Much of what Tavayogi spoke about in open forums and in private moments only makes sense now as we begin to experience them. Much of what the saints sang about in their poems and songs of praise to the divine only makes sense now too as we begin to experience them. Experience is indeed a great teacher. His teachings were simplified and clear though we never understood them then.
We are calculative and find it hard to part with money. We think that the Nadi reader is reaping us off by having us part with a sum of money in asking to do Nadikku Dhanam or paying homage to the Nadi written by the Siddhas and upkeep by the readers. But in essence, it is a Guru Dakshanai or a tradition of giving something in return for guidance and knowledge and learning a skill or art. I was asked to pay a sum stated by Agathiyar in the Nadi and submit other items as a mark of thanksgiving to the Siddhas for writing, preserving, and revealing my Nadi. I did as told. When me and my wife joined six others to receive Diksha or initiation into the mantra of Agathiyar from Tavayogi, as everything was arranged by the movement that he came to officiate, we just had to be present to receive it. But Agathiyar did not sanction the initiation. Several weeks later he came in the Nadi and told me to meet Tavayogi immediately, bringing several items that he stated, and get his initiation - again. I did as told and went over to where Tavayogi had taken residence during that visit and though surprised by the turn of events, he initiated me this time with his touch and look as opposed to the previous manner where Agathiyar's mantra was written in paper for us to recite before him. By giving us remedies to carry out to offset the karma from our past actions, we are made to part with money that we treasure and give to charity and feed man and animal. Here then is our first lesson in letting go and helping others. This brings forth compassion within us if we choose to continue these acts. But sadly we stop at what is told and move on with life, making more money and oblivious to the sufferings of others.
We are here to learn lessons gained from experiences that begin to purify the Udal, Uyir, and Atma. It seems to us now that we actually knew the truth but it was veiled from us through a divine play or his lila. The young soul in Neale Donald Walsch's parable "The Little Soul and the Sun", adapted from his book 1 in the series "Conversations with God" (CWG), too knew it was light but wanted to experience it. Knowing who he was was not enough; he needed to become "it". So he is given a choice to pick the desired action that he would like to do, from a list of many, once he is on earth. He chooses the act of forgiving. Another soul immediately steps up to join the soul in fulfilling its wish by being the perpetrator so that the young soul can then forgive him. They both come down to earth to live out their desire. This desire triggers a chain of events, a learning process takes place and several experiences are recorded, whereby the soul becomes enriched through these experiences. As all the souls are perfect, many wanted and volunteered to come down to help us gain the experience. Thus we had all known each other earlier. We had planned to be together here. Those who needed a particular experience chose to come early while others remained behind to join later.
We, being light in essence, for want of experiencing it, had darkness and all opposites created for us. Agathiyar too told me that he had me do certain shameful acts and have these experiences too. Hence he threw them in between the many that I had sought to know and those that came as a reward for my past deeds. Later moving into our homes and into our hearts much later, he has revealed and come to be the Self or Atma in us. He who accompanied us on this journey of discovery of life soon faded into oblivion as we began to see the creation and the exemplary work of Maya all around us and became lured by it. We began to think and took it that all these were real. When we are caught in the grips of Maya or illusion in this world we never realize the existence of the Atma. When we become enlightened through the words of the guru and travel his path we attain the state of Gnanam or Enlighthenment. That is Atma Darisanam or coming face to face with one's soul. Henceforth he begins to speak to it and speaks less to others, guided by it.
Agathiyar coming through a devotee gave us a short memo that explained the Udal, Uyir, and Atma and asked us to read up Tavayogi's book "Atma Gnanam" for further explanations. He told us that the Atma was primarily composed of 5 components of a Tattva.
ஆன்மாவாகியது 5 கூறு தத்துவங்களைக் கொண்டது. அந்த 5 கூறுகளை யாதென்று நீ கற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். எமது சீடன் தவயோகி ஆன்மஞானத்தில் குறிப்பிட்டிருக்கிறான். நீ அதைக் கற்கும்போது உள்ளிருந்து உனக்கு உணர்தலை யாம் அளிப்போம்.
Referring to Tavayogi's book we learn that to be Buthangal, Thanmathirai, Gnanenthiriyam, Kanmenthiriyam, and Anthakaranam. The first four have 5 components each and the last has 4 adding up to 24 Taavas.
Tavayogi writes that,
பூதங்களின் ஐந்தின் சூட்சும குணங்களே தன்மாத்திரைகளாகும். தன்மாத்திரைகள் என்பது உருபண்பு இல்லாதவை. அணுக்கள் ஒன்று கூடி தன்மாத்திரை ஆகின்றன. தன்மாதிரிகளில் இருந்தே பூதங்கள் தோன்றுகின்றன.
If the Butha Gnanangal is gross Thanmathirai is subtle. It is akin to the play of atoms. The Thanmatirai moves the Inthiriyangal as energies. Gnanenthiriyam is body, mouth, eyes, nose, and ears. Kanmentiriyam is the hands and legs, digestive, alimentary, and reproductive organs. The Param Anu or atoms create the body that provides the space for it to do its work.
The ego that identifies itself as supreme and with a host of capabilities once identifies itself as an offshoot of the bigger Param or Almighty sinks into a relationship with it, and sees itself present in all of creation. It lets go of its selfish motives and moves and works in unison with the larger forces. Tavayogi in becoming a mendicant became Father to all rather than limit his role as father to his daughter. Agathiyar made his daughter who was saddened then to realize the immense role her father had taken up and stepped into. His work was now towards a larger population rather than to carry out his responsibilities towards his family. Just like him, there are many who took up the mission to serve a larger mandate rather than only look into their needs. This is a purpose well lived. They shall be remembered in time.