathiyar Tavayogi too says the same as Agathiyar, Ramana, and Ramakrishna. Tavayogi brought this message wonderfully across to us during this speech. "What we say is that you should not hold to that which shall perish with time. Hold on to that which is in existence forever. "நாங்கள் என்ன சொல்றோம். நீ நிலை இல்லாதது பிடிக்காதே. நீ கடவுளைப் பிடி நீ கடவுள் ஆயிடுவாய்." He showed us to hold on to the energy that he gives the form and the name Agathiyar rather than have us hold on to him. That was the greatest gift one could receive from a guru.
So did both Ramana Maharishi and Ramakrishna Paramahansa tell Harilal and Narendra respectively when both stood before their masters asking them if they could show God. "Better still I shall make you God" they replied. They both saw God and became God and remained in our midst as gurus. Harilal became the famed master Poonja and Narendra became Swami Vivekananda.
Tavayogi too took us in but never expected us to serve him. He asked that we serve only Agathiyar. When during our long walks journeying the interiors of India, walking through jungles, and staying at caves, I was prompted to do my part to serve him as a disciple or at least return the favor for taking me on these long journeys foregoing even his age and his health in volunteering to accompany me. I asked if I could massage his legs after these long walks. He did not allow me. Taking our bath in the stream that flowed through Kallar I asked if I could wash his used cloths. He did not allow me. Again bathing at Agasthiyar falls in Kuttralam, I asked him if I could wash his soiled clothes in the river. He did not allow me. He had never asked us for money or food. But instead, he only knew to give. He kept giving us.
As if to tell me that all these observations of mine were right, Agathiyar whispered in my ear, உன்னை சுற்றி நடப்பதை எல்லாம் பார்க்கிறாய் அல்லவா?" "You are watching all that is going around you, right?" when I asked to take more births and return to serve him. I knew then that should not be our இலக்கு or goal. Indeed later he came to tell us that to join them and be with them has to be the goal of each devotee and follower of his. "வாழையடி வாழை என வந்த திருக் கூட்ட மரபினில் சேரவேண்டும்" For that to take place we all have to become a Siddha like them too.
மனிதனுக்கு இருக்க கூடிய ஆற்றல் காட்டிலும் மற்றொரு பேராற்றல், சக்தி இல்லை. மனிதனால் எதைவேனாலும் சாதிக்க முடியும். மனதை ஒரு முகம் படுத்துகின்ற போது நமக்குப் பேராற்றல் பிறக்கிறது. மனம் அந்த இடத்திலே குவிகின்ற பொது குவிகின்ற ஆற்றல்மூலம் நமக்குப் புரிகின்ற தன்மை கிடைக்கிறது. ஆக மனதை குவிய வைத்தால் தான் புரியும். குவிய வைக்கும் தன்மையை நீ வளர்த்த வளர்த்த பஞ்சபூதங்கள் உன்னோடு ஒத்துழைக்கும். நீ நினைச்சா எது வேணாலும் சாதிக்கலாம். நீ பணக்காரனாகும் நினைச்சா பணக்காரன் ஆகலாம். கடவுள் ஆகனும்னு நினைச்சா கடவுள் ஆகலாம். மனதினில் எந்த எண்ணஅலைகள் தாக்குகிறதோ அது தாக்க தாக்க அதுவாக மாருகிறான் மனிதன். ஆக நாங்க என்ன சொல்லுறோம். நீ பணக்காரன் ஆகு வேண்டாம் என்று சொல்லல. நீ வக்கீல் ஆகு வேண்டாம் என்று சொல்லல. நீ இன்ஜினியர் ஆகு, நீ டாக்டர் ஆகு. இத்தனைக்கும் இடையில் உன் ஆத்மாவுக்கு நீ கடவுள் ஆகனும் என்ற எண்ணத்தை நீ திணித்துக்கடா. அதைத் திணிக்கத் திணிக்கத்.. இப்போ நாம் எதை நாடுறோமோ அது புடிச்சிக்கும். அது பழக்கம் ஆயிடும். பழக்கம் வழக்கம் ஆயிடும். அப்போ என்ன ஆகுது. நீ எந்தச் செயலைச் செய்கிறாயோ அது உன்னைப் புடிச்சிக்கும். நாங்கள் என்ன சொல்றோம். நீ நிலை இல்லாதது பிடிக்காதே. நீ கடவுளைப் பிடி நீ கடவுள் ஆயிடுவாய்.
These words are echoed in "The Secret" too.
Prem brings some wonderful insight into our religious practices and spiritual seeking in his video.
As Prem says "we do not realize what treasures we have been sitting on and ignored for too long", only now have we begun to get a taste of them.
If first the Siddhas came through the Nadi in the written word supposedly written thousands of years ago for each individual yet to take birth and about events that were to take place in their lives, then moving into Kriyai from Sariyai they came through the Aasi Nool calling us up often to guide us in the rituals further.
Just as we had oracles in the form of the Nadi, it was interesting to note Michael Wood disclose in the episode "Ancestors" of "The Story of China" on BBC Earth, that the ancient Chinese had a means of communication with their ancestors, making predictions through the Oracle Bones. It was patronized by the kings and royalty of the past seeking direction to move their dynasties in the right direction. Diviners asked for guidance and heavens judgment. The Oracle Bones were bones of dead ox and shells of dead turtles where holes are made with a heated tool. The holes were burnt into one side of the bone or shell and the cracks that appeared on the other side were translated as answers to the questions put forth. The ensuing cracks were read and interpreted.
Oracle bones (Chinese: 甲骨; pinyin: jiǎgǔ) are pieces of ox scapula and turtle plastron, which were used for pyromancy – a form of divination – in ancient China, mainly during the late Shang dynasty. Diviners would submit questions to deities regarding future weather, crop planting, the fortunes of members of the royal family, military endeavors, and other similar topics. These questions were carved onto the bone or shell in oracle bone script using a sharp tool. Intense heat was then applied with a metal rod until the bone or shell cracked due to thermal expansion. The diviner would then interpret the pattern of cracks and write the prognostication upon the piece as well. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone)
It reminds me of how we used to manipulate Suren who has tons of questions to ask, sending him off to Kallar with questions to ask of Tavayogi, Mataji, and Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi. He would return with answers. That is how we came to know many secrets of the Siddhas too.
If we were accustomed to the belief that was instilled in us by our parents that God resided in the statues he showed that it was true by opening his eyes in them. The most compassionate father had shown us his manifestation in his granite statues at Agasthiyampalli and Papanasam earlier in 2002. At Agasthiyampalli his left eye was open as if engraved in stone, while his right eye was closed. Which sculptor in his right mind would have a statue of Agathiyar engrave in stone with an eye closed? As if to clear my doubt if it was true, he opened both his eyes on our next stop at Papanasam temple. This time the eyes were real akin to humans but superimposed or replaced the engraved eyes in stone. He confirmed later in a Nadi reading that he saw us and we saw him in return. Then to show others in my homeland too he opened both his eyes in his bronze statue at AVM.
At the peak of Kriyai they came as energies through the Homam and Yagam and through their statues and through individuals momentarily giving directives. In letting in on his secret Agathiyar explains to us how his soul and spirit comes within someone while the other soul resides momentarily in his statue. He explained beforehand in the Nadi the signs of his arrival and the science behind his manifestation. ஓர் பக்தனின் ஆன்ம எந்தநின் ரூபத்திற்குள் இருக்கும். உரைக்க வரும் ஓர் நாளும் அவன் உள்ளே உலாவி வருவேன் அகத்தியன் தானே. This is a far cry from those souls we understand that take possession of others wreaking havoc and causing harm to their host. For the few who gathered to celebrate his annual Jayanthi and Guru Puja besides welcoming his Murthy in our home, that day in 2010, we saw for the very first time a Siddha walk the earth. It was a transition of sorts for us too. Agathiyar who was buried in the many sacred texts and who came to many veterans on the path but were reluctant to share information about him, manifested to our eyes now coming within another.
After his arrival in the form of the bronze statue, and in a devotee during his Vizha, Agathiyar came whenever the need arised. When Tavayogi was visiting Malaysia we passed the word around. A man who stayed in our neighborhood turned up at our home too. But he kept to himself opting to stay and observe the puja from outside. When everyone had left, he moved in but still sat pretty quiet. He seemed very mysterious. While Tavayogi took a short afternoon nap, only then did he conversed with me at length. As I had to send Tavayogi back to the Peedham that hosted his stay in Malaysia, I had to ask him to leave abruptly. After that, he frequented our home just to talk. Soon he opened up the can of worms. His story was a shocker to me. The man had patronized a guru abroad, seeking spiritual knowledge, in his twenties. Having stayed in his ashram and served the guru and fellow seekers, his stay became sour over time. Having made an escape from the ashram, he returned from abroad, and continued his search and sought other gurus locally. He was obliged to serve someone here. Meanwhile, he went looking for a visiting guru and found him in a park. The guru placed his hand on his belly button and initiated him at the public grounds. His body acted strangely after that.
Then he opened up about his wife. The mistake I and my wife did was to listen to him. We learned later that we should have listened to both sides of the story. As he came over often, and sometimes used to stay till late night, I was being inconvenienced as I had to leave for work early the next day and my children leave for school. But yet we gave an ear to him. Along the way I passed him a CD of the mantra Arutperunjothi to pacify him. But his wife called me up and asked "What did you pass on to him that has made him behave like a lunatic", I and my wife rushed to his house. He was pacing his home and talking gibberish. His wife filled us in. He would listen on end to the CD and leave all the doors and windows ajar. He would stare into space and look at the moon for hours on end. We were worried sick. I called them over to my house and meantime checked with a colleague who had some experience in handling such cases. I was in luck as he was having his day off the next day. I asked the couple to come over. She had a different story to tell. She filled in the bits of his story that he chose to hide from us. She pointed out an injustice the man did to her. Immediately they came and took him to task. But the most compassionate father although reprimanding him, shortly after he treated and healed him. I literally saw a mist of dark substances leave his body through his mouth. It scared the hell of me. That day we came to know the ugly side of some gurus. I thought all gurus were good to the core. It was a shocker to me when she revealed that his former guru had blocked his chakras. Even though she appealed, wept, and cried to him to release him, he chose not to do it. Agathiyar released the blockages. Today the couple are happy. He is going back to work and has become responsible too. That was the second instance Agathiyar came through another.
When a young devotee who frequented our home, complained of spikes of pain and discomfort and something running all around his inside, I told him to voice it out to his guru. But he replied that his guru too had gone cuckoo and was roaming the streets aimlessly. He sought relief from many other gurus and the Nadi, even going abroad. But all to no avail. When he had given up altogether on everyone including the Siddhas too, I called him over to my home as a last resort to hear from Agathiyar. But sadly like many, he was keener in knowing who came rather than taking the message delivered. But the divine did not desert him. He is doing well.
If Agathiyar brought the lesser Gods and the whole pantheon of Hindu Gods and the Siddhas, Rishis and munis too, teaching us not to differentiate between them, he showed us that they could come simultaneously through a person and the Nadi too. Then there were times when he intercepted our telephone and Skype conversations to deliver his messages. Using current technology to their advantage, they bridged the gap between the new and the old mediums of communication that they had in their hands to educate us and bring us awareness.
Going within with the aid of Yoga, they came to stay longer now dispersing Gnanam or wisdom. Hence we saw the transition take place from an individual's home taking on the name Agathiyar Vanam with the coming of Agathiyar and the gurus, and slowly with the rituals and puja taking place it became Agathiyar Tapovanam and as the Siddhas came to settle in for good it became Gnanakottam. I think we should take pride at least for this one instance for the recognition given to us. But they made sure that these do not inflate our ego and have us attached to the form and the name. They broke it up just as the Buddhist monks painfully take time to create the Mandalas and destroy them eventually. What remains is the memories that we cherish.