When Tavayogi told me that no one can chain or shackle a Siddha and that the soul has to be set free to explore, I believe that it applies to those souls who are free spitted and want to explore all things in life. I guess that is what these souls had asked to experience before taking birth here. Getting a taste of life and learning lessons from these experiences the soul moves on to more idealistic desires in future births moving closer to Light with each birth. This is the progression of the soul. So seeing things in this light there is nothing wrong. Sadhu Om in bringing Bhagawan Ramana's teaching to us through his many songs that are pretty much easy to comprehend, in bringing the cream of Bhagawa's teachings within reach of a common layman, he has us settle down and look at things in a different perspective that of non-interference.
Sadhu Om has written numerous songs that have addressed the Manam or Self reminding it of the presence of God that supersedes all other love and desires. It would serve to know the man first before we go into his works. We learn about the Sadhu from http://sadhuom.net/, http://www.arunachalasamudra.org, and https://realization.org/.
"Sadhu Om in searching for a genuine Guru first read about Ramana in Suddhananda Bharati’s book "Sri Ramana Vijayam". When he went to the Ramakrishna Mutt, in Chennai and told the President that he was in search of Truth and asked for guidance, the President seeing his yearning asked him to visit Sri Ramana Maharshi. At that time he was living and working in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. He wanted to know if there was anyone who visited Tiruvannamalai so that he can join them and make a visit. Enquiring from friends about Sri Ramana, he was directed to Janaki Mata who used to regularly visit Sri Ramanashram with her friends. Hearing this Sadhu Om along with the friend went to her place. He entered the house and asked her when she was planning to go next and if he could join her? She replied that they would be leaving for Tiruvannamalai the following week. When he was about to leave, she said that they were going to recite the Sri Arunachala Akshara Mana Malai. When he sat down to join them in singing, he was so attracted by the depth of the prayer, that he was thrilled and his yearning to visit Tiruvannamalai increased multifold."
"On 6th July 1946, as promised Sadhu Om went with Janaki Mata to meet Sri Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan revealed His Nirguna Sath Swaroopa for Sri Swamigal on his very first visit. Everyone went into the hall where Sri Bhagavan was sitting and prostrated before him but when Sadhu Om went up to prostrate before Sri Bhagavan, he only saw Sri Bhagavan's empty seat. Nevertheless, he prostrated thinking that Sri Bhagavan might have left his seat during the moments before he came before his seat. When he got up, he saw a dense mass of light appear which gradually took the form of Sri Bhagavan's physical body."
Sadhu Om describes this moment in his own words in an interview in "Arunachala Ramana".
"When I entered the hall I wanted to see Bhagavan but I only saw a sofa and no one sitting on it. I was surprised to see, however, that everyone else was doing namaskarams towards that sofa. When I was hesitating about whether to do namaskarams, I began to notice the vague outline of a human figure sitting on the sofa. At once I prostrated. When I got up, I saw that vague figure slowly solidifying and becoming clear. Then only was I able to recognize it as Sri Bhagavan."
"A couple of weeks later, Sadhu Om went back to Sri Ramanasramam to have the darshan of Sri Bhagavan. He sat on a rock on Arunachala composing poems on Sri Bhagavan under the title, Vetkai [Divine longing]. After composing the 7th poem, he realized it was breakfast time, and he quickly went to the Ashram dining hall. He entered the dining hall and saw that Sri Bhagavan was eating there. He sat in front of Sri Bhagavan, and started eating. When Sri Bhagavan finished his breakfast, he got up from his seat. Seeing this, Sadhu Om also got up, although he had not finished eating. Sri Bhagavan looked at Sadhu Om and said, "Vandha Velaiyaip Paar" (Do what you came for). Though Sadhu Om then sat down, since he had gotten up while eating, he was reluctant to continue eating. Sri Bhagavan, after washing his hands, walked alongside the dining hall. Seeing Sadhu Om, he repeated the words again. Sadhu Om started eating again. As Sri Bhagavan went near the entrance and was about to pass over the threshold, Sadhu Om turned back and looked at Sri Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan also looked at Sadhu Om and uttered the same words for the third time in succession. At this point, Sadhu Om realized that the words were Sri Bhagavan's upadesa for him, to look after the business for which he was born in this world."
Tavayogi too reprehended me for interfering in others' problems telling me to send them to download their problems to Agathiyar. In the beginning years of worship to the Siddhas went Agathiyar sent many strangers over to my home some would share their stories. Out of concern both my wife and I had given out unsolicited advice and ended in trouble. We learned a lesson there from these experiences. That was his upadesa for us. I can never forget the upadesa I got from my 6-year-old granddaughter. She was merely 3 years old back then. As she was seated on the settee, rooted watching "Masha and the Bear" over and over again, I teased her telling her that "I have seen this earlier" as the episodes popped up one after another in this series. She turned to me and pointed her finger to a corner telling me, "I am the one watching (that she doesn't mind seeing repeats), you go to your corner." I would then go stand in a corner. She would say "Not there" and direct me to my desk where I have my laptop working on this blog. So one day as she stood in front of the television, I came by and told her the same dialogue as all grandpas do as we too have been given a standard script. She was so stressed that she turned to look up at me and said, "You take care of your life and I shall take care of mine. "நீ உன் வாழ்க்கையை பார்; நான் என் வாழ்க்கையை பார்க்கிறேன்" Though I was taken aback I was amused at her choice of words especially the correct usage of the word "Life" or வாழ்க்கை in this context. I realized then that Agathiyar was telling me to do what I came for and not mess in others' life (again) just as Bhagawan Ramana told Sadhu Om "Vandha Velaiyaip Paar" or "வந்த வேலையை பார்"
"After Sri Bhagavan left the body, Sadhu Om wanted to come and settle at Tiruvannamalai. He began to write "Sri Ramana Varuhai" inviting Bhagavan Ramana. As he wrote verse No 172 Sri Bhagavan appeared before him. Swami thought that it is a dream. Thrice he appeared before him. Bhagavan said “Why you are calling me. You come to my place, Tiruvannamalai.” When Sadhu Om arrived at the Ashram, the then Ashram President invited him in, asking him to stay at the Ashram and look after the bookstall. He dedicated his entire life to Bhagavan, spreading the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Sadhu Om never sought for himself any recognition or appreciation from the world. In fact, his life was a perfect example of strict adherence to the principal precept of Self-enquiry taught by Sage Ramana."
Sadhu Om came to reside at Tiruvannamalai as he had wished, for thirty years until he passed away due to cerebral hemorrhage in March 1985. Even saints are not spared. But they accept and take it in their stride for death is only for the body. Their soul lives on.
Calling Mahin over recently I voiced my concern about our purpose here and the need to leave something behind. As I went on and on Mahin interrupted me asking "What did Ramana leave behind?" This started me thinking. Today I understood his question as I pen this post.
Sadhu Om had shared Bhagawan Ramana's words, a reminder to us that I had posted on Saturday, 8 August 2020. But I guess his words did not register with me then. Bhagawan needed to drive the nail into my heart piercing it deeper. Sadhu Om wrote,
"Moreover, according to the great truth discovered and revealed by Sri Ramana Bhagavan, a good person leading a simple yet highly spiritual life and passing away unknown to the world does far more good to the world than all the political and social reformers and all the platform-heroes of philosophy . . .”
How I wish we too could leave this world in this state.
Agathiyar had charted a path for us in the 20 years that we had come to worship him. He gave us numerous tasks that we carried out to his satisfaction. Then he had us stop everything. As for the rituals he made us commit to carrying his annual vizha or fest once a year which coincides with the day of Thaipusam. We have planned something for tomorrow, but knowing Agathiyar very well he might come and change our agenda. Let us wait and see.