PUTTING INTO PERSPECTIVE

The results of my medical checkup done after Agathiyar asked us to do it have come in. We are glad that all is fine. I guess Agathiyar has cautioned me to take extra care as chakra activation can cause blood disorders he says just as the practice of Pranayama awakened energies in the Muladhara chakra caused an imbalance in the 3 dosas which led to sciatica kind of symptoms in me in 2011. The doctor cautioned both me and my wife to monitor our cholesterol levels every 3 or 6 months due to our advanced age. But how do we account for the scanty but frequent and foul smell of my urine and stools? How do we explain the turmoil that goes on in my abdomen as a result of wind? I did ask the doctor to check my lungs. It is clear. Then how do you explain the phlegm (Kapha), bile (Pitta), and gas (Vata) that is built up and expelled as I hit the sack daily?

Looking for answers I learned that the dosas are energies it seems. 

"Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement — composed of Space and Air. It governs breathing, blinking, muscle, and tissue movement, pulsation of the heart, and all movements in the cytoplasm and cell membranes."

"Pitta expresses as the body’s metabolic system made up of Fire and Water. It governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, and body temperature."

"Kapha is the energy that forms the body’s structure bones, muscles, tendons and provides the “glue” that holds the cells together, formed from Earth and Water. Kapha supplies the water for all bodily parts and systems. It lubricates joints, moisturizes the skin, and maintains immunity."

(Source:https://www.ayurveda.com/resources/articles/ayurveda-a-brief-introduction-and-guide)

When I hurt my back after forcefully expelling phlegm in 2011, surprisingly I was given a clean slate by the doctors. My X-rays were clear. They ruled out sciatica, slip disks, kidney stones, and injuries. But I suffered for close to 3 years having to bear the excruciating pain. It affected my mobility and woke me up from sleep. Since I was in pain the doctors did me a favor by referring me to a physiotherapist. They asked me to come in for a regular course of heat therapy beginning on 12 May 2011 and taught me several exercises to do at home. Though it brought momentary relief the pain was there. Meanwhile consulting Agathiyar in the Nadi reading on 26 November 2011 addressed the issue. He told me my 3 dosas or humor had gone haywire resulting in the injury and pain in my back. He gave me the herb Triphala to consume through a Siddha physician. But the real relief came on 15 February 2012 when during my regular visit to the physiotherapist, surprisingly she asked me to perform the 5 exercises that she had taught me before her. As I moved into the first position something like a knot that gave way in the middle of my lower back made me cry out in relief. I immediately felt relief and lightness in my otherwise tight and strained back. I was cured miraculously that day. I believe Agathiyar had a hand in it. 

The pain came back in June 2016. Dhanvanthri came and treated me. I was told it was a case of excessive Vata and asked to heat up sesame oil and apply it. After some time I realized the pain had gone away. 

When trouble struck again the second time in 2018 a sneeze came on me just as I was crossing a street, the intensity of the pull had me squat in the middle of the road just as I was brought to my knees in my shower the first time. Dr. Jana administered an injection in my back that brought relief.  Agathiyar told me it was a case of the Vasi or the breath that went wrong. He gave me five herbal preparations to consume and ointments to rub. While this reading was recorded and sent to me, the following day another reading was held at my home by Nadi Guru Taranibalan who was in Malaysia then. Lord Murugan to our surprise came in the Nadi and narrated what was going on in the Nadi and simultaneously stroked my back with the feathers of the peacock (that was surprisingly brought over to my house by another devotee and gifted to us just weeks before) through a devotee. This healing took place to the accompaniment of all those gathered chanting the Arutperunjothi mantra. I was asked to drink the glass of water that was infused with the energy of the mantra. The next day Lord Murugan passed a message through the Nadi reading of a friend. He recommended another ointment and herbal medicine. Similarly, when the energy in my abdomen spiraled followed by my body from the shoulders down stiffened like a log the next day, several days ago, Agathiyar came through a devotee on the third day and treated me to the accompaniment of the chanting of the Arutperunjothi mantra.

As we did not understand many things that day, we looked for an explanation of what transpired back then. Why the peacock feathers? How was the treatment done simultaneously, in real-time, as the Nadi was being read and instructions are given? We were enlightened later by Ruzbeh N Bharucha who shed some light on what transpired that eventful day through his writings at https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/going-within.

"... disease first gets ingrained into our causal body and then moves into the astral and then resides in our physical body. That is why in the early days' Fakirs and Sages, would caress the body of the devotee with peacock feathers, as they could see the illness lodged either in the causal or the astral body. Through their power and affirmations, they would clear the illness, which was still in the causal or astral body, and not allow it to enter the physical body. Or cleanse the auras so that the body would automatically heal." That is what Lord Muruga did that day using the peacock feathers. I guess all these pertain to either the causal, subtle, astral or energy bodies, hence it is not detected through medical checkups. 

Ruzbeh Bharucha asks us to bring cosmic consciousness into our causal body that would immediately reflect healing in the physical body. I gathered the following from reading Swami Rajarshi Muni's "Yoga, the Ultimate Attainment", Jaico Publishing House, 1995.

"The prana (that fills the whole atmosphere of the universe) is the spiritual and imperceptible energy out of which matter evolves. When it vibrates and manifests in accordance with universal Will, it becomes matter in the form of Prakriti. From Prakriti, an inexhaustible reservoir, the human body draws prana for carrying out its biological functions throughout its span of life. Prana is extracted from Prakriti as subtle energy through breathing. Oxygen is prana Vayu while Prana is the vital force. Oxygen is capable of sustaining only the gross body while Prana the vital force nourishes and sustains the subtle body. This vital force flows through the channels of the subtle body and can rejuvenate even the gross body increasing its longevity. These subtle channels, like the gross air passage, have their upper ends at the openings of the left and right nostrils. However, they do not end up in the lungs like the respiratory system of the gross body. Instead, they run down to a bulbous subtle structure (Kanda) situated about three inches below the navel of the gross body. There are 14 principal channels or nadis in the subtle body that converge into the subtle bulb Kanda. They branch into 72,000 smaller channels and 350,000-minute tributaries spreading all over the subtle body."

So it looks like we are not only this body but much more. 

This is why we need a guru to monitor us, check on us and correct or advise us. We are glad we have Agathiyar with us. The Siddhas having reached the state of Jothi returned to spread the good news and shared the rituals and practices that they once did so that we too could attain their state. They never wanted us to remain their subordinates, servants, or slaves life long. Neither remain a believer, follower, or devotee forever. They want to make a Siddha out of us. Hence we see how they take the trouble to bring us along to their state. We then ask ourselves if we deserve their care and grace. That is the compassion of the Siddhas. Agathiyar now wants me to share my experiences henceforth with readers of Siddha Heartbeat. I shall oblige him. When I asked him for guidance and understanding as to whatever takes place within, he replied that I shall have the experience first and he shall come later to explain.

LAYING OUR SIGHTS ON AWAKENING THE CHAKRAS 3

Agathiyar had asked me to go meet several holy men and go places in my earlier Nadi readings. I did not go. I believe my insistence that the search had ended after I came to Supramania Swami and Tavayogi and Agathiyar paved the way for many things to take shape in my life without my knowledge. My life was rerouted and my Nadi reading was erased after I took refuge at the feet of Tavayogi as directed by Agathiyar just days after I met him. A new destiny emerged wiping clean the earlier slate. 

When Swami Rajarshi Muni wrote, "An expert guru awakens the dormant life force of the aspirant", I could relate to what Supramani Swami did. He ignited and kindled the flame in me and showed me Guru Bakti or devotion towards the guru by example. He had 5 gurus namely his father Jayaram Pillai, Santhananda Swamigal, Pundi Mahaan, Kollimalai Swami, and Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Tavayogi came later to fan the flame in me bringing me closer to the Siddhas and their practice. After hearing Tavayogi harp on the need to attain the state of Gnanam, I guess my wish to attain Gnanam is being considered by Agathiyar. When he came around asking each of us what we wanted, I least expected that he would ask me too. I could not figure out what to ask then. I had everything one could want. But he waited for my reply. Getting my brain into gear, I ran through my mind what to ask. Finally, it dawned on me that to be of service to him would be the greatest act of gratitude one could show for all that he has given. But he shot me down asking if that was what I wanted. He asked me to look around me (at the numerous happenings of power-grabs, seeking recognition, wanting authority, etc going around us, in society and even the religious and spiritual arena). Tavayogi showed me three people on the religious and spiritual path when I was with him in 2005. The first lamented to him that he had a competitor to the post of head of that establishment after his guru's demise. Tavayogi told me that he was "hooked" to the establishment. The next was a typical priest who was tied to rituals and the temple. Now the third person he showed me he said was a Gnani indeed he said, who stayed alone in a large deserted mansion attended by a volunteer who comes by after work to serve him hot tea in the cold weather of the monsoon in Ooty. He was waiting to become a star in the night sky. I read that Yogi Ramsuratkumar of Tiruvannamalai was approached by the trustees of an ashram in a neighboring town to take up residence and head the establishment after the demise of their guru. He turned them down saying that "This beggar has no possessions." Here is indeed a Yogi both in name and nature. I am proud to be associated with him through my guru Supramania Swami. The Yogi was Swami's guru.

I believe the Siddhas saved me from falling into a trap since I had refused the many gifts they had mentioned that shall be mine on this journey. Agathiyar told me that I had to look for an alternative place as my present home would not accommodate the large crowds that he would start bringing over for his puja. I did not move. The directive was dropped and Agathiyar revealed that he had tested me if I would fall for it. When he told me he would gift the Nadi for me to refer to and use when others come in search, I was not keen to have strangers stand in line wanting to know if their worldly desires would be fulfilled. When he told us to stand aside and that he would heal others using our bodies, we begged that he stop it. We did not want to be stamped as a healer or shamans or medicine men. When they began to speak through us, we kept it under wraps for we did not want the public to come by asking for directions. Call me selfish but something tells me that this is not my purpose here. I do not want to stagnate at any one stage or level and attend to that task till my last days. I looked up to my guru Tavayogi. He never healed nor took on the karma of others. Following in his footsteps I was saved. If I had agreed to accept these gifts I would have been trapped and caught in a cycle and in that circle of society. I would have stagnated in that state though I could become a world-famed Nadi reader, or Head of a Peedham or a Healer/Shaman, or The Voice of God (Arul Vaakku). 

So when Agathiyar asked me to reconsider my wish to serve him taking birth upon birth, I told him that I do not know what to ask of him. Meanwhile speaking to Mahindren about this I told him maybe we should ask for Gnanam which Tavayogi often spoke about. But what was Gnanam? We cannot possibly ask for something that we do not know. Later Agathiyar came again and told me that I had asked for Gnanam. Imagine he had eavesdropped on my conversation with Mahindren! Agathiyar told me that Gnanam was not gifted but we had to travel an internal journey through the chakras and work towards it. He said the final culmination of our internal travel through the various chakras is Gnanam. 

The Siddhas had laid the groundwork for us that they ensured we carried out giving us numerous tools. Swami Vivekananda stresses the importance of continuously working on these practices. 

"Simply listening to explanations and theories will not do. With practice, within a few days, a little glimpse will come, enough to give one encouragement and hope. We shall gradually see the reasons for each exercise and what forces in the body are set in motion. All things will come to us, but it requires constant practice. No amount of reasoning which I can give you will be proof to you until you have demonstrated it for yourselves. As soon as you begin to feel these currents in motion all over you, doubts will vanish, but it requires hard practice every day."

This practice and our efforts are till the second chakra the Svadhistana, says Tavayogi. After that, the Siddha has to come to lead us by the hand. Indeed all our effort came to an abrupt stop in late 2019. The next two and a half years that coincided with the pandemic saw us stagnate. Agathiyar some time back told me that the energy had stagnated at the chakra associated with the water element that is the Svadhistana. But the most compassionate has broken the banks of the pond and we see the waters redirected within as opposed to our external travels previously. It was pierced days ago he says. This led to several fainting spells and the body becoming numb and stiffening like a log. But fear not he says it is all a part of the process. In asking me to see the doctor and have treatment for a possible blood disorder that arises when the chakras are activated late in life, he also told me to close the windows at night. The cold air is not got for me he says as I now need to retain the heat of the chakra activation in the body. Vashisht Vaid in his blog https://holysageagathiyar.com/ writes the same,

"The ‘’radiant heat’’ [tejas tapah] of these ‘’spiritual experiences’’, also ‘greatly expand’ the holding sack of ‘’causal body’’ [karanam sharira], making it possible for a quick ‘release’ [mukti] of the ‘bound soul’ [bandhit atama]."

Indeed when I carried out the breathing exercises as shown by Tavayogi in 2007, the prana began to build up within my body to the extent that I feared it would explode. This was the Arambha avastha. It was only after 18 years of practice that Agathiyar permitted me to withhold my breath in retention or kumbhaka bringing me into the second stage of pranayama called Ghata avastha. Next, we shall arrive at Parichaya Avastha where the piercing of the Rudra granthi happens. Nishpati avastha would follow subsequently where Kevala kumbhaka or sahaja kumbhaka that is "the holding of the breath with no particular state of respiration in consideration" happens. From asking us to forcefully take control of our breath and later just noticing it, Agathiyar asked us not to place any effort in breathing and told us that it shall go one on its own. We shall arrive at the fourth and final stage called Nishpati avastha, after which there is no longer a need for any yogic practice. This is said to be the state of Samadhi while still alive. 

Swami Rajarshi Muni says the real beginning of the practice of Yoga is when it becomes spontaneous in us. Once it becomes spontaneous there is nothing the aspirant does but surrender to the inherent energy that takes the lead. I guess this is what Lord Muruga meant when he asked all those who were ready to surrender to step up to him as he had something to give them. When I stood before him he drove me away saying that Agathiyar shall give me knowing pretty well my hold on Agathiyar. 

"One needs to surrender completely and unconditionally to the awakened life force within", Swami Rajarshi Muni continues. We need to "relinquish all our willful efforts. Surrender to the prana to lead us to the deeper strata of our being", he adds. I guess this is what happened when I was suddenly driven to spin and dance on my toes and was lifted and thrown into a dark pit while in the inner caves of the Sri Siva Shanmugar Temple in Sungai Siput. These spontaneous and unintentional cries that accompanied my temple visits in India become quite a regular affair in the places of worship that I visited. 

So I believe he has started me on this internal journey to a sacred place that Ramalinga Adigal calls Aani Pon Ambalam. Join me in the coming days as we explore together this journey that Agathiyar has asked me to share with you. As Ruzbeh N Bharucha writes of a co-traveler at  https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/the-master-s-grace, "A co-traveler who has the ability to guide fellow travelers on the path and He/She may have His/Her own demons to deal with, flaws and limitations to work through, but is filled with selfless love and has the Divine Spark burning bright but eventually is not beyond karma and still grappling with duality", I too have hidden skeletons inside my closet but Agathiyar opted to give me a chance at the race. I pray that I do not misguide you and that we all end up elsewhere. Voicing this fear in me to Agathiyar, he asked that I have the experience first and that he shall come later to explain (or correct me). That sort of gives me inner strength. 

Supramania Swami's hand in introducing me to gurus in physical form, made it easy for me to accept and worship the Siddhas, men who worked their way up the spiritual ladder transforming their Asuddha Deham, to Suddha Deham by means of performing worship and rituals, taking purgatives that cleansed the insides of their body, doing pranayama and asanas, later transforming the Suddha Deham into the Pranava Deham, rich in prana Sakti, arriving at attaining Siddhis that were used wisely. Finally, these men due to the intense tapas carried out, fed the fire within or Tava Kanal that consumed all impurities and joined the ranks of those who merged with Erai, themselves becoming Jhoti or Light or attaining the Oli Deham. Agathiyar wants me to share the experiences with Siddha Heartbeat readers. Please bear with me.

LAYING OUR SIGHTS ON AWAKENING THE CHAKRAS 2

Agathiyar guided us through his Aasi Nadi which came to be read regularly. He had other Siddhas speak on Yoga too. Patanjali corrected our existing menu and changed it to one of satvic in nature. Fast forward to 2000, Dhanvanthri, Bhogar, Tirumular, and Ramalinga Adigal; Supramania Swami and his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar; Tavayogi, Lord Siva, Lord Murugan; Mother and Aiya in their many manifestations and Rama and Anjaneya too blessed us coming through devotees. The blockages that are a result of our previous lifestyles result in its imbalances and disorders in the body. The imbalance in the 3 dosas of bodily humor namely Vatam or wind, Pittam or bile, and Kapam or phlegm necessitates the need for Deha Suddhi. Agathiyar gave us his Agathiyar Kuzhambu to consume for this purpose. He shows me to Siddha practitioner or Siddha Vaidyar Arivan of the Arulguru Agathiyar Arulsidhar Peedam, also known as Agathiyar Yoga Herbs Centre (officially registered as the Agathiyar Arul Shakti Peedham). Vaidyar Arivan prepared the Agathiyar Kuzhambu which contains 11 ingredients that are mentioned in the Siddha formulary of India - part -1, that when combined act as a purgative. Besides being a purgative it is said to cure many diseases too. He passed me other herbs too that he deemed fit for me to take that served as Kaya Karpam to strengthen the body. That purgative brought out all the trash and garbage I had carried in my system for the past sixty years. That did an excellent job of cleaning the house or so I thought. Agathiyar tells me that though it helped bring balance to the three dosas there were still impurities in my system that had to be cleared. He had me prepare a magic potion and take it daily. It had a tenth of the effect of his Agathiyar Kuzhambu but was effective enough in daily cleansing. Agathiyar came regularly to check on us if we are following his dictates. So when he asked if I was following the Vaasi or breathing techniques he had told me to carry out, I lamented that the mind would not settle. He then asks if I was taking the concoction that he had asked me to prepare and take daily. I then told him it was too bitter a pill to swallow to which he commanded me to take it. He added that the impurities or Kalivu in the body need to be rid of for the mind to settle in contemplation and meditation. 

With the prana that is ingested in larger volumes through the practice of pranayama; and having the nadis purified by the practice of Nadi Suddhi; and by consuming Agathiyar Kuzhambu that brought on Dega Suddhi, next came the spontaneous purification of the lower chakras. It broke my back so to say. I couldn't move momentarily after coughing out phlegm during my morning shower one morning in 2011. A nerve pain tugged at my lower back right down my right leg to the toes causing excruciating pain and bringing me to my knees. It was several minutes before I could drag myself to the bed. This pain in my lower back became worse. First, I could not walk long distances. Then I could not sit long. Finally, the pain woke me up from sleep. After going through the painful experience for some 3 years, finally Agathiyar came to explain why I was going through the agony. The 3 dosas had gone haywire resulting from energy awakenings in the Muladhara chakra, a result of my yogic practice and tapas. He asks to stop all my yoga practice immediately. He gave me herbs to consume and ointments to apply to bring me relief. Finally, he relieved my pain through physiotherapy at the government clinic. It went away for good or so I thought. In 2018 I was crippled again by it as a sneeze came on as I was crossing the street. Lord Murugan brought relief attending to me by stroking me with his peacock feathers and explaining what was being done in the Nadi reading concurrently. When the energies could not be contained any further both in me and the home, Agathiyar asked me to tone down on our worship in September 2019. Slowly we began to reduce the duration and scale of our worship. We only retained the ritual of bathing him with water daily to cool him done as his energy expanse was beyond proportion in his statue. Similarly, he asked to halt the charity too as we had brought a balance to the scale of merits. We were asked to resume our Yoga practices instead. Experience has taught us that Yoga has to be dealt with in a careful manner and with the guidance of a Siddha. In the event something goes wrong they are on hand to bring us relief or to correct us. Pandit Gopi Krishna who "had aroused the Kundalini, speaks about the result of that "sudden outburst one day after putting in years of meditation" and his "first encounter with the serpent energy, the physic energy in his life" where "he had his first glimpse into the superconscious state and saw fabulous Kundalini in action." Reading his account of Kundalini gives us shivers.

Swami Rajarshi Muni in speaking about the very basic alternate nostril breathing says, "This is considered a powerful exercise in creating pranaprabalya, or the strengthening of prana, as well as the purification of the nadis. The more pranayama is done, the more prana is stored in the kanda.… prana travels through the subtle body by means of subtle channels known as Ida and pingala. These subtle channels, like the gross air passage, have their upper ends at the openings of the left and right nostrils. However, they do not end up in the lungs like the respiratory system of the gross body. Instead, they run down to a bulbous subtle structure (kanda) situated about three inches below the navel of the gross body."

Though I had carried the above excerpt in my blog on Saturday, 8 September 2018, I never understood the essence of the matter until my recent experience.  The Kanda is exactly where I sensed the tug of a nerve several days ago before there was a spinning sensation in my abdomen that brought on nausea and a chill and coldness both in the abdomen and throughout my entire body making it go numb to the fingers tips. After this "explosion of energy", I saw calmness and peace come over me and I could actually sit and try to meditate. It was a blissful state. The breath I believe has begun to settle on its own. I guess the secret is in the simplicity of life or the practice and not in the jargon of words or elaborate practices put together by man for a fee. Sriinaath Raghavan who is known to give us gems writes on our foolishness in not recognizing the gem before us and instead take long unfruitful journeys in searching for one elsewhere. 

There was an ardent practitioner of Kriya Yoga who would go to the Mountains often to meditate. On one such trip, he unexpectedly happened to meet the Eternal Yogi, called Babaji. He fell at Babaji's feet, and told the great Saint, how he always wished to see him and receive Deeksha. The Saint however kept silent and listened with a patient ear, because all of them who happened to meet, more or less tell the same thing. After the Seeker finished talking, Babaji asked him to follow through a dense jungle, winding their way across many slopes, till they finally reached a cave, where the Saint lived. They sat inside and Babaji offered the Seeker a drink of something plain like water, but one that refreshed him to the core. Then the Seeker settling himself down asked, "Can you initiate me into the practice of Kriya Yoga?

Babaji gently nodded his head in approval and imparted the highest wisdom of Kriya to the Seeker. The Seeker after receiving the teachings felt uncommonly dejected and turning towards the Master complained, "Master this was not how it was mentioned on the website, it was far more complex with a lot of Mudras and Bandhas?

Babaji once again nodded his head gently and vanished from sight. It is said that this Seeker still roams the Mountains in search of Babaji, who is yet to confirm which one is right, He the Master of the Kriya or the Website. Alas! No matter what, we can never look beyond the book because we are hooked.

Prem Niranjana too shared Odhara Moon's post, a wonderful piece that puts us to shame.

"SEARCH FOR A MASTER"  

A man went in search of a Master. He was ready to go around the world, but he was determined to find the Master, the true Master, the Perfect Master. Outside his village, he met an old man, a nice fellow sitting under a tree. He asked the old man, "Have  you ever heard in your long life ... look like a wanderer ..." 

He said, "Yes, I am a wanderer. I wandered all over the earth." 

The man said, "That is the right kind of person. Can you suggest to me where I should go? I want to be a disciple of a Perfect Master." 

The old man suggested a few addresses to him, and the young man thanked him and went on. 

After thirty years of wandering around the earth and finding nobody who was exactly fulfilling his expectations, he came back dejected, and depressed. The moment he was entering his village he saw the old man who had become very old now, sitting under a tree. And suddenly he recognized that he is the Master! He fell at his feet and said, "Why didn't you say it to me, that you are the Master?" 

The old man said, "But that was not the time for you. You could not recognize me. You needed some experience. Wandering around the earth has given you a certain maturity, a certain understanding. Now you see. Last time you had met me, but you had not seen me. You had missed. You were asking me about some Master. That was enough proof that you could not smell the fragrance. You were utterly blind; hence I gave you some bogus addresses so you could go. But even to be with the wrong people is good, because that is ... how one learns. For thirty years I have been waiting for you here. I have not left this tree." 

In fact, the young man, who was not young anymore, looked at the tree and was even more surprised. Because in his dreams, in his visions he was always seeing that tree and there was always a feeling that he would find the Master sitting under this tree. Last time he had not seen the tree at all. The tree was there, the Master was there, Everything was ready ... but he was not ready." 

LAYING OUR SIGHTS ON AWAKENING THE CHAKRAS 1

Going through the net we see many offers to raise the kundalini showing the ways and means to go about it. When an aspirant among us asked about it, Tavayogi told us it was not necessary to know about it back then. It was not something to be tampered with he added. I guess he speaks from experience. Instead, he got us to worship the Siddhas by reciting their names. He got me to carry out the homam in my home. Agathiyar brought many to my home to witness and participate in the Pournami puja. Tavayogi showed us Yogasanas and Pranayama which we started to practice. He started us doing charity. From Sariyai he moved us to do Kriyai and engage in Yogam. There was no shortcut to arrive at activating the chakras and raising the kundalini. We had to know all these first. In worshipping the Siddhas they began to help us remove our karma by first revealing the extent of our sins and having us go on pilgrimages and carrying out remedies. This acquired their blessings and we were pardoned. In carrying out the Homam a bridge was drawn for the Siddhas to come down from their realm and live with us. They became a shield and force field. If puja and the rituals removed the external obstacles, in performing Yoga the blockages within us were removed steadily. 

A year before I came to read the Nadi I was asked to pray to Lord Dhakshanamurthy to show me a guru in physical form or rather have the Lord come as the guru. I was blessed to have my nephew come along on 6 October 2001 and pass me the Vasudeva mantra that is said to pierce and balance the Vishnu granthi. I learned later that there are another two knots Brahma granti and Rudra granthi. We are told that further practice of pranayama would pierce these too and the six chakras. R Venu Gopalan in his book, "The Hidden Mysteries of Kundalini", enlightened me further on this mantra stating that the Vishnu Granthi adds obstructions for the sadhaka keeping one under the wraps of attachment and bondage. It helps dissolve all the past karmic deeds for a better future. From Awakening State at http://www.awakeningstate.com/spiritual-awakening/om-namo-bhagavate-vasudevaya/ we learn that "This Sanskrit mantra can be practiced to attain freedom (moksha) from Samsara – the “Karmic Wheel” that keeps us bound to cycle after cycle of incarnations. This liberation mantra is a karmic eraser." Agathiyar told me that my past karma stood in the way of deriving the benefits of all my spiritual practices becoming a stumbling block. He gave me the right tool to help me clear my karma. 

If the heart knot is said to be the Vishnu-Granthi in some text, elsewhere we come to learn that the piercing of the Vishnu granthi or knot is at the throat while the Brahma granthi is the knot in the heart and the Mahasunya or Ajna between the eyebrows is where the piercing of the Rudra granthi happens. We tend to notice a discrepancy as to the location of the Vishnu granthi here that results in a domino effect. References to the Hathayoga Pradika and Siva Samhita, locate the Brahma granthi at the heart or Anahata, the Vishnu granthi at the throat or Vishudhi, and Rudra granthi between the eyebrows at Ajna, while Yogi Professor Ramdas Prabhuji at https://lahirimahasayakriyayoga.org/om-namo-bhagavate-vasudevaya/, locates the Vishnu granthi as being at the heart. Nevertheless, it's the message that is important here. We shall leave it as it is until we can get further confirmation regarding their locations. 

In a book titled, "Saint Dhruva", it is mentioned that this mantra was given to Dhruva by Saint Narada who initiated Dhruva into the mysteries of yoga and meditation leading to samadhi. Narada taught Dhruva the practice of pranayama by inhaling, exhaling, and holding his breath. He taught Dhruva to overcome thought fluctuations with the help of breath control. Narada also taught Dhruva to meditate on Vishnu in the sanctuary of his heart repeating the Lord’s name mentally and offering prayers and worship. 

This mantra was mentioned in an extract from the English translation of the book "Kriya Yoga Vijnan - The Science of Kriya Yoga", the original by Saint Lahari Mahasaya. Lahari Mahasaya has named this sadhana, Omkar kriya. This is essentially a pranayama and the basis is the Vasudeva mantra.

My nephew only revealed the source of the mantra on 24 December 2005. It was from Agathiyar. I had received this mantra even before Agathiyar came to me through the Nadi reading a year later in 2002. Besides that, Agathiyar sent me to carry out remedies too after my Nadi reading. The hikes to the hills and climbs to the temples and the tracking through the jungles helped lessen the hold of karma on us as we shed sweat and tire ourselves going through the regime. Eventually, the energies at the numerous temples visited and the blessings of the deities together with the parikaram or remedies carried out cleared the path further. Agathiyar showed numerous miracles. Returning home from my maiden pilgrimage to India, the spate of energy transmission that erupted in spontaneous outbreaks of tears and cries of joy, experienced in India, continued. With karma cleared over the two years and out of the way, Agathiyar gave me the technique of Nadi Suddhi to adopt and put into practice to rid the mind-body and purge the impurities upon my return from India in 2003. The purification of the nadis is required before one progresses to take up pranayama. These are prerequisites to taking up asanas and pranayama as we take note in the 8 angas of Patanjali. Swami Vivekananda speaking about this practice of Nadi Suddhi or purification of the nerves quotes from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, "First, the nerves are to be purified, then comes the power to practice pranayama." He adds that "Nerve currents will have to be displaced and given a new channel. New sorts of vibration will begin, the whole constitution will be remodeled, as it were." We have to start here before we can even lay our sights on awakening the Kundalini. 

The process of clearing the "house" continued further over the years. Agathiyar guided me further through his Aasi Nool. The gurus in physical form came to shed light and clear my ignorance. Yoga which was taught by my gurus hastened the process of clearing the airways and bringing in prana. The chakras that were either sluggish or dormant were energized, the blockages released and the passages cleared. This resulted in a sudden surprise move of the energy that took place without my knowledge in 2011.

TAKE UP THE WORSHIP OF THE SIDDHAS

One thing is for sure. You do not mess with the snake, be it in the physical form or the serpent that is dormant within us. As Sriinaath Raghavan wrote about his state after helping someone with their parikaram, 

Since the last few weeks, I was terribly ill with intense bone-breaking pain and high body temperature. No matter what medications I took, it didn't subside. I had to do a few pujas and homes for some people, which I completed despite the burning temperature and pain. It so happened that one such family had a severe Naga Dosha, which was making their lives miserable. Constant sickness, animosity between the living blood relatives, joblessness, and everything that spelled slow doom. They approached us for a remedy and we instantly saw that it was Naga Dosha behind it all, by the very obvious looks of it. We duly started a parihaara puja and homa for the Nagas, when in a few days, one of the family members of the client, had a vivid dream of a humongous multi-hooded Serpent, hissing angrily and wanting to inflict harm to the one dreaming. At that very moment of the strike, a small girl appeared from nowhere and started fondling the hissing Snake, offering it flowers and successfully calming it down. The Snake too suddenly started to shrink in size till it became too small to even notice. This surreal dream surely indicated the efficacy and success of the "kriya" undertaken. That was not the end when an accomplished Devi Sadhaka called me up one morning and said, "I saw in a dream some Snakes complain about you to the Divine Mother. They were saying why is he coming in between us and those who have harmed us in the past. Their Ancestors had burnt us all alive, young and old included and that's when our Queen placed a curse on their progeny, for killing innocent Snakes. The pain he was experiencing to date was just to make him realize the truth. Pray tell him not to intervene with anyone's Karma, as He will have to partake some handful of it himself."I was shocked to hear it because I hadn't told anything to anyone and that friend rarely calls unless there is some emergency,

Tavayogi too warned a seeker who on the onset asked to know about the Kundalini not to mess with it. Pandit Gopi Krishna has shared his vast firsthand experiences with this power source. 

One has to tread cautiously in doing Yoga asanas and pranayama. My brother ended up in pain learning from books though I was spared the pain when I picked it up from the books. A reader from Delhi messaged me asking if Tavayogi could cure him of the excruciating pain he had as a result of following numerous practices and a number of masters. None of his masters could help him. After 8 years I mail him to find out how he was. Sadly he was in the same state. A seeker who frequented AVM one day told me he had energy moving within him that disturbed him. I asked him to go back to his guru who had initiated the practice. He replied that his guru too had turned cuckoo roaming the streets now. PremKV too in his video says he landed in the hospital after learning certain practices from the Yoga manual "Jeeva Brahma Aikya Vedanta Rahasyam." I had my fair share of pain that obstructed my mobility to a certain extent which I had to bear for some 3 years. There was a time when I spontaneously twisted my torso as would a snake move writhing in pain. But I was lucky as I had Agathiyar by my side. Agathiyar later tells me the pain itself was bliss. He explained what had taken place in me and gave me some herbal remedies to consume after I had exhausted all other means of relief. I was finally relieved of the pain as the physiotherapist asked me to carry out the exercise before her that she had shown me earlier. When the pain reappeared again many years later, Lord Muruga explained the process of healing by having the Nadi reader read and a devotee uses peacock feathers to fan my body to the accompaniment of the Arutperunjothi mantra that energize the glass of water that I took later. I was healed. This reminds me of my younger days when I frequented a Chinese home where the head of the house would go into a trance-like state and hit himself with the back of a sword and later burn a yellow strip of rice paper on which he would write out Chinese characters and burn it, collecting the ashes in a glass of water. I would be asked to drink it. It also reminds me of the numerous times we went to a local mosque and have the imam recite the holy verses and tie a string around our wrists. We would head for the Buddhist temple to ask to be healed too. The monks would chant certain verses and tie a string on our wrists too. 

Tavayogi taught us to worship the Siddhas through the recitation of the names and offering flower petals at their feet. Later he had us conduct the Homam too. If the mention of the names of the Siddhas made them turn around and look at us and caught their attention, the rituals formed a bridge between both worlds. Soon they come to stay put in our home. As we leave Sariyai and Kriyai to embark on a new journey of Yogam, they stay at our side to take care that we do not endanger ourselves in the process. During the days I practiced the yoga asanas and pranayama learning from books, I did not see its results because I had karma stand between me and reaping its benefits. This was disclosed by Agathiyar in the Nadi. This is the reason worship of the Siddhas is pertinent and compulsory before we engage in Yoga. Besides helping us with our karma they stand by us and come to our needs if difficulties arise in our practice. 

I share the memoirs of Jnana Jothiamma that bring us the true picture of how the Siddhas came to her aid. Returning after a brief visit to my home Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM), Agathiyar commanded Jnana Jyothiamma to go into solitude, refrain from seeing people, and stop all forms of communication through all media. She stopped coming on Skype but continued mailing me on her progress and transformation. He provided for her secure accommodation through a samaritan who gave her a place to stay in one of the units that the housing developer had built in Chennai. 

Dear Shan, My journey and connex with you and Agathiyan is truly Amazing. Everything seems to me like a Dream Floating by...Kallar was Agathiyan's CALL ...Nattatreshwar Temple was Murugan's CALL...Vadallur was Valallar's CALL Thiruvanamalai was SHIVA'S CALL...(Also Vallalar). The Direct Experiences I had with the 'DIVINE." in all these places...Was on another plane...I could confirm this after my last visit to your place and the happening there...To Quote Mahi..."I think that room (Pooja room) was another Portal for those two hours OR Agathiyan must have erected Screens ...SO VERY TRUE...

While in isolation and with her health deteriorating further Jnana Jyothiamma is visited by Siddhas. On October 8, 2014, she writes to inform me of someone coming over to hand her some medicine to heal her ailing body.

One of the priests of Dhandhyuthpani Temple...Palani will be at my home tomorrow by 6 am and he is getting me the medicine etc for consumption etc, that has been asked of him to deliver to me. He knows the entire history of the Temple, how Bhogar built it etc. This info was passed on to him by Bhogar, who also communicates to him,...like how dad communicates with me..thro Dhynam. He does Abhishekam for Murugan and Maragalingam everyday. I'll try and make him say a word or two to you...maybe around...3 pm my time...as he will be leaving for Jaipur by 5 pm by train, as he has instructions to hand over a Vigraham to another devotee in Jaipur.

Agathiyan told me that since Murugan's energy is inside me...

"A PRALAYAM IS BRING CREATED INSIDE YOU AND, THAT THE INTENSITY IS TOO HEAVY FOR YOU TO WITHSTAND, HENCE ALL THESE MEDICINES WE HAVE TO GIVE IT TO YOU."

He further advised me to call the Siddha doc who is currently treating me and tell him to get me Kumari Leghyam immediately and take that also for 3 mandalas.......to balance the heat and fire energy. Kumari is an organic Aloe Vera Extract,...I called up the doc, and told him what dad said and by the last evening, he had sent the freshly prepared Leghyam and asked me who recommended this. I told him it is Agathiyan's suggestion.

..long periods of total Mounan...In Silence, Not only can I see....but also hear...THEM...If anyone sees this title, they'll think, I have gone insane, with my Brain screwed up royally...or I am Perverted. The truth is ....it is neither of the above-mentioned three adjectives...I have not gone mad. yet ...till this very moment... . By Pleasure, I meant...the Pleasure of knowing that all these Pains (physical ) are gonna cease and end ONE DAY.....and never gonna come back...By pain, I meant.....the Excruciating Pain. I Experience ..sometimes in my CNS..( central nervous system...hip upwards), and sometimes PNS (Peripheral Nervous System....hip downwards,). When the former activates itself, giving me torment, the latter subsides and vice versa. By Blow Hot.....I meant, there is a constant burning Inferno within. You won't believe it if I tell you, that I feel I am running a very high temperature. My dresses get warm. My bedsheets get warm...But actually ..no fever at all...except very high temperature...like a burning brick kiln...By Bow Cold...I meant...the weather..the climate is very chill and very windy with intermittent heavy rains. I am wearing the heavy jacket cum sweater that we wear in the freezing winters of MN...In the USA..where the temperatures drop down to -32 *.Even then inside our home, I used to move around in shorts and sleeveless tees...as it is internally heated. Just a peep outside without Adequate and heavy woolen clothing will burst your nerves and your nose will start bleeding...Now here in Chennai cold...which is nothing, I am here fully stuffed up. The reason being, the heat ...the fire inside will burn up all the fats, which are highly essential during the cold season to keep one warm inside.

Secondly, the bone marrow and the lubricants get evaporated, due to the excessive heat...And here I am..battling both the external cold and the Internal heat...Sean Connery (First James Bond) would toss on his grave if only he knew that there is a person, using his movie title.." blow hot, blow cold"...in a different aspect...

I remember, we three (hubby, son, and myself), used to crack a lot of jokes on this name and laugh out...

Today all alone, as a human, me experiencing the real meaning... Well tell me now..how more Joyous can one's life's journey be......But for Agathiyan.......

I couldn't move an inch today...I cried to dad. When the pain becomes very intense, I started to cry...Immediately I get a very strong smell of Navapashanam...I know Bhogar has come and is there...My mind calmed immediately and the pain subsided a lot..... I know the smell of that medicine, as I am taking it... Imagine if I did not have all these medicines.....omg...

There is a Christmas Carol, about three wise men, who follow the star and go to meet the baby Jesus with Gifts. It goes thus...We, three kings of Orient, are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Fields and fountain, moors and Mountains, Following yonder Star... Oh! Oh !..Star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauties bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to the Perfect 'LIGHT"

When all these memories come to me now...I start to cry...as for me as a human, at this stage in life, have experienced all that they were singing and I was singing too, throughout my school days...

I saw the 'STAR." I saw the LIGHT"...I was singing about OUR FATHER ALL THESE YEARS...

He heard me for six births and came to me now to give me total Salvation... A "LONE RANGER"...once upon a time. Now no more a Lone Ranger...Holding on to the hand of the 'LIGHT "., I am Treading on "The Path Of Salvation. hoping to reach the DESTINATION SOON...

The wise men had Gold, Silver, and Myrrh (A medicinal perfume) ..to give as gifts to Baby Jesus, THE KING. But my gift to the Supreme King ..is my Athman. Even that HE had cleansed it and purified it...

He is the Donor and I was the Recipient...At the end of my Journey, when I meet the Almighty...

THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS...TAKES BACK WHAT HE GAVE...THE DONOR BECOMES THE RECIPIENT. THUS THE DONOR AND THE RECIPIENT BECOMES ONE'" ( A similar thing you used to tell me about a guru Shisyan Relationship and I used to make you repeat it. Even when all of you came to see Ram and me off from Kallar ..the very first day you reached Kallar....from the foothills, just before we left. I requested you to say that sentence. You said just a line and told me that you are unable to continue further )...Do you remember this incident?

Pleasant memories..which we will carry with us and cherish ..till the end... I wish during the last hours of my life on this Earth, we all meet and read all silly mad things that all I had written and you safely preserved it...Shan, you are VISHNU. (The Preserver).....and have a HEARTY LAUGH ABOUT THE WHOLE THING...

"Could Auld acquaintance be forgotten and never brought to mind...... etc...was my school's farewell song on.....last day at school. Everyone will cry ... If you check up on this song...Auld Lang Syne (old times sake).....you may get it...It is a Scottish song and I did a major part of my schooling in a Scottish Mission School...

Shan...I feel this Jenam is over for me. That 8 hrs of Pooja (At Nattatreshwar Temple.....12-7 pm.....is over once and for all. Never to come back...All I asked Agathiyan in February 2012...was to give me a chance to do a small Pooja at your place. HE GAVE ME THE ULTIMATE ...THE ULTIMATE POOJA, ONE CAN EVER THINK OF...WHEN ALL THE 18 SIDDHAS, AGATHIYAN MURUGAN, DEVIS. (what a sweet mother. So many memories I have of proximity with her,)..,AND LORD NATARAJA......THE "UNIVERSAL CREATOR ALSO CAME, BLESSED US ...AND GAVE HIS DARSHAN...You were all there with me...at that moment...DUNNO WHAT TO CONTINUE............................ AGATHIYAN MADE ME COMPLETE...

A NEW JOURNEY

We came to read the Nadi for the first time with fear and apprehension not knowing what the Mahamuni would reveal and say about us. Will he lash us? Will he scold us? We knew that he could reveal our past, present, and future by learning from others who had seen their Nadi. Suddenly our lives are an open book to them we realize. They start off by revealing our present. Once that is settled they dive into the past to look at the reasons why we took birth. We come to know that the cause of birth is our past karma and similarly the cause of a future birth would be our present actions. So it seems now to me that we were never meant to be here in the very first place. There is then a reason to be born. This cause of birth has been documented only by the Siddhas. It looks like our biographies were written by the Siddhas. Nowhere else can we see a similar library of documents pertaining to so many individuals' lives. 

After the revelation, we set out to correct past mistakes by offering prayers, doing remedies, going on pilgrimages, and doing charity among others. For some, the Siddhas set a new timeline to follow. As for others, they leave them to fend for themselves. It is not that they are biased or do not care but they know pretty well that they have a false notion that they are in charge and would not surrender to the higher will. As for some others, they have to live through their lives as fated.  Just as once you have laid the infrastructure you don't need to dial-up you are connected for good with the Siddhas. Hence you can drop all the elementary rituals of calling them over to our plane for they come to stay put in our homes for good. For those willing to listen they guide them further either through their Aasi Nool, messengers, gurus, or come through their devotees. And so Agathiyar came through a devotee of his and cleared the air as to what took place a couple of days ago.

On Monday I felt an "explosion of energy" in my belly as I woke up and stretched in bed. It felt like I had stretched a nerve near my belly button. I felt nauseous and my whole body became numb to the fingertips. Then a sudden swirl of energy was released in my abdomen bringing on a cold feeling throughout my body. I had to pee and ease myself. For fear that I would go on the bed, I got up to go to the toilet. I fell twice but picked myself up. It soon subsided. Towards night the top of my head was cool. I browsed the net but I came across only facts and theories written on the solar plexus but none shared a similar experience or any experience of theirs. Writer Balakumaran narrates to the news channels his experience when Yogi Ramsuratkumar touches his back and spine when he asks to see God. He mentions that he felt a chill within the bone.

Prior to this, for several weeks I had the wind travel in my abdomen causing pain in my groins and testes. The urine and motion were smelly. I asked myself if my body was decaying within. I knew a cleansing process was going on within. Agathiyar had told me a stage will come when the body would smell. 

On Tuesday I woke up to go to the loo but I could not piss. I fainted again. I called my wife asking her to bring the peacock feathers over and brush my body. My body became numb from the shoulders down. I lay like a log on my bed. I could not move an inch of my body. But I was aware of what was happening to me. I asked myself if this was what a dead body would feel like. 

Seeking answers to what had taken place, we placed a request before him to clear the air. And he did. He told me the following. There was nothing to worry about. Previously he had told me that energy had stagnated at Svathisthana. Tavayogi told me that our effort is only till this chakra. They have to come and lead us on from there. It was released now. But since the chakra was activated late in life the blood is affected. The blood count will tip the scale. He asked to seek allopathy treatment. He did treat me too by dipping my hands into a bowl of lukewarm water to the accompaniment of my family chanting the Arutperunjothi mantra. He ran his hands along my back and spine and placed his hands on my head and applied the sacred ash over my body.

He gives a warning to all of us. When the chakras are activated late in life it would have some adverse results on our bodies. When the heat of tapas increases in our body, blood flow will be less bringing on numbness. This would result in urinary and excretion problems. 

கவலை கொள்ள ஒன்றுமில்லை. தேங்கி இருந்த நீர் வெளி கொண்டது. ஆனபோதும் முதிர்ந்த நிலையில் சக்கரங்கள் திறப்பதனால் உதிர வாட்டம் கொண்டுள்ளது. ஆகையால் எண்கள் மேரு பெறும். ஆங்கில மருத்துவம் கொண்டு அதனைச் சுத்தம் செய்து கோல்.

முதிர்ச்சியில் சக்கரங்கள் திறக்கும்போது அவ்வுடல் சில பாதிப்பினை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும். ஆகையால் மருத்துவம் உனக்குத் தேவை. 

உனது உடலில் உஷ்ணம் ஏற ஏற உதிரம் குறையும். உதிரம் குறைந்தால் உடல் மறுத்துப் போகும். உடல் மறுத்துப் போனால் சிறுநீர் கோளாறு கழிவில் கோளாறு. 

மருத்துவம் கொண்டு அதைச் சீர் படுத்திக் கொள்.

Then Agathiyar went on to ask me to reveal henceforth through this blog the changes that my body undergoes. Enough of writing about him he said. If one wants to come to merge with the Jothi through its worship, he needs to know what are the changes that would happen within the body. I am asked to share with readers of this blog. His revelations will be my experience he said. Then Agathiyar surprises me by saying that my gurus should have come to my assistance. But as they are engaged in his work, they had asked Agathiyar to come to our need. 

இனி உன் எழுத்துக்கள் உடல் மாற்றங்கள் பற்றியதாக இருக்கட்டும். எனது பெருமை போதும். ஜோதியினை வழி பட்டால் அதோடு இணைய வேண்டும் என்றால் உடலில் எவ்வித மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும் என்று உன் வாசகர்களுக்குத் தெரிய படுத்து. உனது அனுபவம் எனது அறிவு. 

உன் குரு இருந்து செய்ய வேண்டியது.  என் தேவைக்கு அழைத்தேன். இப்போது அவன் என்னை அனுப்பி வைத்தான். அவனின் ஆசி என்றும் உண்டு. நேர்மையான சீடனை எள்ளளவும் மறக்கமாட்டான். சுப்பிரமணியனும் அப்படியே. 

I remember how Jnana Jothiamma's body had to go through intense pain to adapt to the energies that were to be activated in her. She told me she had to shed 7 layers of skin. At times she vomited as many as 32 times expelling all the impurities. I then asked myself if I really wanted to go through the same process. 

When I met Tavayogi and frequented the Peedham he lodged in while in Malaysia in 2007, I told him wanted to see him merge with the Jothi. He told me it was too late for him to do so. Any attempt at it should come before 60 years of age. Agathiyar yesterday said the same too. Though that was the matter of fact the most compassionate siddhas took him with them. Dhanvantri attest that Tavayogi had attained the state.

PILGRIMAGE & THE SOFTENING OF KARMA

Sriinaath Raghavan wrote on Fb that "The Universe is one great record keeper of acts and reactions, hence what we are today can also be due to what we were yesterday, in this form or another.  That's why we often fall back to the past to search for solutions/problems pertaining to the present. We can't change the past, but we can go back and learn some of the lessons we have forgotten to learn."

"What you are is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now" goes the saying of the Buddha too.

"If you want to know your past life, look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life, look at your present actions" says Padmasambhava.

Sriinaath wrote another related piece, 

"I have never seen myself as a Guru or a Master, or even as someone Spiritually able or capable of anything whatsoever. But since childhood, I have loved to experiment with everything Occult, whatever was in my purview. Never have I stepped out of set boundaries, well aware of the repercussions it might unleash. 

Since the last few weeks, I was terribly ill with intense bone-breaking pain and high body temperature. No matter what medications I took, it didn't subside. I had to do a few pujas and homes for some people, which I completed despite the burning temperature and pain. It so happened that one such family had a severe Naga Dosha, which was making their lives miserable. Constant sickness, animosity between the living blood relatives, joblessness, and everything that spelled slow doom. They approached us for a remedy and we instantly saw that it was Naga Dosha behind it all, by the very obvious looks of it. 

We duly started a parihaara puja and homa for the Nagas, when in a few days, one of the family members of the client, had a vivid dream of a humongous multi-hooded Serpent, hissing angrily and wanting to inflict harm to the one dreaming. At that very moment of the strike, a small girl appeared from nowhere and started fondling the hissing Snake, offering it flowers and successfully calming it down. The Snake too suddenly started to shrink in size till it became too small to even notice. This surreal dream surely indicated the efficacy and success of the "kriya" undertaken. 

That was not the end when an accomplished Devi Sadhaka called me up one morning and said, "I saw in a dream some Snakes complain about you to the Divine Mother. They were saying why is he coming in between us and those who have harmed us in the past. Their Ancestors had burnt us all alive, young and old included and that's when our Queen placed a curse on their progeny, for killing innocent Snakes. The pain he was experiencing to date was just to make him realize the truth. Pray tell him not to intervene with anyone's Karma, as He will have to partake some handful of it himself."I was shocked to hear it because I hadn't told anything to anyone and that friend rarely calls unless there is some emergency. 

I did what I was asked to do as an act of seeking forgiveness and immediately my body pain which was very painful vanished without a trace today. I learned a few lessons today, one being if you are endowed with some ability, consider it to be a great responsibility, and before using it, weigh all the options, what we call "Stakeholder Analysis" to properly infer who all are going to get affected and how."

Indeed Tavayogi warns about messing with others' karma. Reading his story, I remembered Agathiyar telling a friend to back off from helping others finish their parikaram. I messaged Sri about what we have seen regarding karma and parikaram, much that I learned from my friend and his experiences with karma and parikaram. He who took many places both locally and to India to fulfill their karma was told by Agathiyar that if he makes it easy for them he shall face the consequences. He would at times gather everything for them and they would just attend the ritual or "ceremony". Agathiyar warned him of the consequences of his action in aiding, nay taking everything upon himself. The idea in dishing out remedies is to burn one's karma by walking the distance, taking an effort, and facing and going through hardship in completing it. One's karma is reduced, based on the physical exhaustion and tiredness as a result of hiking up the hills for instance. Together with contemplation and continuous prayers, karma is eventually reduced. So man in seeing through his remedies has to personally go through the trouble of gathering the things needed, listed or told in the Nadi, making the arrangements, and taking the effort in seeing through the ritual or walk the distance for his karma to be partially ridden while with the prayer and blessings and grace of the divine, the rest of it too is taken care of. If someone else simplifies and makes it easy for them the purpose of parikaram or the remedy is purposeless. Many have been bitten though their intention was good including my friend. 

Many a time, Tavayogi and Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar have extolled the significance of the Kallar hills where their former ashram the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham was situated at its foothills. Kallar is mentioned in Agathiyar 12,000 too. Agathiyar further reveals Kallar in the Jeeva Nadi in the possession of Nadi Guru Ganeshan of Thanjavur. In speaking about karma and pilgrimage, Agathiyar explains the significance of the hills. Generally, the prime significance of the hills is the abundance of herbs that grows and is available in these regions. A herb or a tree that grows in these hills is 100 times more potent than those grown or found on the plains. Taking into consideration this matter and also for the benefit of mankind and his well-being, temples were built on top of these hills, and man was directed to pray at these temples to reap these benefits. Agathiyar explains the benefits of walking and hiking. By walking, man tends to rejuvenate all his 22,000 odd nerves in his body. A daily routine of going up and coming down the hills will definitely be beneficial. This is the physical benefit gained. Those unable to hike up these hills could use other means or facilities. Exceptions are given for instance in the case of a man who was bedridden for two years, Agathiyar had his relatives perform the numerous parikaram he gave.

Agathiyar reveals another aspect of these Kallar hills too, "Kallar is the place to quickly reduce the curses and sins and karma of one's past births and also of their ancestors". 

Devotees were asked to go to Kallar ashram after having read the Sri Gnanaskandar Jeeva Nadi in Coimbatore. In a reading by a Skandar Upasagar, Lord Murugan revealed about Tavayogi and his ashram at Kallar. The devotees were directed to Kallar to receive Agathiyar and Tavayogi’s blessings. Again Agathiyar specifically mentions that Kallar Hills is the place to drastically and quickly reduce the karma done in the past births, even karma done by the forefathers, and rid of one's curses. 

இந்தக் கல்லாறு மலை அதி சீக்கிரம்
பூர்வ ஜென்ம பாவங்கள்,
முன்னோர்களின் பாவங்கள்,
சாபங்கள் குறைத்து கொள்ள ஏற்ற இடம்

A Malaysian who was taken into custody after being suspected as involved with a couple of others who were caught in the possession of drugs, as he had loaned his car to them, was freed after his wife rushed to Kallar and performed a Yagam at Kallar as requested by Tavayogi and Mataji. A young man from Bangalore who only saw hurdles laid in his way to betrothal finally met his life partner after carrying out a Yagam at Kallar as requested by Tavayogi and Mataji. A Malaysian who was suspended from work was reinstated and he saw himself called back for duty after he participated in a Homam requested by Tavayogi and Mataji at AVM instead as he could not travel for his passport was held. We saw proof of Agathiyar's words in those instances.

After the tsunami of 2004 hit the coastline of many countries, Tavayogi intensified and expanded the annual ritual of lighting the sacrificial fire originally held to commemorate the Jayanthi of Agathiyar to include the welfare of the state too. Later in 2015, he had people register to sit at individual Homams and conduct the 108 Sarva Dosa Nivarana Maha Yagam. But as they needed to be guided on the procedure, sequence, and timings, and due to insufficient volunteers to stand by and guide them, he opted to return to carrying out one single comprehensive Yagam for the benefit of all of creation in subsequent years. Tavayogi took the initiative and trouble to perform this ritual annually for the sake of devotees helping them 'burn' away their karmas besides pleasing Mother Nature. Tavayogi initiated me to start performing the Homam in my home to coincide with that at Kallar. Agathiyar mentions in my Nadi reading later that though by conducting it, it was possible to rid of one's karma, the ritual had the potential to bring good to the world. Much more can be said of the benefits of this fire ritual. Read further in "Feeding the Flames."

Agathiyar starts off with almost everyone who comes for a Nadi reading by revealing their karma that takes them to specific temples with instructions to perform specific atonements or parikarams. For those who came to Agathiyar for a solution to their problems and miseries, he spells out many remedies which include and again take them on pilgrimages to holy spots, temples, Siddha samadhis, Siddha caves, etc. The most compassionate father sends his devotees on these pilgrimages for various other reasons too. He and the Siddhas amaze these devotees by guiding and accompanying them on their journeys and throwing in miracles and giving darshans.

So was it that besides the other temples, I was asked to visit Agasthiyampalli where Agathiyar promised to open his eyes. He fulfilled his promise. 

Agathiyar had his favorite daughter Jnana Jyothiamma go places where she was bestowed with his grace and that of other Siddhas and God. 

Surendaran Selvaratnam from Malaysia was invited personally to Pothigai Peak by Agathiyar in a Jeeva Nadi reading at Kallar. Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi reading called him over, telling him that he would personally give him a helping hand to climb and overcome the treacherous and slippery boulders. Agathiyar added that Korakar would accompany them, giving Suren the confidence to hike up to Pothigai peak. Surendaran successfully and safely climbed the peak. Agathiyar held on to Bala Chandran when he slipped on the slippery boulders traveling with others. A fallen tree gave way to them by sinking further into the ground allowing access for them to cross over. Read further at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2015/09/seeking-agathiyars-grace-part-1.html

Srimathi Nalini of Chennai too went on a pilgrimage as directed by Agathiyar. She wrote, "In Jeeva Naadi (read at Kallar) Agathiyar ayya asked me to visit Pabanasam, then Agathiyar aruvi, Sadhu Krishnaveni Amma ashram and his moolasthanam at Kalyana Theertham. Next, he asked me to visit Coutralam. He asked me to come to Senbagadevi aruvi." Agathiyar promised her his darshan and blessing at Shenbaga Devi Aruvi. He told her that adjacent to the Senbaga waterfall at there is a cave in which he resides as a Vaasikol or the stick that the Siddhas place under their arm to regulate their breath. He told her to touch it with the top of her head. ("Senbagadevi aruvi karai oram nan irukken en kugai undu en vaasi kol undu adhai un sirasil thottu vanagu"). Read further at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2015/02/agathiyars-call.html

For those who came to Agathiyar for a solution to their problems and miseries, Agathiyar through his favorite son the late Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai Amarar Hanumathdasan spelled out many similar remedies. Agathiyar most graciously delivers Bhogar's remedy for Aids to an individual who sought out Agathiyar's Jeeva Nadi at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com/2014/05/173.html, Agathiyar instructs him to carry out atonement for each member of his family to remove their past karma and only then to undertake a journey to Sathuragiri or Pothigai where certain herbs were available for preparing the Siddha medication prescribed by Bhogar and elaborated in detail by Agathiyar. Besides dictating and directing others on pilgrimages, Agathiyar had Amarar Hanumathdasan himself go to numerous temples where Agathiyar would reveal a thing or two. 

Raman Nambiar, after performing the last rites for his wife, headed for Tunjathu Ramanujar’s samadhi and sat in meditation. Then he continued his meditation at the Panjavarnam Cave in Palani. After Siddha Bhogar appeared in front of him and gave him an initiation, he left on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas in 1910. He returned from the Himalayas in 1913 as Gnana Pitha Shivananda Paramahansa. In 1914, he went on a pilgrimage throughout India. He was in Pavanagar, Peshawar, Tirusoor, Savakadu, and Kadathanadu before establishing the Samapanthi Bhojana Sangam in 1921. Gnana Pitha Shivananda came to Malaya in 1937 and set up the Siddha Vidhya Sangam in Setapak in Kuala Lumpur before returning back to India just before Malaya gained her independence.

Tavayogi after completing his pilgrimage through the length and breadth of India settled in Sathuragiri before heading for Kallar which was shown by Agathiyar to start his ashram. Yogi Ramsuratkumar had gone on a pilgrimage around India some 7 times before settling for good in Tiruvannamalai. Lord Muruga made Arunagiri of Thiruvannamalai go to several abodes of his, giving him precious gifts and upadesa at these spiritual spots at timely moments.

Devotees of Neem Karoli Baba or Maharajji shared many interesting facts on pilgrimages in "Miracle of Love." It is written that,

"Maharajji, again and again, sent us on specific pilgrimages. For us, it often felt as if we were merely being sent “away,” but perhaps there was more. … And Maharajji very much encouraged such pilgrimages through example and instruction. While on one of his walks at the Kumba Mela site, Maharajji asked that his devotee pick up the dirt and smear it over him, justifying that “Saints have been coming here for thousands of years. Dada, take the dirt and touch your head.”

A beautiful definition of a pilgrimage is given at https://www.pilgrimswaycanterbury.org/why-pilgrimage/

"Pilgrimage can be a life-changing, transformational experience. A time of letting go of the old to let the new come in. Pilgrims don’t merely visit a place as tourists, they come away inspired and changed by it in some way. Going on pilgrimage may give us a new sense of awareness and wonder. Or result in a greater sense of our life’s purpose. Pilgrimage helps to illuminate the journey of life by helping us to focus on ‘what really matters' and to rediscover the joy of giving and generosity. And to have a greater appreciation for life’s gifts."

True to the above, I came back inspired, energized, and changed too. When I was with Tavayogi I learned to give and discovered the joy in giving. I do appreciate life better now. A new sense of wonder and awareness came over me too. I had a new purpose in life too. Many return a changed person after going on these pilgrimages.

Sriinaath had written earlier on Fb regarding pilgrimages.

"Why undertake Pilgrimage, when God is everywhere?" asked someone.

He answered, "Pilgrimage is not to go in search of God, but it is to experience humanity, in its starkest reality, so one can become a better human being..."

While on pilgrimage to Triyambak, we saw different shades of the same reality, which different devotees go through differently. Brahmagiri is a sacred Hill, but not many decide to undertake the treacherous trek, especially in the Monsoon, as it's too steep and dangerously slippery due to constantly flowing spring water at every intermittent flight of steps. Many who climb the Brahmagiri, abandon their quest mid-way, due to various reasons. Honestly, we too faced the same predicament, but due to my brother's dogged insistence and despite my frail health, we somehow managed to make it to the top, even after the Sun bid us adieu. At some point, we too were ruminating to abandon the trek midway and that's when we saw a couple, the Husband disabled in half the side of his body, due to a probable stroke, with the help of his strong Wife, climbed the slippery flight of stairs with great difficulty and devotion. Seeing their determination, we pushed ourselves to do the same and continued North, instead of going South.

A Pilgrimage is not to seek God, but it is to discover the strength and determination of one's real Self, which beautifully comes out through the help of unexpected difficulties and challenges that the pilgrimage throws at you. When you face all of them in the right spirit, trust me, many gates of boundless grace, and invaluable lessons of Nature's Compassion open up to the Pilgrim, making him/her mute in awe. It powerfully renews their faith in the hands of the supremely intelligent and equally caring providence, that we call God! A pilgrimage is to bring out the best in yourself, by experiencing the worst. A true pilgrimage is that which leads you to yourself. When you undertake a pilgrimage, you gradually lose yourself to fate, realizing that there is a Higher Power that is taking care of you at every step. Once you become fully aware of this Higher power, that's when the real essence of the pilgrimage will come forth - Surrender. Then when you come back to the world and the worldly, nothing will have the power to distract you, for you'll be then firmly rooted in Truth.

All the sufferings and miseries that Tavayogi and his able aid and disciple Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar had to face made them stronger. Because of their indisputable faith and belief in Agathiyar, they were in a position to administer 'medicine' to the 'sick' and 'faint at heart', who come along to their ashram. With a little dose of 'hope', in the form of a magical mantra, "Potrinaal Unathu Vinai Agalum Appa", Tavayogi and Mataji help those who sought a solution just as Agathiyar had spelled out in his 5 tenets. Agathiyar asks mankind to help man, animals, plants, and minerals rise up the ladder of evolution. We are told to do service and charity to others. We were glad that we had taken up doing it. 

But isn't that messing or interfering with their fate and destiny? Like the devotee who took the task of renewing old temples saw a tragic end. Agathiyar said it was not his task. So where do we draw the line? It is so grey. Putting this question to Sriinaath he replied,

"Namaskaram ayya, It is said that unless you don't burn your finger in the fire, you won't really know. I guess it was my time to burn my fingers, although the intention was purely compassionate basis, as many of their present and past generations suffered a lot due to this. Nothing is permanent, not even suffering, but when it becomes too much to carry then God intervenes, like in the case of Harishchandra Maharaja or Gajendra the Elephant King. I understand that suffering is a way of expending one's Karma as much as the chanting of the Divine Name, but there is a certain set of Karma Dosha, which are nothing but the stubbornness of beings who exhibit human-like qualities. Despite whatever one does, they fail to get appeased and forgive the mistakes of the past generations, for which the present one has to take the impact head-on. This is where it all leads to... For there has to come someone, a Tapasvi, who can mitigate the Karmas of the past, through the power of his/her Tapas and set the suffering free, based on their time and repentance. I guess that's Guru Kripa, and for the people like us, who are neither here nor there, it is best to pray with a sincere heart, to lessen the burden of others, so all can be at peace."

AGATHIYAR

We are proud to find the image of Agathiyar at AVM prevalent everywhere just as he had told us that this image would be seen the world over and become world famous.