THAIPUSAM

As Thaipusam is celebrated in the temples dedicated to Lord Murugan throughout the world in a merry way tomorrow I still wonder why Agathiyar had switched AVM's Agathiyar Vizha or celebration for Agathiyar to this day several years back instead of following the rest of the world and Kallar ashram. If everyone else including us (back then in 2005) carried out the Jayanthi celebration for Agathiyar when the Ahilyam star rises during the Tamil month of Marghazhi, and Agathiyar himself had revealed in my Nadi the exact time of "his birth" as 27 1/2 Nazhigai that translates to 11 hours 58 minutes after the birth of the star, and if Agathiyar had brought all rituals to a stop in 2019 (for us at AVM), why did he remind us not to forget to celebrate this day? What is the significance of Thaipusam and why is it so dear to Agathiyar?

Besides the temples of Lord Murugan, the grounds of Satya Gnana Sabai in Vadalur would see devotees arriving in throngs to be part of the festivities. Kumar Keswani writes in his book "Land of the Festivals: An Introduction to Indian Culture and Traditions" that India is a land of festivals and fairs. When our forefathers came over to Malaya they brought with them their beliefs and superstitions, faith and worship, rituals and practices, customs, tradition, and language that are still intact and being followed by their lineage to this day.

Thaipusam in Malaysia is celebrated with great pomp and ceremony. The highlight would of course be the Kavadis carried by devotees to the beat of drums and songs set in the Kavadi Chintu metre. This variation of the folk song according to the "Encyclopedia of Indian Literature Volume 2, " is a song composed and sung on different occasions such as in the worship of a particular deity or in the daily prayers of the school children. The former is called Kavati Chintu and the latter Ennai Chintu. Kavati Chintu describes the greatness of the deity and the landscape where the temple is situated." Agathiyar's "Shanmuga Nayagan Thotram" is set to this beat. This beautiful composition from Agathiyar on his Guru Lord Murugan explains the many instances and forms where Lord Murugan appears. Besides setting the mood in this song Agathiyar reveals how Lord Muruga comes to devotees. He lists the many forms that he takes. A verse from this song அவன் பக்தர் நுழைந்திடும் வீட்டினிலே reveals that he follows into the homes where his devotees step into. I understand why our elders and ancestors were so steep in tradition back then for they saw through the physical self and addressed the soul as the Siddhas did. In inviting a visitor at the door, we welcome the deity too who follows them. Indeed Agathiyar has identified to us deities who follow devotees to our home AVM. In serving food to these visitors we serve the deities that live and move with them too. Agathiyar has said that in cooking and serving food he feeds the "elementals" residing in the body of his devotees. 

கண்களினால் கண்டு பொற்றிடலாம், ஆனந்த மாமலர்ச் சோலையிலே, மன ஆட்டம் அடங்கிய வேளையிலே, ஞானமும் தரும் தென்றல் காற்றினிலே, எழும் நாம சங்கீர்த்தன உற்றினிலே, பக்குவமாம் திணைக் காட்டினிலே, அவன் பக்தர் நுழைந்திடும் வீட்டினிலே, மிக்குயர்வாம் மலைக் கோட்டினிலே, அருள் மேவும் அகத்தியன் பாட்டினிலே, தொண்டர் திரண்டெழும் கூட்டத்திலே, அவன் சுற்றிச் சுழன்றிடும் ஆட்டத்திலே, அண்டர் தினம் தோலும் வானத்திலே, தவ ஆன்ம சுகம் பெரும் மோனத்தில், எழைக் கிரங்கிடும் சித்தத்திலே, பொருள் ஈந்து மகிழ்ந்தவர் அத்தத்திலே, ஊளைக் கடப்பவர் பக்தியிலே, தெய்வ உண்மையைக் காண்பவர் சக்தியிலே, வேதாந்த தத்துவ சாரத்திலே, அலை வீசும் செந்தூரக் கடல் தீரத்திலே, ஆதார குண்டலி யோகத்திலே, பர மாத்ம ஜீவாத்ம வைபோகத்திலே, அன்பர்க்கியற்றிடும் சேவையிலே, உயிர் அர்ச்சனையாய் மலர் தூவையிலே, இன்ப பெரும் புனல் வீழ்ச்சியிலே, காணும் யாவும் ஒன்றென்றுணர் காஷியிலே, நண்ணும் இயற்கை அமைப்பிலே, ஒளி நக்ஷத்திரங்கள் இமைப்பினிலே, விண்ணில் விரிந்துள்ள நீலத்திலே, மயில்மேல் வரும் ஆனந்தக் கோலத்திலே, தேகவிசாரம் மறக்கையிலே, சிவ ஜீவ விசாரம் பிறக்கையிலே, ஆகும் அருட்பணி செய்கையிலே, கங்கை ஆறு கலந்திடும் பொய்கையிலே, மானாபிமானம் விடுக்கையிலே, தீப மங்கள ஜோதி எடுக்கையிலே, ஞானானுபூதி உதிக்கையிலே, குரு நாதனை நாடி துதிக்கையிலே, ...

Agathiyar in explaining the many instances and forms where Lord Murugan appears in his song "Shanmuga Nayagan Thotram", describes the many ways that Lord Muruga is seen and felt. Among them, he is seen through the eyes as a vision, in the flower fields, when the mind settles, in the breeze that delivers Gnanam, in the chant of his name, in the untouched forest, in the places his devotees are, in the hill fortresses, amidst the crowd of devotees and their dance, in the places of worship, in the silence where the Atma attains bliss, in reaching out to the poor and in giving to them, in forgetting one's body in devotion and bakti, in those who have known the truth, in the gist of Vedanta, at Tiruchendur where the waves break, in Kundalini Yoga, in the merger of Paramatma and Jeevatma, in the service rendered by devotees, in showering him flowers, in the waters that fall, in seeing all as one, in seeing nature, in the winking stars, in seeing him on a peacock, in forgetting the body and watching the Jeevatma, in carrying out Sariyai, in poigai where the Ganges merge, in letting go of opinions and ego, in the rows of light, when Gnanam dawns and in Agathiyar's songs, and he goes on. It is clear that God's presence is very much in nature, all around us, and in all our activities.

This metre is apt for dancing around during this occasion. It sets the mood for the divine energies to come within the devotee and take on the pain as steel pierces the flesh of the cheeks and their backs. During these moments it is not the individual but the energies that parade down the streets heading from the banks of rivers or water tanks to the abode and sannadhi of Lord Murugan. The divine helps fulfill the vows of his devotees. 

Muruga is said to have taken on various names as he attained various advancements and states in his life.  Just like Akbar and Ashoka who were emperors of the Mughal and Maurya Empires respectively and Siddhartha from a Nepalese kingdom, Lord Muruga (Supramaniar) too according to P Karthigayan was a warrior who took his men to battle Surabatman who, to my surprise, headed the Chinese army. P Karthigayan has published many amazing references to Lord Muruga in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu." Supramaniar,  riding on an elephant, and garlanded in Kadamba flowers to help identify his soldiers, carried the flag with a cock as the symbol so as to identify his battalion, went to battle the Avunas who were led by Soorabanman hence saving the Tamils who then held him in high esteem. He became a savior of the Tamils. He helped them improve their commerce bringing prosperity to their society. He helped redefine their lifestyle and imparted wisdom. He then chose to observe penance at Siva's Nandhi monastery. He moved into Shiva's Nandhi monastery observing severe penances and austerities and engaged in yoga. He picked up yoga. He became Karthigeyan when he excelled in yoga, and came to be addressed as Kumaran after he discovered the secret of rejuvenation. As he remained ever-youthful he was called Kumaran and on attaining immortality was called Muruga. He claimed, in his own words, "I saw and experienced the breathless place - mounam." He too went through the painful process of transforming his body into "a fumelike aural body" writes P.Karthigayan. "I attained the air-like body". "Depriving the physical components that can lead one to death through the process of aging he regained his youth"  hence attaining deathlessness. He shared this secret to youthfulness with Siva. Besides that, he shared the secrets about the cosmos and the art of achieving the light or luminous body or oli deham. Siva who himself had attained longevity through other means cited in the Rig Veda, attained the luminous body too. Siva then adopted him as his offspring. As he took on the name Swaminathan could these secrets have possibly been parted to Siva during the said upadesam or imparting of the meaning of the Pranavam "AUM" to Lord Shiva by Lord Murugan at Swamimalai? He was conferred a kingdom Paran Kundram and became god of the Devas. 

P Karthigayan referring to Bhogar Saththakaandam 7000, mentions Kumaran as an ancient priest-king and a head of a monastery that was active for 123 generations. He was said to be 'active' for 3 yugas.

In Supramaniar Gnaanam 200, Agathiyar is said to have received teachings on the Siddha path from Kumaran. P Karthigayan quotes Agathiyar from his Perunool Kaviyam 12000 where Agathiyar mentions just like Kanna Piraan (Lord Krishna) he too seeked upadesam from Vadivelan. 

A story is told of Agathiyar and Supramaniar by Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar in his book, "Pothrinal Unathu Vinai Agalumapa", explaining the process through which Agathiyar attained the highest state that of becoming one with Erai. This state was made possible to Agathiyar by his Guru Supramaniar. All the knowledge to attain the state was made available to Agathiyar by Supramaniar because Agathiyar had provided the space, shelter, and all comforts for Supramaniar to carry on with his penances (tapas) and austerities (tavam) in a past birth. Agathiyar was 60 years of age then when Supramaniar attained the body of Light through his tapas, thanks to Agathiyar looking after all of his (Supramaniar) needs. Supramaniar promised Agathiyar that they shall meet in a subsequent birth and that he shall return the favor. In a subsequent birth, Agathiyar traveled in vain in search of his ideal guru. He eventually met Supramaniar at Kodaikanal, where Supramaniar made him recall the past and as promised in return for all his services in the past birth, blessed Agathiyar and taught him secrets of attaining the state of Erai. Agathiyar began by performing puja to Supramaniar. By way of devotion to Supramaniar, he realized that he had had the greatest gift which was the human birth, which comes by very rarely. Through Supramaniar he came to know himself and the divinity that resided in the physical body. He understood the very Nature that brought him forth and resided within him. With Supramaniar's guidance and blessings, Agathiyar relished the ambrosia or nectar that came about through his tapas. This removed the seven veils to reveal the Jhothi in him, hence attaining the body of Light. With this came Bliss, Siddhis, and the state of Deathless-ness. Agathiyar attained the five nature or tanmai of Erai namely Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, Veiling, and Showering Grace (Arul). Supramaniar conferred Agathiyar the title Gurumuni and Kumbamuni and sent him off to spread the Siddha way extensively all over the globe, bringing many into his fold. All the Siddhas looked towards Agathiyar as their Guru.

Agathiyar in my Nadi reading expounds on the greatness and benefits of worshipping Lord Muruga. The mere mention of his name would suffice in bringing these benefits.

Saint Arunagiri knew Lord Muruga as the god who came and caught him in his arms as he jumped from the temple towers of Arunachala. Arunagiri knew him as the god who gave him a dictate and asked him to go into isolation and solitude that took 12 years to come out of after Lord Muruga told him it was enough. Arunagiri knew him as the god who wrote on his tongue that got him started singing the Thirupugazh, songs of praise to Lord Muruga's praise. Arunagiri knew him as the god who appeared to all at Thiruvanamalai when Sambanthan contested and challenged him to make Lord Muruga appear before everyone. Arunagiri translated all his experiences into songs estimated at 16,000. 

So have Ramalinga Adigal, Pamban Swamigal, and many others sang the praise of Lord Muruga. Let us sing his praise too on this auspicious day of Thaipusam.