It is a joy to let go. When we begin to practice letting go of material possessions now and here, it is easy for us to let go and depart with this physical body that we took later. Otherwise, the soul will be embattled in a war. A colleague's aged uncle was telling those standing around his deathbed that someone was pocketing his money even as he breathed his last. He struggled with life till his last moments. My 96-year-old mother who had no attachments and desires told us that she wanted to sleep and passed off peacefully. My 76-year-old father who was a philanthropist sat in a corner of our home in a padmasana pose and breathed his last dying a peaceful death. It was easy for them to leave. I dread to think how the souls shall depart in their last moments if they are attached to their possessions like homes, cars, jewelry and positions, authority, respect, etc that bind and bond them to the physical body. It seems like while living life to the fullest we must prepare ourselves for death too. Though it seems an irony it saves us a lot of trouble later. There was no enmity between us siblings since my father did not leave anything be it money or property behind. He had donated everything he earned, accumulated, and possessed to charity in his later years. That is the reason we are all hale and healthy to this day. We are not in debt, not under strain and stress. Life is easy and kind to us because of our parents' actions. Similarly, what is the greatest gift a guru can give his disciple? Showing the way perhaps? But Supramania Swami gave his entire merit gained from years of austerities without a second thought. Supramania Swami told me that one had to leave even his well-earned merits behind and as such handed me his 40 years of accumulated merits in carrying out tapas. Maybe that is the reason my spiritual journey took off without any hindrances and saw speedy progress as vouched by Tavayogi.
Just as one leaves his wealth and property behind to his children does he also leave behind a portion of his karma too? If it applies to merits gained through doing tapas it sure does apply to everything else too, right? As we are living as a family, a community, and as a society our karma, both good and bad, tends to rub on others too, and vice versa. A story is told that Agathiyar who never wanted to marry and have children, was haunted by the vision of his ancestors hanging upside down over a bottomless abyss. There they would stay, they howled, until he married, fathered children, and helped them be reborn. He had to come along and remove a curse that was thrown on 21 generations of his. (https://devdutt.com/articles/the-sage-who-went-south/). On another note having attained the highest standing, Lord Siva told him that he had one more accomplishment to make as he was yet incomplete. He told Agathiyar that he had to find a wife for himself to gain Puranam or completeness. It is also said that one who takes up monkhood will have 21 generations of karma dissolve. For one who succeeds in bridging the gap, and meets up with the divine, it is generally claimed that 21 of his generations gain moksha. They rejoice in seeing their kin make it to the tallest peak in spirituality hence bringing a close to the karma of 21 generations of his. Manusmriti 3:37 claims that "A son who performs meritorious acts, absolves the sins of 21 generations; he liberates ten generations of his ancestors, ten generations of his descendants, and his current generation."
Similarly, the reason Agathiyar I believe in roping everyone with kids together to celebrate his Vizha on Thursday is to have them leave something behind for their kids - the merits gained from doing puja to the Siddhas. There is so much hype surrounding the Siddhas. We are brought to believe that it is an entirely different way of living and apart from that of a householder. If it could be true in the way, way past that we do not know for sure, it certainly is not true in present times. If it was said that Siddhas chose to stay away from society, and lived in caves and jungles in the past, it is otherwise in present times. Just as Tavayogi aspired to see each home become Agathiyar Vanam, the place where he put up his first dwelling, ashram, and temple for Agathiyar after finishing his years of travels and meditation, Agathiyar wants each home to become a Siddha home. If he had started on youths in their late 20s and early 30s in 2013 at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia, today he has switched his focus to children. He wants to start them young.